Following Jesus: Virtue,Character, and
Truth in the Academy
Academics in the Alps
August 25-28, 2025
Credo House, Wilderswil, Switzerland
Register Today
"When God and his glory are made our end, we shall find a silent likeness pass in upon us; the beauty of God will by degrees enter upon our souls."
Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God
A Spiritual and Intellectual Retreat
As academics who follow Jesus, we need not only good academic credentials, excellent communication skills, sound research practices, and a full-orbed Christian worldview, but we also need to follow Jesus—to be like Him in our thoughts, words, and actions, in our academic work, with our family, our church, our recreation—in all spheres of life. Our aim is to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.” (Colossians 1:10) The goal of the Academics in the Alps 2025 Conference is to equip us to live and work in the academy in a manner that is worthy of the Lord and pleases Him in every way.
Co-sponsored by The Leadership Anvil and
Komensky Institute of Prague
http://www.komenskyinstitute.com
At the Academics in the Alps 2025 Conference, you will be refreshed, renewed, and recharged for a life of following Jesus in the academy. You will...
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Connect with Christian academics representing a wide spectrum of disciplines from across Europe.
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Be encouraged, realizing you are not alone in the challenges you face; many others are faithfully serving Christ in higher education.
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Sharpen your Christian worldview and your ability to present and defend the faith.
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Discover resources which will aid in your research and teaching.
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Hone your skills with workshops on best practices and spiritual development.
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Be equipped to face the challenges of isolation, hostility toward Christianity, secularism, discouragement, and temptations.
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Learn how to launch an academic network in your city or nation.
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Commit to following Jesus more closely as you serve Him in the academy.
Join us for this special time of spiritual and intellectual challenge and refreshment.
Conference Schedule
Pre-Conference
Sunday, August 24
Check-in to Credo House is available after 14:00.
Dr. Rod Nolte, our hiking director, will be available to offer suggestions on Alpine hikes in the area.
18:15 Dinner – Credo House Dining Room
Monday, August 25
Hiking and sightseeing opportunities throughout the day.
8:00 Breakfast – Credo House Dining Room
12:15 Lunch – Credo House Dining Room
Conference
Monday, August 25
15:00 - 18:00 – Registration
18:15 Dinner – Credo House Dining Room
19:15 Plenary Session: Dr. Daniel Hill, Following Jesus in the Academy.
We are told in 1 Corinthians 10:31b, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Colossians 3:17 is similar: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” In light of these verses, how can we follow Christ in the academy? We will discuss how to follow Christ in our teaching, research, and administration. In each of these three areas, we will consider the motive for which we do our jobs, the manner in which we do them, the content of our jobs, and the choices we make about what, how, and why we do them.
Tuesday, August 26
8:00 Breakfast – Credo House Dining Room
9:00 Bible Study with Dr. Dirk Jongkind, Seeing Truth—How John Teaches Trust in Jesus.
We will look at the teaching tools John uses in the gospel and how we are trained by both the content and the method.
10:15 Tea and Coffee break
10:30 Parallel Workshops by Discipline and Spouses’ Groups—Bringing Glory to God as the Spouse of an Academic
11:45 Break
12:15 Pick up a Sack Lunch and Head for the Hills!
The afternoon is Free Time to enjoy the Alps. There will be organized hiking and nature walks. Please use this time to connect with others and build relationships.
18:15 Dinner – Credo House Dining Room
19:15 Plenary Session: Dr. Michael Romanowski, Preparing the Sower to Work the Fields. Followers of Christ spend much time on the pragmatics of sharing the Gospel and less time thinking about how to prepare the fields. Based on the Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20, and Luke 8:4–15), this session discusses the necessary groundwork before sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ—preparing the soil—the minds and hearts of colleagues and students to receive the seed—the message of salvation. Pre-evangelism prepares the soil for the seed of the Gospel. The session will discuss the process of field preparation and give examples for attendees to apply to their context.
Wednesday, August 27
8:00 Breakfast – Credo House Dining Room
9:00 Plenary Bible Study with Dr. Dirk Jongkind, Seeing Truth—How John Teaches Trust in Jesus.
We will look at the teaching tools John uses in the gospel and how we are trained by both the content and the method.
10:15 Tea and Coffee Break
10:45 Parallel Workshops and Spouses’ Groups—Bringing Glory to God as the Spouse of an Academic
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Main Meeting Room
Personal Digital Leadership for Academics: Navigating with Wisdom
Emanuel Tundrea, PhD (Software Engineering, Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Romania/University of Nice, France), Associate Professor of IT, Emanuel University of Oradea
Scholarly work—both research and teaching—demands significant mental energy, yet in our “free” time, our brains often shift straight to social media, news, and more screen time. It targets not only our time and energy, but also our purity. How to navigate wisely as a leader today, especially in light of recent discoveries about the impact of the screen on our brains and the rise of an increasingly anxious generation? What does Luke 9:23 mean for academics living in the digital age?
