THE FIRST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER, Lebanon hosted a groundbreaking, soul-shaking summit for spiritual activists. Lebanon, Missouri, that is. The Friday night before the summit and on into the following morning, Christian Scientists representing 15 countries streamed into the city of Lebanon from their college campuses. Their final destination: the spacious grounds of CedarS Camp at the edge of the Ozark Mountains (one of six summer youth camps for Christian Scientists in North America), site of the Spiritual Activism Summit 2006.
Organizers of the two-day event, The Mother Church Youth team (known as TMC Youth) began planning the summit in February and had expected between 100 and 200 college students. But more than 300 students came, pushing the combined number of students and conference presenters/facilitators above 400. The students came for a variety of reasons—for information, spiritual rejuvenation, to connect with other Christian Scientists, or simply out of curiosity. Whatever their reasons for coming, no one really knew what to expect.
TMC Youth organizer, Ariana Herlinger said they hoped the summit would be more than an inspirational youth meeting, or about "what Christian Science can do for me." But rather, about making the wonderful discovery of the spiritual activist in each of us. And to prepare, participants were asked to read the book of Acts in the Bible.
