Biola University- October 11-13, 2023
- Chase Gymnasium
- Hosted By: Spiritual Development
Cost and Admission
This event is free to attend.
Jesus is full of grace. He ate with sinners and tax collectors, healed the sick, and elevated the marginalized. And Jesus is full of truth. He condemned the religious leaders for being hypocritical, called out those who manipulated the financial systems for their benefit, and flipped tables in the temple.
For some of us, the Jesus of grace is more appealing than the Jesus of truth, and for others, the Jesus of truth overshadows the Jesus of grace. But God’s glory is displayed in Jesus who is all grace, all truth, all the time. Grace and truth are inextricably intertwined.
When John begins his gospel, he retells the creation story to make sure his readers recognize the eternal significance of what God is doing in our world. God has been bringing order to chaos. He is ushering light into the darkness. He will always be cultivating the fullness of life where there is only void.
John’s cosmic retelling hits its climax in verse 14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. The verb in this verse is literally “tented” or “tabernacled” - and this is a direct connection to the Old Testament tabernacle, which was the place where God met with his people. Where John utilized motifs from Genesis in the beginning of his gospel, he now uses language from Exodus to explain the profound reality that God doesn’t just meet with humans, but actually becomes human.
And we see the significance of the incarnate Jesus as verse 14 continues: We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. The way God’s glory looks on earth is displayed in Jesus, in the embodiment of both grace and truth. It’s not grace or truth, or some grace and some truth, but full of grace and truth.
And so, it’s through the lens of grace and truth, in the fullness of God’s glory demonstrated in Jesus, that we will explore three crucial topics of today: race, sex, and doubt. What does it mean to be a Christian in our multicultural, globalized world? How are we supposed to approach sex in our post-purity-culture context? How can we live out and even thrive in our faith when Christian ideals are seen as outdated and obsolete?
We are excited to see how the Holy Spirit will be guiding us to both grace and truth during Torrey Conference on October 11-13, 2023.
Questions?
Contact Spiritual Development at:
562-777-4041
spiritual.development@biola.edu
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
All Main Sessions and Breakouts are for 1 conference credit unless otherwise noted.
Please note there are only 4 credits offered on Wednesday.
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30–11:00 a.m. | Session 1 Worship team: Worship Initiative, Davy Flowers and Trenton Bell Speaker: Isaac Adams, Author and Pastor Message: Why is it so hard to talk about race? Talking about race is difficult, even within our churches filled with believers united by Christ. Why is that the case? What is it about this topic that causes such division and hurt? Isaac Adams will explore the reasons behind the division and encourage believers to dig in despite the difficulty. |
Chase Gymnasium Crowell (no food or drink allowed) Calvary (ABR if needed) |
| 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. | Outdoor Lunch
| Fluor Fountain & locations around campus |
| 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Continuing the Conversation on Race & Civility (NO CREDIT) Hosted by the Winsome Conviction Project With Isaac Adams |
Kim Dining Room (Cafe) |
| 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Breakout A | Location and topics on the Breakouts tab |
| 3–4:00 p.m. | Breakout B | Location and topics on the Breakouts tab |
| 4-7:00 p.m. | Dinner on your own
| |
| 7:00–8:30 p.m. | Session 2 Worship team: Worship Initiative: Davy Flowers and Trenton Bell Speaker: Rachel Joy Welcher, Author Message: Purity is not Salvation, but Chastity can be Worship What happens when you follow all the “purity culture” rules and end up divorced at age 30, wondering if God has failed you or you had failed God? What are the ways the purity movement twisted biblical truths and how can we view chastity as a form of worship, rather than a road to salvation or “the good life?” |
Chase Gymnasium Crowell (no food or drink allowed) Calvary |
| 8:30–10 p.m. | Sola Soul (NO CREDIT) Sponsored by the Office of Campus Engagement Artist: nobigdyl On Cue Photobooth Snacks provided by OCE |
Fireplace Pavilion |
Thursday, October 12, 2023
