This past September, students, chaplains, and young adults gathered on Princeton University’s campus for the World Student Christian Federation United States’ (WSCF-US) first conference in 50 years. Entitled “A New Heaven & New Earth,” it focused on gathering young Christian leaders from a variety of traditions and backgrounds to imagine toward the church of the future. The conference included workshops, small groups, worship, Bible study led by the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, and a powerful keynote speech from the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. 

The conference framed the past, present, and future of Christianity through three themes: reckoning, healing, and reimagining. It can be both eye-opening and affirming to be in community with Christians who may worship or live out their faith differently while also holding firm to their commitment to working toward justice together.

Learn more about the World Student Christian Federation-US. 

Nick Gordon is the United Thank Offering’s current Julia Chester Emery intern, working with the Department of Racial Justice and Creation Care of the presiding bishop’s staff and an undergraduate student at New York University.