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Unspunnen Lounge
What Does God Want to Do with STEM Subjects?
Tim Brown, Chartered Engineer, PhD (Electronic Engineering, University of Surrey, UK); Senior Lecturer, RF Antennas and Propagation, University of Surrey, UK; Director, Postgraduate Studies; Editor-in-chief, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Journal of Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation; Director, Christian Academic Network (C-A-N), UK
Unlike most other disciplines, many Christians in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) struggle to find any clear way in which they can celebrate contribution to their discipline in a way that is a true act of worship to the Lord Jesus Christ. This session will explore ways this could be done, in order to help academics in STEM on their journey and will include the approach taken to Shaping Disciplines for Christ, promoted by the Christian Academic Network (C-A-N) in the UK.
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Jungfrau Seminar Room
Why Should Anyone Care About Christianity? How to Make the Case for Faith in Today’s World
Laurynas Jacevičius, Ph.D. (Philosophy, Vilnius University, Lithuania); Founder, Apologetika.lt
We’re called to share the Good News—but what if no one’s listening? In a culture where many think they already understand Christianity (and have dismissed it), the real challenge isn't just evangelism, but pre-evangelism: earning the right to be heard. Misconceptions about the faith run deep, and before we can talk about the gospel, we often need to clear the ground and spark genuine interest. This presentation explores how to break through apathy and skepticism by connecting with people’s deeper questions and longings—so that when we speak, they’re actually willing to listen.
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Reading Room
Spouses’ Group—Bringing Glory to God as the Wife of an Academic
Mrs. Therese Ewert, Masters (Education, Counseling, and Theology, Linköping University, Sweden); Occupational Counselor, Jönköping Municipality, Sweden
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Terrace
Spouses’ Group—Bringing Glory to God as the Husband of an Academic
12:00 Break
12:15 Lunch – Credo House Dining Room
13:15 Parallel Workshops
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Main Meeting Room
Presenting Biblical Sexual Ethics in the Secular Arena—Explaining, Defending, and Persuading with Winsomeness and Clarity
Per Ewert, PhD, (Political History, VID Specialized University, Norway); Director, Clapham Institute, Sweden
This session will explain how we can boldly and winsomely present, defend, and seek to persuade unbelievers about the wisdom and life-giving power of what the biblical teaches us about sexual ethics.
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Unspunnen Lounge
C. S. Lewis - A Bridge to Enchantment in the Academic World
Daniela Vasiliu, PhD, (Philology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania); Lecturer in English, Faculty of Philosophy and Social-Political Science, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University; CEO, Agora Christi Foundation; Founder/Chair, C. S. Lewis & Kindred Spirits Society for Central and Eastern Europe
The importance of discovering ways in which we, as academics, have something to say that has the eternal quality on it to this generation of students and professors cannot be exaggerated in our time. C. S. Lewis was never as well-known in Eastern Europe as he was in Britain or America, but during the last ten years he has achieved a certain fame in secular universities and in Christian intellectual circles which challenged us to find ways of how academics from various fields besides literature could use Lewis as a bridge to create interest in exploring Christianity.
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Jungfrau Seminar Room
Ministering as a Family in the University
Frank & Jo Peters, PhD (Physics, McMaster University, Canada); Professor, School of Physics, University College Cork, Ireland
We have always worked as a team. This seminar will describe how we believe God directed us to live and use those things that God put in our hands (Exodus 4:2) to serve him at the local university, while raising a large family at the same time. Much of our ministry was centered in our home, where our children grew up being a welcome part of the activities. We will describe things that worked and lessons we learned along the way.
14:15 Tea and Coffee Break
14:45 Parallel Workshops
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Main Meeting Room
Tools for the Sower of the Gospel and Field Preparation
Michael Romanowski, Ph.D. (Educational Leadership, Miami University, Ohio); formerly Professor of Educational Sciences, College of Education, Qatar University
Followers of Christ who are professors need to develop a metacognitive awareness of their ability to not only share and defend the Gospel but to prepare the field inside and outside the classroom. The Parable of the Soils shows how we, as professors, can do the hard work and prepare the fields. How can we prepare colleagues and students to be “good soil,” as Jesus describes in the parable? Do we, as Sowers, have the knowledge and tools to work on various soil types? How do farming, sowing, and reaping apply to professors who follow Christ and their teaching and research? This workshop explores practical ways professors can prepare colleagues and students by addressing the intellectual, emotional, and moral obstacles that might hinder a person from hearing the Gospel. How do we develop a metacognitive awareness of preparing the soil, capturing thoughts and emotions, finding the Goldilocks Zone (locating an intermediary position between two divergent extremes), serving, and asking questions so others are challenged to consider ultimate questions.
