Registration opens February 15. Early bird rates of $50 end May 1, while regular rates of $60 end July 8. To register, visit our Eventbrite page (coming soon).

Beeson has reserved a block of 30 rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott for June 15 and 16. The cutoff date for reserving these rooms is June 24, 2025. For more hotels near campus, visit Samford’s hotels page.

Alister McGrath

Alister McGrath is an Anglo-Irish intellectual historian, theologian and Christian apologist with a particular interest in the relation of science and faith and a longstanding relationship with Oxford University. He recently retired from the Andreas Idreos Professorship of Science and Religion at Oxford.

McGrath is best known for his theological textbooks, but his books include both academic monographs and more popular works. He is in demand worldwide as a speaker.

 

Justin Bailey

Justin Bailey serves as a professor of theology at Dordt University in Sioux City, Iowa, where he also chairs the theology department. His work focuses on the intersection of Christian theology, culture and ministry, exploring how culture shapes Christian faith and how Christian faith can shape and care for culture. He is the host of the “In All Things” podcast and contributes to the blog of the same name. His writing has appeared in prominent publications such as Christianity Today, The Banner and the Reformed Journal, and he has written for academic journals like Christian Scholars Review and the International Journal of Public Theology.

Douglas Webster

Douglas Webster joined the Beeson faculty in 2007 as professor of pastoral theology and Christian preaching. Webster is the author of several books, including More than a Sermon: The Purpose and Practice of Christian Preaching, The Psalms: Jesus’ Prayer Book, A Passion for Christ: An Evangelical Christology and more. Webster is ordained in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and is a teaching pastor at the Church of the Cross in Birmingham, Alabama. He is researching and writing in three main areas: Christ and culture, pastoral identity and preaching the whole counsel of God.

 

Trevin Wax

Trevin Wax is vice president of research and resource development at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin is a regular columnist at The Gospel Coalition and has contributed to The Washington Post, Religion News Service, World, and Christianity Today. He has taught courses on mission and ministry at Wheaton College and has lectured on Christianity and culture at Oxford University. He is a founding editor of The Gospel Project, has served as publisher for the Christian Standard Bible, and is currently a fellow for The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He is the author of multiple books, including The Thrill of Orthodoxy, The Multi-Directional Leader, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, and Gospel Centered Teaching. His podcast is Reconstructing Faith. 

Robert Smith Jr.

Robert Smith Jr. served as professor of Christian preaching at Beeson for more than 25 years and held the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity. A renowned preacher and speaker, Smith has received a litany of awards and recognitions throughout his career. His book, Doctrine that Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life was named one of the 25 most influential books in preaching for the last 25 years in 2010 by Preaching Magazine. His research interests include the place of passion in preaching, the literary history of African American preaching, Christological preaching and theologies of preaching. Smith has contributed essays and articles to various books, magazines and commentaries. 

Karen Swallow Prior

Karen Swallow Prior is a frequent lecturer and noted author, and has written a number of popular books, including On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books and The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis.

 

 

 

Maurice Watson

Maurice Watson has served as senior pastor of The Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, since 2022. Watson is a prolific pastor with a dynamic itinerant preaching ministry that extends across the continent and globe. A sought-after preacher and expositor, in 2002, he served as the morning worship preacher at the Annual Hampton Ministers’ Association Conference and later served as the conference preacher in 2005 and 2015. In 2010, he was inducted into the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Board of Preachers of Morehouse College.

Schedule

Tuesday, July 15

3:00-3:30 Welcome and Theme Introduction

3:30-5:00 McGrath # 1 and Response

5:30-6:30   Dinner

6:45-8:00 Worship

 Wednesday, July 16

8:00-9:00 Breakfast

9:00-10:30 McGrath #2 and Response

11:00-12:00 Worship

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:30-3:30  Workshops (1\vo sessions: 1:30-2:20 & 2:40-3:30)

Dinner on your own

 Thursday, July 17

8:00-8:45 Breakfast

8:45-10:15 McGrath #3 and Response

10:45-11:45 Worship

More information on workshops and messages is coming soon.