Pepperdine to Host 2024 Harbor: The Pepperdine Bible Lectures
From Tuesday, April 30, to Friday, May 3, 2024, the Office of Church Relations will host the 81st annual Harbor: The Pepperdine Bible Lectures, a four-day conference featuring a wide variety of speaker sessions and on topics and themes rooted in the Bible and Christianity. Since 1943, Harbor has brought together Christians from across the nation and around the world for a spiritual retreat that provides attendees with education, fellowship, worship, and rejuvenation.
This year’s conference will feature classes and workshops centered on this year’s theme "Running With Perseverance," which explores the book of Hebrews and the perseverance to “hang on” when weary from the trials of life. The theme is also a celebration of the exalted view of Jesus—the Son who became a human, suffered and died, rose, was exalted to the presence of God, and who still intercedes for all.
Speakers throughout the conference will include Pepperdine community members such as Mike Cope, director of ministry outreach; Tim Spivey (’97, MS ’00, MDiv ’00), vice president for spiritual life; University chaplain Sara Barton, along with more than 100 additional speakers from universities and churches across the country. In addition to Cope, Harbor’s keynote speakers will be Don McLaughlin, preaching minister of North Atlanta Church of Christ; Eric Gentry, preaching minister of the Highland Church of Christ; Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby, assistant professor in the department of Bible, missions, and ministry at Abilene Christian University; Sean Palmer, teaching pastor at Ecclesia Houston; and Dewayne Winrow, senior minister at Reseda Church of Christ, with worship by ZOE Group and United Voice Worship.
Attendees can enjoy seminars such as “The Best Story They've (N)ever Heard: Rediscovering the Beauty of Basic Christian Beliefs,” a session that will explore the unique hope, beauty and life found in core Christian convictions, and “The God of Monkey Science: People of Faith in a Modern Scientific World,” a discussion centered on the tumultuous relationship between faith and science. Attendees will also be able to participate in fitness classes, including CrossFit, tai chi, and a morning run with Al Sturgeon (JD ’11), associate dean for student life and spiritual development at the Caruso School of Law, as well as enjoy stand-up comedy shows and Harbor Unplugged, an evening of music, fellowship, and storytelling with Jeff Walling, director of the Youth Leadership Initiative at Pepperdine.
Harbor: The Pepperdine Bible Lectures will be located on the Malibu campus. On-campus housing and a children's program are available. Online registration closes April 21, but walk-in registration is welcome at the event.