Applied Biblical Studies and Defending the Faith Conferences

Today’s guest post is by Greg Hoerter, manager of strategic partnerships for Catholic Products.

 On behalf of Logos, I attended the Applied Biblical Studies and Defending the Faith Conferences July 25–29 at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. These were 2012’s final summer conferences, and I was thrilled to be part of such an honored tradition. Each year, thousands of Catholics make a pilgrimage to Steubenville to hear some of the country’s most respected Scripture scholars speak on the topic of the day. This year was no exception. The topics were Ephesians: The Mystery of Christ and Apologetics & the New Evangelization.

The Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a nonprofit research and educational institute founded by Logos user Dr. Scott Hahn that promotes life-transforming Scripture study in the Catholic tradition, puts on the conferences with Franciscan University to offer workshops and multiple Bible study tracts to participants from all over the world. This is a truly unique conference in which the participants receive practical theological training that they can take back to their parish, family, and faith life.

Logos, a St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology partner, was a natural fit for these conferences. Besides motivating attendees with spiritual speakers, topics, and music, Logos provided them some additional spiritual guidance to keep the Holy Spirit burning long after they arrived home. I spoke with people from all over the world and from every age group. People purchased Logos’ software as gifts for students at Franciscan University that they just met working the conference. Someone purchased a Scholar’s Library for a priest they knew studying in Krakow, Poland! Another purchased a Foundations Library for a seminarian they knew in Indiana. More than one priest said they thought this software was a “Godsend.” I sold more than 10 libraries to clergy and religious leaders alone. It was great to spend time with one of the longest-time users of Logos, Steve Ray (user since 1990), and also one of the newest Scripture scholars to use Logos, Dr. John Bergsma, who purchased his Catholic Scholar’s Library in May.

Each day, praise and worship started at 8:00 a.m., and the chapel closed at midnight; everyone was friendly and on fire with the Holy Spirit. When you have speakers like Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. Alan Schreck, Stephen Ray, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Dr. Michael Barber, Dr. John Bergsma, Dr. Ralph Martin, Mark Hart, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Rob Corzine, Dr. Edward Sri, Dr. Peter Williamson, Curtis Mitch, Matthew Leonard, Kimberly Hahn, David Currie, Fr. Terence Henry, and many others, you can’t help but be up all night! If you’re ever looking for a place to renew your faith or recharge your spiritual batteries, mark your calendar for July 2013. You can be sure Logos will be there.