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Unspunnen Lounge
The Lure of Liberalism—Why is Diluted Christianity So Enticing?
Daryl McCarthy, D.Min. (Missiology, Fuller Theological Seminary); Executive Director, The Leadership Anvil
The evangelical world is being swept with a tsunami of liberal theology as well-known pastors and scholars retreat from biblical doctrines which have been held by the Church for 2,000 years. This talk will explore why so many Christians “go liberal”—why they forsake historic orthodoxy for a diluted Christianity.
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Jungrau Seminar Room
Michelangelo and the Reformation
Nigel Halliday, PhD (History of Art, Courtauld Institute, London University, UK); former pastor of Hope Church, Greatham and Petersfield, UK
In the 1530s, while working on the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo was involved in a weekly Bible study group and came to accept the basic Reformation doctrine of justification by faith. His beliefs became apparent in his poetry, but how did they affect his painting and sculpture, especially when he was working on commissions for the pope? Nigel will be presenting some of his research into the Italian Reformation, and how these beliefs may have influenced Michelangelo’s later work, and how this, in turn may help us reflect on the role of a Christian artist today.
15:45 Break
16:00 Parallel Sessions and Devotional Time for Spouses’ Group—Bringing Glory to God as the Spouse of an Academic
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Main Meeting Room
Following Jesus in Times of Doubt
Nathan Gibson, PhD (Semitic Languages and Literatures, Catholic University of America); Professor of Religious Studies (Jewish-Islamic Relations), Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
In this workshop, we will look at how we can respond to times of doubting when we’re following Jesus as academics. Doubt is a normal part of spiritual life. It can be especially intense for those who’ve been trained to question everything. We will consider the different ways people in the Bible doubted and how God responded to them. Next, we will examine the types of situations that might stimulate doubt and how doubt might affect us in these life circumstances. Finally, I will suggest some steps to take when we ourselves or believers close to us are struggling with doubt.
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Unspunnen Lounge
Mentoring and Coaching of Christian Scholars—Why and How?
Peter Cimala, Ph.D., (Biblical Theology—New Testament, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic); Research Fellow, Centre for Biblical Studies, Charles University; Director, Comenius Institute of Prague; Lecturer, Evangelical Theological Seminary, Prague
Every job has its pitfalls, challenges, and temptations, including academia. One way to navigate and overcome these issues is through mentoring and coaching. Academic mentoring and coaching aim to help scholars grow, achieve good results or even excellence, and sometimes just sustain themselves through difficulties and crises in the academic journey. In particular, Christian mentoring and coaching seek to address needs and issues beyond academia, including personal, professional, and spiritual needs. It is often challenging for pastors or Christian friends to provide adequate support to Christian scholars without understanding their academic background. Conversely, many intellectuals can be "nerds" and "introverts," making isolation an easy trap for scholars.
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Jungfrau Seminar Room
Reaching People in the Sciences
Frank Peters, PhD (Physics, McMaster University, Canada); Professor, School of Physics, University College Cork, Ireland
Faith and science have a reputation for being in conflict. This can make reaching people in the sciences seem daunting and difficult, especially if you don’t feel like an expert. In this workshop, we will seek to show how friendly and productive connections can be made with the scientifically minded while minimizing unintended conflict. The goal will be to encourage us to think about how we can build bridges toward people in the sciences, rather than burning the bridges that remain. The focus will be on the mysteries of life that provide wonder and delight for all.
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Reading Room
Spouses’ Group—Bringing Glory to God as the Spouse of an Academic
Mrs. Therese Ewert, Masters (Education, Counseling, and Theology, Linköping University, Sweden); Occupational Counselor, Jönköping Municipality, Sweden
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Terrace
Spouses’ Group—Bringing Glory to God as the Husband of an Academic
17:00 Break
18:15 Dinner – Credo House Dining Room
19:15 Plenary Session: Dr. Daniel Hill, Following Jesus in the Face of Temptations.
Following Jesus in the academy means we will be faced with a multitude of temptations. Some temptations, which are common to most everyone, are particularly prevalent among academics, or are experienced in an especially virulent form. But other, more subtle, temptations are peculiar to academics. As followers of Jesus, how should we respond to all these pernicious temptations? After considering the long list of temptations and strategies for dealing with them, we will consider the good news that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, and he will provide a way out so that we can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Thursday, August 28
8:00 Breakfast – Credo House Dining Room
9:00 Plenary Bible Study, Dr. Dirk Jongkind, Seeing Truth—How John Teaches Trust in Jesus.
