Thursday, Sept. 21 kicked off this year’s Ngage series, “Christianity & the body.”
This year’s theme will give students the opportunity to discuss in depth what it means to embody Christ and focus not just on spiritual growth, but also on portraying God through body and soul.
Ngage first made its debut in the 2014-15 academic year, beginning with Julie Elliott and her desire to grow as a community.
“I noticed we were missing some opportunities to engage ideas in the broader community,” Elliott said.
So action was taken and Ngage was born.
Run by the student life office, Ngage promotes conversations that are often brushed over in the classroom. A combination of guests speakers who shed light on “taboo” topics and meaningful conversations between students, Ngage provides an opportunity to cultivate a culture of new ideas.
Denise Kingdom Grier started off the series Thursday night. Grier is the lead pastor at Maple Avenue Ministries in Holland, Mich. The night focused on what it means to be a “racial body.”
In October, husband and wife team William and Donna Struthers will speak at Ngage to discuss the neuroscientific side of pornography and what it does to the mind. Together they will discuss the relational effects of such material.
November’s discussion will be led by Chuck DeGroat, a faculty member of Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Mich. His talk will focus on living whole lives with our heart, head and body, along with what shame does to our outlook on life.
In January, Ngage will host a panel of mental health professionals and students to discuss the challenges of mental illness.
“When I asked students what they wanted to talk about, mental illness always came in first,” Elliott said.
The panel will also discuss how to help and prevent mental illness.
In February, former Resident Director of Stegenga Hall Hannah McBride will speak at Ngage to discuss sexual violence and prevention.
Ending the series in March will be a panel discussing marriage and what it means to “become one body” in marriage.
Ngage will be held once a month, typically 8pm on Thursday nights in the Vogel Community Room.
