Nerd Culture Ministry Summit
November 12 – 14, 2024
Glen Eyrie Castle
Colorado Springs, CO
3820 N 30th St, Colorado Springs, CO, 80904
A conference for the next generation of Nerd Culture ministers and missionaries
NCMS is the only conference in the world dedicated to helping ministry leaders identify, activate, equip and empower those called into Nerd Culture Ministry.
20+
Experts
200
Capacity
3
Days
NCMS GEAR
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
Our Bi-Weekly Podcast
3 Days
6 Keynotes
Master of Ceremonies
Mark Lutz
Lux Digital Church
Mark is the founder and lead pastor at Lux Digital Church; an entirely online expression of Church with the mission of being a light in every dark place. In collaboration with other organizations and digital churches, Lux is working to share the love of Christ with nerds and gamers by meeting them where they are, knowing that many of them would otherwise never step foot through the doors of a church again.
Day 1
Nov 12th
Schedule
- 7:30a | Breakfast
- 8:30a | Opening& Worship
- 9:30a | Keynote 1: State of the Union | Bubba Stallcup
- 10:30a | Keynote 2: Seats at the Table | Lamar Hardwick
- 12:00p | Lunch
- 2:00p | Workshops / Table Time / Family Time
- 6:00p | NCMS After Dark
Setting the Table
How we set the table—who we invite, and how we include them—shapes the very essence of community and ministry. Day 1 opens with a survey of the current landscape in Nerd Culture Ministry, led by Bubba Stallcup. We’ll explore what’s being done and why it matters. Then, Lamar Hardwick will unpack the deeper significance of the table as a tool for either exclusion or inclusion, sharing how it can foster discipleship and belonging, particularly for those who’ve often been left out—whether due to disabilities or their identity within nerd culture.
Keynote Speakers
Bubba Stallcup
Love Thy Nerd
Bubba is the CEO, President, and founder of Love Thy Nerd; a ministry that exists to be the love of Jesus to nerds and nerd culture. His 12 years in vocational ministry on multiple church staffs has helped to inform the needs of those both inside and outside of church culture. Having been a nerd culture missionary since 2012, Bubba seeks to connect those with the common mission of making a difference nerd culture for the cause of Christ.
Lamar Hardwick
The Autism Pastor
Dr. Hardwick is a father, husband, pastor, and author. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty University School of Divinity. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Divinity Clergy Scholar Program and a 2017 graduate of Georgia Forward’s Young Gamechangers Program, which included 50 of the state of Georgia’s top thinkers, innovators, and leaders under the age of 40. He is currently a PhD at Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Hardwick was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age 36. Since then Lamar has made it his mission to advocate for those with disabilities in our faith communities, leading him to write award winning books such as “Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion”
Day 2
Nov 13th
Schedule
- 7:30a | Breakfast
- 8:30a | Opening& Worship
- 9:30a | Keynote 1: Innovation that Sticks | Jon Wiest
- 10:30a | Keynote 2: Thy Virtual Kingdom Come | R. York Moore
- 12:00p | Lunch
- 2:00p | Workshops / Table Time / Family Time
- 6:00p | NCMS After Dark
In With The New
Building on the concepts gained on day 1, the question now shifts to how can we reach a group of people so often overlooked by the people of God? Are there ways of showing love and spreading the good news of Jesus in ways that, to some, may seem unconventional? Would it render a technique ineffective because it’s not widely adopted? Today’s keynotes will help you develop new skins for the new wine that God is pressing.
Keynote Speakers
Jon Wiest
Exponential Next & Mobilize The Church
Jon Wiest is the Director of Next Ventures for Exponential NEXT and the Strategic Director of Mobilize the Church, a global ministry mobilizing disciple-makers, pioneer leaders, and church planters. He previously planted churches in Dallas, TX, and Des Moines, IA, and is the author of Banding Together and Pioneers. Jon has degrees from Wheaton College, Wesley Seminary, and a D.Min. in Church Planting from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is a rabid San Francisco 49ers fan, loves traveling, sports, and history, and currently lives in the Indianapolis, IN area with his wife and four daughters.