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30–11:00 a.m. | Session 3 Worship team: Worship Initiative: Davy Flowers and Trenton Bell Speaker: Sean McDowell, Professor and Author Message: Deconstructing What You Believe Without Sinking Your Faith How can you analyze and reevaluate your Christian beliefs and experiences in the church while keeping the core of your faith intact? |
Chase Gymnasium Overflow sites if needed |
| 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. | Continuing the Conversation on:
Student Led Worship (Lower SUB)
Experiential Sites open |
Various |
| 1:30–4:15 p.m. | Session 4 (2 credits) Speaker: Tim Blycker Message: Walk Thru the Bible - Old Testament Have you ever wondered what the story of the Old Testament is all about? How the laws, judges, kings, and prophets all fit together? Join us as we learn the narrative of the Old Testament, and how it all fits into God's story of grace and truth. Watch this video for a more detailed explanation. |
Chase Gymnasium |
| 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Puppy Patch | SUB Lawn |
| 7-9:30 p.m. | Session 5 (2 credits) sTorrey Slam: Hear personal stories of Grace & Truth from the Biola community followed by original musical compositions by Sam Vance. Featuring:
Extended Worship — Worship Initiative: Davy Flowers and Trenton Bell |
Chase Gymnasium |
Friday, October 13, 2023
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30–11:45 a.m. | Session 6 (2 credits) Facilitator: Mike Ahn Reflection and Response: Join us as we process what God has been doing in the conference and consider ways we might participate with him moving forward. |
Calvary Chapel
(ABR if needed) |
Keynote Speakers
Isaac Adams
Isaac Adams serves as Lead Pastor at Iron City Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also the founder of United? We Pray, a ministry devoted to praying about racial strife - especially between Christians. He is the author of Talking About Race: Gospel Hope for Hard Conversations (Zondervan, 2022).
Isaac was born and raised in Washington, D.C.. He studied journalism and religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his Master of Divinity from Southern Seminary.
He is married to Megan, and they have four children. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, hanging out with Megan, and watching UNC be superior to Dook in all things.
Rachel Joy Welcher
Rachel Joy Welcher is an author living in South Dakota with her husband, Pastor Evan Welcher, and their longed-for daughter, Hildegaard. Rachel works as a book editor at Lexham Press, and received her Master's degree in theology from The University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She is the author of three collections of poetry, and the book "Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality" (InterVarsity Press, 2020).
Sean McDowell
Sean McDowell is an assistant professor of Christian Apologetics at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He has a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people to process all areas of life through a biblical worldview. Sean is the co-host of the Think Biblically podcast, which is one of the most popular podcasts on faith and cultural engagement and his YouTube channel is one of the top apologetics channels. In addition, he is the author, co-author, or editor of over twenty books including Chasing Love, The Fate of the Apostles, So The Next Generation Will Know (with J. Warner Wallace), Evidence that Demands a Verdict (with Josh McDowell) and many more. Follow the dialogue with Sean as he blogs regularly at seanmcdowell.org.
Tim Blycker
Tim was raised in Guatemala by missionary parents. He earned his Master in Biblical Studies at the Central American Theological Seminary in Guatemala.
He has led Walk Thru the Bible seminars all over the U.S. and as well as Cuba, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Peru, England, Spain, Canada, Colombia, Venezuela, Turkey, Panama & Ecuador.
Tim has been married to Debbie since 1991 and are blessed with two sons, Caleb and Josiah and one daughter-in-law, Carrie.
Tim and Debbie have been serving as missionaries since 1994, 15 of those years in central Mexico. Tim is currently the Hispanic Director for Walk Thru the Bible in North America and trainer-at-large in all Spanish-speaking countries. Tim and Debbie serve in Rio Grande Bible College & in a local Spanish-speaking church plant.
Artists
Davy Flowers
Davy Flowers was born and raised in Houston Texas. She is a worship leader and songwriter who carries a passion to see people from all walks of life encounter Christ for themselves in authentic and transforming ways. Her heart’s desire is to write songs and lead worship in such a way that connects broken and weary hearts with the power, presence and love of God. She is currently a Resident Artist and Songwriter at the Worship Initiative and is a Worship Leader at Watermark Community Church.