We will look at the teaching tools John uses in the gospel and how we are trained by both the content and the method.
10:00 Break
10:15 Plenary Session, Dr. Teri McCarthy, Following Jesus Here and Beyond
11:30 What Next? Making a Commitment to Follow Jesus with Intentionality and Passion
12:45 Lunch – Credo House Dining Room
Farewells and Departure
Post-Conference
Thursday, August 28
Afternoon: Hiking and sightseeing opportunities.
Dr. Rod Nolte, our hiking director, will be available to offer suggestions on Alpine hikes in the area.
18:15 Dinner – Credo House Dining Room
Friday, August 29
Hiking and sightseeing opportunities.
8:00 Breakfast – Credo House Dining Room
12:15 Lunch – Credo House Dining Room
18:15 Dinner – Credo House Dining Room
Saturday, August 30
8:00 Breakfast – Credo House Dining Room
Check-out by 10:00 AM
Requirements for participation
What are the requirements for participating in the Academics in the Alps 2025 Conference?
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Evangelical academics in Europe. This is a gathering for evangelical academics and postgraduates who are actively engaged in higher education and who reside and are working in Europe. Because of limited space, non-academics (other than those whose spouse is an academic) are discouraged from registering.
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Follower of Jesus. This is a gathering for intentional followers of Jesus who affirm that they have surrendered their lives unreservedly to Christ as their Savior and are committed to living in holy obedience to Him.
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Trustworthy Bible. This is a gathering of evangelicals who affirm that the Bible is the inspired, fully trustworthy, and authoritative Word of God.
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Responsibility. Every participant takes full responsibility for obtaining visas and other travel documents and to pay all their travel costs to and from the conference.
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English is the language for all sessions, so each participant is expected to have the ability to both speak and understand English in this academic context.
Because of the specific goals of this conference and its focus on Christian academics in Europe, we reserve the right to deny registration to anyone who does not meet these requirements.
If you meet these requirements, plan to attend the Alps 2025 Conference.
Registration will open January 13, 2025
Due to limited space, registrations are expected to sell out quickly.
The registration fee will include accommodation, admission to all conference sessions, lodging for the nights of August 25, 26, and 27, and all meals and breaks from dinner, August 25, through lunch on August 28.
Married couples who register before May 1 will be eligible for a special discounted rate.
Plan to come early and stay late.
Since Credo House is a superb location for a retreat or holiday, participants are welcome to arrive on Sunday morning, August 24, and stay through Saturday morning, August 30. Additional nights are only $95/night/person for adults (15 years and older). You can reserve these additional nights in the Add-ons section when you register. The rate for children 4-15 for additional nights is $50/night/child.
Step-by-step Guide to Registering for the Alps Conference:
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Press “Reserve a Spot”
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If you have a Promo Code, enter the code you were given.
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Under Registration, choose either “Individual Registration” or “Married Couples” registration and press the plus sign. This registration rate covers accommodation, your entrance to all the conference sessions and to all meals from dinner, August 25, through lunch, August 28.
Extra nights before or after the conference
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If you want to arrive on Sunday, August 24, before the conference begins on Monday, press “Arrive One Day Early at Credo!” and press the plus sign to indicate the number of adults in your party. The cost is $95/person/night.
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If you want to remain at Credo House for some extra time to relax and hike in the Alps, press either “One Extra Night at Credo After Conference” or “Two Extra Nights at Credo After Conference” and press the plus sign to indicate the number of adults in your party. The cost is $95/person/night.
Children
Since Credo House charges on a per-person basis, you must also register any children who are accompanying you to the Alps Conference, except those who have not yet had their fourth birthday.
Children 4-15
In the Add-ons section, scroll down to “Child 4-15 Credo House Conference Rate, and press the plus sign to indicate how many children 4-15 you are bringing to the conference. This rate covers accommodation, all their meals from dinner, Monday evening, through lunch, Thursday.
If you are arriving one day early or staying one or two days after the conference, go to the appropriate category and press the plus sign to indicate how many children 4-15 will be with you for those nights.
Children over 15
You must register adult children who are attending the conference with you. Scroll to “Children Over 15 Conference Rate,” and press the plus sign to indicate how many children over 15 you are bringing to the conference. This rate covers accommodation, their admission to all the conference sessions and all their meals from dinner, Monday evening, through lunch, Thursday.
If you are arriving one day early or staying one or two days after the conference, go to the appropriate category and press the plus sign to indicate how many children over 15 will be with you for those nights.
In August, 2023, academics from 20 nations, representing a wide range of disciplines, came together for the first Academics in the Alps Conference. Plan to join them, along with others, in 2025.
