Join us at our annual training conference for all Chi Alpha staff serving in the Northeast

DATES
June 16-20, 2025

COST
$109/staff
$50 late fee beginning May 15

LOCATION
The Summit at Erie First Assembly
8160 Oliver Rd, Erie, PA 16509

The first 30 registrants will receive a free gift!

Session Speakers

Dr. Carmen Joy Imes

Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in Southern California. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the forthcoming Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters. Carmen has appeared on over 150 podcasts and has a YouTube channel where she releases weekly Torah Tuesday videos and you can find her writing on various websites, including Christianity Today, The Well, and The Politics of Scripture blog. Carmen is passionate about equipping the church to engage the Old Testament well and to see its relevance for the Christian life.

Andrew and Jess Foster

Prodcuts of Chi Alpha at the University of Virginia, Andrew and Jess Foster currently serve as leaders of a church planting team in Granada, Spain, where they have lived since 2017. Their team is part of the Secular Peoples Initatiative, a movement launched by the Europe Region of Assemblies of God World Missions dedicated to the advocacy, training, and sending of teams to plant churches among the least reached peoples and places of the secular world. They believe deeply in God's heart for the lost and are dedicated to seeing thriving communities of faith planted among the secular peoples of Europe.

Lodging

Wingate by Wyndham Erie
8060 Old Oliver Rd, Erie, PA 16509

Located right next to the church, there is a walking path from the Wingate to LIGHT, so you can leave your car at the hotel. Plan to leave a tip for the hotel staff. $2 a day is suggested.

Meals

Breakfast

Provided by the Wingate in the lobby.

Lunch

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at The Summit

Dinner

Monday and Thursday at The Summit
Tuesday at the Beach
Wednesday on your own

XAMK Program

There is no cost for children to participate in the XAMK experience, but please register them so we have their info. The XAMK experience will run from 8:30am to 5:00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, including the final gathering on Thursday night.

Children will be separated into five groups for individualized learning and play for age-appropriate activity:

  • Babies: Birth through 2.5 years

  • Preschool Group: Ages 2.5 through age 5

  • Elementary Group: Completed Kindergarten through entering 5th Grade (ages 6-9)

  • Middle School Group: Entering 6th Grade through Completed 8th Grade (ages 10-13)

  • Teenagers: Ages 14 and up.

The expectations and safety protocols for the XAMK Program are available here.

Questions? Contact Lindsay Banton (lindsaybanton@gmail.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Light is the annual training conference for all Chi Alpha staff serving in the Northeast (formerly known as Incite).

  • Check-in runs from 2:00-5:30 pm on Monday, at The Summit.

    All departures should take place on Friday morning.

  • Your registration will cover the cost of the conference, as well as housing and food, with the exception of dinner on Wednesday night.

    Please plan to leave a tip for the hotel cleaning staff at the Wingate. $2.00 a day is suggested.

  • Yes! You can add additional nights at the hotel before or after for $100/night.

  • Due to our room block at the hotel, we cannot accommodate solo rooms. Please be sure to indicate your roommate preference!

  • Yes! All XAMKs attend free. Just remember to register them.

    Our XA MK Program safety programs are available to read here.

Contact

General LIGHT Info
Mike Olejarz
mikeolejarz@gmail.com

XAMK Program
Lindsay Banton
lindsaybanton@gmail.com

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