A printed collection of sermons from the Academy of Preachers’ 2012 national festival contains work by two contributors with Samford University ties.

Samford senior Wesley Spears and 2012 graduate Aaron Carr both have sermons included in Uncommon Sense: Jesus and the Renewal of the World (Chalice Press.)

The volume contains 74 sermons that were preached at the National Festival of Young Preachers in Louisville, Ky., in January, 2012. The young preachers ranged in age from 16 to 29, represented a variety of faith communities, and hailed from all parts of the U.S. and Canada.

Spears preached on the topic, “God in the Year 2012.” A religion major from Franklin, Tenn., he is a University Fellow and a member of Samford’s Pre-Ministerial Scholars program.

Carr, now a student at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, preached on the topic “Foundations.” At Samford, the religion major from Cumming, Ga., was a University Fellow and member of the Pre-Ministerial Scholars program. He is one of six members of the Academy of Preachers’ national Gospel Catalyst Network leadership team.

The ecumenical Academy of Preachers, based in Louisville, Ky., seeks to identify, network, support and inspire young people in their call to Gospel preaching.