Trenton Bell
Trenton Bell is a member of the Worship Initiative family of worship leaders, where he has been investing and equipping for 4 years. He has been leading worship for a little over a decade in different capacities. He’s married to his beautiful wife Chelee and they have a son. When he’s not leading with The Worship Initiative or at his local church in Virginia, he’s spending quality time with friends and family.
nobigdyl
nobigdyl. is an artist from Middle Tennessee, and part of the “indie tribe” collective, made up of Mogli The Iceberg, Jon Keith, DJ MykaelV, and himself. Inspired by many genres, nobigdyl. strives to combine melodic production with transparent lyrics and bring content to the forefront of hip hop again.
Breakout Speakers
James Paek
James Paek was on staff as worship pastor at Willow Creek Community Church located in the greater Chicago area, and he currently leads worship at various churches including Christ’s Church of the Valley located in Arizona. James is also a song writer and artist whose music, like "Exit Us," has touched millions of hearts on Spotify. His songs find a special place on playlists like Worship Now and New Music Friday Christian. James’s worship isn't just music—it's a personal journey of connection. Beyond the melodies, James carries a deep passion for justice and a mission to help people uncover the inherent beauty and dignity placed within them by God.
Tim Pae
Timothy Pae has been in worship ministry for the past 18 years and most recently served as worship director at EKKO Church. He has also worked in the music industry with over 15 years of studio and live production experience. His work spans diverse artists, from Metallica's Robert Trujillo to the K-pop artist Hyolyn from YG Entertainment. Timothy's true calling lies in nurturing the future of worship leaders and songwriters.
Shawn Halim
Shawn Halim is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer that graduated from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. As an active performer and producer, Shawn has collaborated with artists such as TAEYEON, Us the Duo, and Jonathan Ogden, among others. Shawn is the In-Residence Composer for Alabaster Co. and Executive Producer for their various projects. He served as Director of Music at a church in Arcadia, CA from 2007 until his transition to Director of Music at New Worshipping Community in Temple City, CA in October 2022. Shawn served as staff at USC’s InterVarsity chapter, and played on the Urbana ’18 and ’22 Worship Teams. Ultimately, Shawn has a passion to amplify voices and help people connect with Jesus through his melodies.
Paul Larez, Licensed Psychologist, CIFT
Dr. Paul Larez is a licensed clinical psychologist and speaker on sexual recovery and Christian integration. He holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, where he completed his dissertation on pornography's influence on masculinity, spirituality, and mental health.
He works at CIFT Counseling in Costa Mesa as a therapist specializing in trauma and addiction recovery, couples therapy, and cult/spiritual abuse. Dr. Larez is also an adjunct professor of psychology at Concordia University in Irvine where he lectures on trauma psychology and human sexuality. In his personal time, he is an avid movie lover and concert enthusiast and enjoys running, yoga, cycling, and cooking pasta and pizza at home with his cocker spaniel Bailey.
Janelle Aijian, Associate Director, Torrey Honors College
Janelle Aijian earned her bachelor's degree in philosophy from Biola, and her Ph.D. in philosophy from Baylor University, where she specialized in Blaise Pascal's account of how we can have knowledge of God. Her current research is on how scepticism fits into the life of faith, and on acedia, or spiritual despondency. She lives in La Mirada with her husband and two kids (also a bunny and a very old cat).
Levi Duren
Levi Duren is a Southern California musician whose music presents a raw processing of life’s many facets. Levi earned his degree in Music in Worship from Biola University in 2014 and first entered the music industry as a member of “Creekwood”, a newgrass Americana band. Currently, he is operating as a solo artist and playing funk/rock.
Noelle Delacruz
Noelle Delacruz currently serves as the associate director of Global Student Programs and Development at Biola University. She is passionate about creating spaces for others to embrace and celebrate the fullness of who they are- including their cultural heritage. As a spiritual director, she loves the privilege of walking alongside others on their faith journey, especially through group direction and leading retreats.
Willa Williams
Please note: Breakouts are held Wednesday only.
Isaac Adams — What can I do about racial injustice?
