Mark Yaconelli Asks Us to Listen to God in the Darkness at 2024 Founders' Day Lecture

Mark Yaconelli delivers a rousing address.

Photo: MC Miller

"How do we meet God in uncertainty?

How does the darkness draw forth greater trust, creativity, and care?

What freedoms does the Spirit manifest as systems and structures fail?

How can we enter the dark night expectant, with child-like curiosity knowing that 'even the darkness is not dark to you?'"

The 2024 PLTS Founders' Day Lecture featured Mark Yaconelli - a writer, retreat leader, community builder, spiritual director, storycatcher, husband, and father. He is the founder and executive director of The Hearth, a nonprofit that uses personal stories to heal relational poverty. Mark is the author of six books including Between the Listening and the Telling: How Stories Can Save Us (Broadleaf, 2022). The Gift of Hard Things (IVP 2016), and Wonder, Fear, and Longing (Zondervan 2009). Mark holds an MA from the GTU and a Graduate Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark lives in Southern Oregon with his wife Jill. They have three grown children–Noah, Joseph, and Gracie.

You can hear his incredible words of wisdom at the link below!

Watch the Founders' Day Lecture here

More

• Mark Yaconelli Asks Us to Listen to God in the Darkness at 2024 Founders' Day Lecture
  September 20, 2024

  The 2024 PLTS Founders' Day Lecture featured Mark Yaconelli - a writer, retreat leader, community builder, spiritual director, storycatcher, husband, and father. You can hear his incredible words of wisdom at the link inside!

• Dr. Arvin Gouw 2023 Mohrenweiser Lecture
  February 16, 2023

  PLTS was immensely fortunate to welcome Dr. Arvin Gouw for our 2023 Mohrenweiser Lecture. Dr. Gouw clearly described the mechanism and uses of CRISPR for a lay audience, and then dug deeper into the ethical and religious implications of this powerful gene-editing tool. Afterward, Dr. Ted Peters offered a response that pushed religious leaders, particularly pastors, to think through how the existence and increasing prominence of this technology might affect their congregants.

  We encourage you to watch and share the below video of this lecture and continue the conversation.

• PLTS First Chapter Memories
  February 25, 2019

  Reflections on how the Seminary started.

• Citation for Rev. Lucille Kolin
  October 24, 2018

  2018 Alum Award for Distinguished Ministry as a Parish Pastor

• Words from Montana Bishop Jessica Crist: One in Christ... Even when we disagree
  October 24, 2018
• Citation for William Wong '81
  October 24, 2018

  PLTS 2018 Alum Award for Distinguished Ministry in Special Service

• Accreditation input requested
  August 6, 2018

  A committee from the Association of Theological Schools will be on the campus of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary October 22-25 for an accreditation visit.

• Introduction to New Admission Director
  April 17, 2018

  By Sara Schultz ’17, Director of Admission

• A Gift to the PLTS Scholarship Fund
  February 14, 2018

  By Gary Andeen

• Reflections on Spiritual Formation
  February 14, 2018

  By Ray Pickett, Rector