“Aliens and Light: Finding God in the Darkness” will be the theme for Summit 2010, director of ministry events Brady Bryce revealed Thursday during a faculty luncheon in the Adams Center.

Bryce said while he realizes the title is strange, he hopes attendees will own up to the idea that Christians are exiles and strangers and must follow the light of Jesus into the world.

“The Christian world for too long has been focused on ‘this little light of mine’,” Bryce said. “We can enter the darkness of the world by following Jesus but not possessing the light. The light of life we have is by following him.”

Bryce said Summit 2010 will non-linearly focus on 1 and 2 Peter, specifically 1 Peter 2:9-11 as its theme scripture.

Featured guests include James Bryan Smith, author of The Good and Beautiful trilogy, and Kathleen Norris, author and poet who was unable to attend in 2009 because of family circumstances. Norris’ speech was read aloud last year, but attendees will have the opportunity to see and hear her live this year. Featured guests also will include Shane Claiborne, “radical Christian” and author of The Irresistible Revolution, Jesus for President and co-author of Follow Me To Freedom with John M. Perkins, activist in the civil rights movement and author of Let Justice Roll Down.

“Our speakers will plunge us deeper into the practical ways that we can enter the world not afraid, but confident that God is ahead of us,” Bryce said. “We can trust in an eternal light that’s ahead of us.”

Charles Mattis, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, announced a joint presentation and conversation between Claiborne and Perkins in a cornerstone class, which will be new to the curriculum this fall.

“We’re looking forward to having both these people here and our students engaging in these important conversations and seeing these two individuals and how they are different, yet have respectful and amazing conversation about very important issues,” Mattis said. “We’re very excited about that.”

Highlight classes will feature Bert Reynolds, preacher at Chenal Valley Church in Little Rock, Ark., Phil Ware, preaching minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ and Randy Harris, instructor in the College of Bible, Missions and Ministry. The week will conclude with a performance by Derek Webb and a late-night coffee featuring Shane Claiborne and Derek Webb.

James Davies, senior marketing major from Victoria, British Columbia, won the third annual art contest for the second time in three years. Davies’ photo was taken during COBA’s annual Leadership Summit in Buena Vista, Colo. Davies was awarded a $100 cash prize for his photo.

Summit 2010 feature speakers:

• Rick Atchley, preacher at Richland Hills Church of Christ
• Josh Ross, brother of Jenny Bizaillon and preacher in Memphis, Tenn.
• Andy Wall, preacher at Canejo Valley Church of Christ in Los Angeles Calif.
• Reg Cox, preacher at Lakewood Church of Christ in Colorado
• Tyson Moore, preacher at the Crenshaw Church of Christ in Los Angeles
• Charlton Taylor, preacher at Golf Course Road Church in Midland
• Eddie Sharp, preacher at University Church of Christ in Austin.