Our Frequently Asked Questions
What is Faith Ascent all about?
Our mission is to reduce the number of professing Christian teenagers abandoning their beliefs in college and disengaging from the church after high school.
Why does Faith Ascent have so many different professors, pastors, and teachers on the speaking team?
Our programs are designed to prepare students for the real challenges theyâre likely to encounter at the university level. Best practices and common sense suggest that students are better prepared for a university setting after being exposed to a range of different positions while emphasizing sound Biblical hermeneutics, sound Biblical exegesis, and, most importantly, the centrality of Jesus to the Christian faith. This exposure fosters confident curiosity and thoughtfulness as students work out their own positions on debatable matters. Remember, the word âuniversityâ is derived from the Latin Universitas magistrorum et scholarium, which roughly means âcommunity of teachers and scholars.â Exposure to debatable matters within the Churchâs âuniversityâ draws us back to confidence in the person of Jesus and the centrality of The Gospel.Â
Is Faith Ascent affiliated with a particular Christian denomination?
No. However, as a rule, our staff, board, & teachers all affirm the essentials of the historic Christian faith, as stated in The Apostleâs Creed and The Nicene Creed. Additionally, we find the The Lausanne Covenant to be very helpful in terms of clarifying and emphasizing the evangelistic mission of the universal church. You can read more about our beliefs here. You can read referrals from pastors and leaders from diverse Christian backgrounds here.Â
What age groups do you target?âĻ
We are passionate about reaching teenagers 16-18 years of age. However, younger high school age students can benefit and have benefited from our programs.
My student is not a professing Christian. Will he or she still benefit from the programs?
Maybe. While most of our seminars are beneficial to anyone interested in the topics, Base Camp is designed to edify and equip professing Christian teenagers only. If your student is not a professing Christian, Base Camp may not be a good fit for them.
What is Faith Ascentâs position on the details of creation and human origins?
First, Faith Ascent affirms that the transitions from nothing to something, from something to life, and from life to a literal Adam & Eve are God ordered, God sustained, and nothing less than supernatural. Second, we present strong theological and philosophical reasons for reading Genesis 1-3 through the lens of Christian orthodoxy and viewing scientific theories through the lens of Christian orthodoxy as well. Third, we expose students to healthy debate and discourage unhealthy division by inviting diverse speakers to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the varying positions on creation and science. While we acknowledge significant theological and scientific concerns that arise within these varying positions, we also recognize that thoughtful Christians, committed to the authority of Scripture, come to different conclusions on these matters. Fourth, while we recognize and value Godâs general revelation of Himself through creation, we emphasize and underscore Godâs special revelation through His son Jesus as the foundation of the gospel, the primary source of confident faith, and the basis for Christian unity.
What Topics Do You Address?
Base Camp & seminar topics include but are not limited to:
- Faith & Reason
- Science & Christianity
- The Reliability of The Bible
- Biblical Hermeneutics
- The Historical Jesus
- The Validity of Jesusâ Resurrection
- The Centrality of the Gospel
- The Problem of Evil & Suffering
- Dealing With Doubts
- Christian Sexual Ethics
- Conversational Evangelism
- Culture Making
- World Religions
- Social Media
- Discerning Film, Literature, & Music
How is Faith Ascent Funded?
We rely on the faithful support of individual parents, pastors, and concerned Christians just like you. While we firmly believe your first charitable responsibility is to your local church, we ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting us on a monthly basis or with a one time gift. You can give here.Â
My student does not plan to attend college. Will he or she still benefit from the programs?
Yes. All age-appropriate students interested in learning how to better explain and articulate their Christian beliefs will benefit.
What is Faith Ascentâs position on Christian sexual ethics?
First, we believe the Bible, Jesus himself, and historic Christianity all affirm Godâs original and perfect design for sexual activity being between one man and one woman in the context of a covenant relationship (Genesis 2, Matthew 19, 1 Corinthians 6, Romans 1, Etc.). Second, we believe that humans tend to flourish when sexual activity and reproduction are kept between one man and one woman within the context of a covenant relationship. Third, we believe that, because of the fall and because of our sinful choices, sexual imperfection impacts every human being. Fourth, in terms of sexual sin in the life of a Christian, we echo the Bibleâs clear commands to refrain from sexual sin and we emphasize The Holy Spiritâs power to help us refrain from sin, on the one hand. On the other, Â we acknowledge that even Christians make mistakes, healing is sometimes deferred, and sanctification is often slow. Finally, we believe the call to celibacy is a viable option for any Christian compelled by conscience to refrain from marriage and sexual activity and we believe this call not only does not disqualify a Christian from ministry but, in many cases, makes his or her ministry more fruitful (1 Corinthians 7).
What If I Still Have Questions?
Get in touch with us today and we’ll do our best to answer any question you have about our staff, our programs, or the type of worldview training we offer.Â