Equip Youth Apologetics Conference
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Join us for our fifth EQUIP conference, intended to help students think more carefully about the Christian faith, to strengthen their own faith, and to share that faith with others. It is intended for mature middle schoolers, highschoolers, and recent high school graduates.
Challenges to Christian belief seem to come from all corners today, and students need to be able to respond faithfully. We are excited to partner with the to provide an engaging and in-depth time of training and inspiration. We hope you will join us.
Chaperones are not required but may register for $15.
Speakers
Schedule
Registration Deadline: Aug. 25, 2026 | Cost: $25 (registration, lunch & t-shirt); $15 for chaperones
2026 Speakers
is the founder and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church in Lebanon, TN. The church reaches a diverse range of people and continues to grow in both numbers and ministry opportunities to make disciples of Jesus. He also founded Knowing Jesus Ministries, a non-profit organization which exists to proclaim timeless truth for everyday life. This ministry provides resources for Christians to grow in their daily walk with Jesus, withstand the onslaught of cultural pressures to conform, and prepare Christians for the suffering that comes in this life. Erik has been married to Katrina since 2002, and has three children: Kaleb (who went to be with the Lord on December 1st, 2019), Kaleigh Grace, and Kyra Piper.
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Ted Kluck is the award-winning author of 30 books, and his journalism has appeared in ESPN the Magazine, USA Today, and many other outlets. He served as the screenwriter and co-producer of the feature film Silverdome and currently hosts The Kluck Podcast and Gut Check Podcast. Ted won back-to-back Christianity Today Book of the Year Awards (2007, 2008) and was a 2008 Michigan Notable Book Award winner for his football memoir, Paper Tiger: One Athlete's Journey to the Underbelly of Pro Football. He currently serves as an associate professor of journalism at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University and coaches long snappers at Lane College. Ted and his wife Kristin have two children, Tristan and Maxim.
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is a team of worship leaders, songwriters, and musicians who serve weekly at their local church in Lebanon, TN. With biblical integrity and steadfast creativity, they aim to write, record, and lead songs that are truthful and clear. Since the fall of 2020, Journey Worship Co. has produced 2 full-length live albums, a Christmas album, a kids' album, and an acoustic EP (Green Room Sessions). They've traveled all across the eastern U.S., and their music has been led and sung in churches around the world.
Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 12
- 9:00 a.m. — Check-In Begins, Foyer of the Grant Events Center
- 9:30 a.m. — Welcome and Prayer
- 9:35 a.m. — Worship with Journey Worship Co.
- 10:00 a.m. — Session 1: Erik Reed
- 10:45 a.m. — Break
- 10:55 a.m. — Session 2: Erik Reed
- 11:45 a.m. — Worship with Journey Worship Co.
- 12:00 p.m. — Lunch
- 12:45 p.m. — Session 3: Erik Reed (Q&A)
- 1:20 p.m. — Break
- 1:30 p.m. — Panel with Â鶹ÊÓƵ Students
- 2:00 p.m. — Session 4: Ted Kluck
- 2:45 p.m. — Closing Worship with Journey Worship Co.
- 3:00 p.m. — Conference Dismissed
Directions and Parking
Directions to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Carl Grant Events Center and campus maps are available below. The printable campus map is especially helpful. Enter campus via the west entrance (the main entrance) on Pleasant Plains. Follow the route marked with a blue line to Main Parking (PAC West Lot), which is just south of the Grant Center (marked with a star).