R. York Moore
Coalition for Christian Outreach
R. York Moore is an innovator, strategist, revivalist, and abolitionist. He is the President & CEO for the Coalition for Christian Outreach, an author of several books, and a convener of leaders for evangelism and missions in America. York also is the co-founder of the EVERY CAMPUS Coalition, a national multi-organizational coalition focused on planting gospel movements on every campus in America.
Day 3
Nov 14th
Schedule
- 7:30a | Breakfast
- 8:30a | Opening& Worship
- 9:30a | Keynote 1: The Theology of Fun | Jaclyn S. Parrish
- 10:30a | Keynote 2: Level Up your Youth Ministry | Jamie Harris
- 12:00p | Lunch
- 2:00p | Workshops / Table Time / Family Time
- 6:00p | NCMS After Dark
The Power of Play
Play, joy, and curiosity are essential to our well-being, influencing everything from recovery to learning. Yet, the Church has only begun to understand their spiritual impact. On Day 3, Jaclyn Parrish will explore the theology of fun and the role of play in shaping us into the people God created us to be. Then, Jamie Harris will show how the local church can leverage video game competitions, board game nights, and other forms of nerd ministry to reach the next generation with creativity and joy.
Keynote Speakers
Jaclyn S. Parrish
South Western Baptist Theological Seminary
Jaclyn S. Parrish is the director of marketing at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. She holds a B.A. in English and Christian Studies from Dallas Baptist University, and an M.A. in Religion, Ministry from the B. H. Carroll Theological Institute. She has written for the Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and is currently authoring a book on the Theology of Fun. Jaclyn has spoken at the past two LTN Cons, and NCMS 2023. When not engaging in academia Jaclyn can be found around the table, embracing the fantastic wilds of Dungeons & Dragons with some of her closest friends.
Jamie Harris
Satellite Gaming
Jamie is the founder and CEO of Satellite Gaming based in Salem, Oregon. The mission of Satellite Gaming is to point students to Jesus Christ by building relationships through video games. They accomplishing this using Nerd culture/video game educational workshops for families and community members and local eSports tournaments for students. Since starting almost 10 years ago Satellite Gaming has experienced unprecedented growth, and has impacted thousands of families not only in Oregon, or the United States, but around the globe.
Registration
3 Day Summit Ticket
$135
All 3 Days
6 Keynotes
7 Workshops
3 Days + Breakfast
$235
All 3 Days
6 Keynotes
7 Workshops
Breakfast Every Morning
1 Day Summit Ticket
$45
Your Choice of 1 Day
2 Keynotes
2/3 Workshops
Workshops
Day 1
Day 1 // 2:00p & 3:45p
Crafting Your Digital Identity: A Branding Workshop
Lorumerth
Day 1 // 2:00p & 3:45p
Quest for Sustainability: Sharing Your Story to Forge Lasting Support
Jon Crawford // Reliant
Day 3 // 2:00p & 3:45p
Tech for Good: Redemptive Innovations with FaithTech
FaithTech
Day 2
Day 2 // 2:00p & 3:45p
Planting Pioneers: Planting Nerd-Focused Churches In-Person or Online
Rowland Smith // Moderator
Panelists to include:
Mark Lutz // Lux Digital Church
Nathan Webb // Checkpoint Church
Philip & Anika Bonin // Nerch
Day 2 // 2:00p & 3:45p
Nerd Ministry 101: Academic Pathways and Certification
Brad Hickey // Dordt University
Day 3
Day 1 // 2:00p & 3:45p
Roll for Discipleship: The Power of D&D in Ministry
Mark Lutz // Lux Digital Church + Giles Hash // Discipleship Gaming Ministry