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Chase Gymnasium
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Business 109
- Description: This is a question our ministry gets all the time. Christians are people who care about injustice and want to do something about injustice. The trouble is, on this issue, we’re often unsure about what to do. The scope of the problem can feel daunting, even paralyzing. Isaac will encourage us with practical tips and things all believers can do to work toward greater justice and unity.
Rachel Joy Welcher — Jesus Has A Body
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Business 109
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Chase Gymnasium
- Description: What can the embodiment of Jesus teach us about our sexuality?
Paul Larez — The Truth About Porn
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Calvary Chapel
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Business 103
- Description: This will be an honest and compassionate exploration of the impact of online pornography on our society, our relationships, and in our everyday lives. Come unpack the lies about sex that pornography teaches, learn the sobering reality of its roots in human trafficking, and discover how to finally break free from fantasy and move towards spiritual and emotional wholeness.
Janelle Aijian — Why Do I Believe? Navigating the complex reasons why Christians believe, and why they doubt
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Business 103
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Calvary Chapel
- Description: Seasons of doubt and spiritual disorientation are a normal part of a Christian life, but how do we navigate them when they come? The answer to this question depends so much on what was grounding our belief, and what brought on the season of doubt. In this session, we will talk through different reasons why Christians believe in the gospel, and different reasons why they come to doubt it, and give some takeaways for what to do when you or someone you love experiences a season of doubt.
Willa Williams — The Power of WITH - How to Be With a Friend During Difficult Times
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Mayers Auditorium
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Marshburn 4
- Description: Friendship is a gift, and we are so blessed to have friends! We can have so much fun and joy going through life together, celebrating the good things. But we also have to go through difficult times as well. Come and learn about how to be a good friend, to be WITH a friend, when they are struggling and going through a tough time. Let's learn how to rejoice with those who rejoice, and effectively mourn with those who mourn.
Core Curriculum Committee — Truth Matters: A Gracious Conversation
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Kim Dining Room (Cafe)
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Kim Dining Room (Cafe)
- Core Curriculum Committee: Dr. Darian Lockett, Dr. Joy Qualls, Dr. Jason Wilson, Chelsie Stunrod, Dr. Melissa Schubert Johnson, Sandy Hough
- Description: The truth and grace of Christ are deeply embedded in the core curriculum at Biola University, and this is the heartbeat of the Christian liberal arts! Join six panelists from around the university to hear why God's truth matters in today's supposedly post-truth world.
Levi Duren & Sam Vance — What It Feels Like: A Musical Journey Through Doubt
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Crowell Music Hall (No food or drink)
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Crowell Music Hall (No food or drink)
- Description: This session explores the feelings and experiences of a doubt journey grappling with intellectual and emotional challenges to faith through music.
Noelle Delacruz — Are We Known By Our Love?
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Marshburn 4
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Mayers Auditorium
- Description: The world will know that we are His disciples if we love one another. But does the world know Christians by our love? It matters how we love one another, treat each other, and are for one another - especially across our differences. Could we lead the way towards reconciliation by loving our neighbors through cross cultural friendships?
James Paek, Tim Pae, and Shawn Halim — Finding Your Story in God’s Story
- Breakout A: 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Andrews Banquet Room
- Breakout B: 3–4 p.m. at Andrews Banquet Room
- Description: Join three seasoned worship pastors as they discuss leadership in various church contexts, share songs from their journey, and as they embark on songwriting and artistic ventures to create new spaces for the church.
| Experiential Sites | Description | Location & Time |
|---|---|---|
Process Space |
A quiet space to creatively and reflectively process through the heavy topics of the conference and/or whatever else the Holy Spirit has put on your heart. Prayer prompts and art supplies will be provided. | SGA Conference Room (Upper SUB), always open |
| Prayer + Worship Space | Making space for people to gather, intimately meet with the Lord, and glorify Him through corporate worship. |
Lower level of the SUB (7 a.m.- 10:30 p.m.) |
| Planting Seeds | Join us as we plant spinach seeds and contemplate what it means to sow seeds of growth, unity, hope, and ultimately grace and truth. You can keep your planted seed to watch it grow or leave it to be planted in the Biola garden. |
Bardwell Patio (Wednesday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 4-7 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) |
| Resource Tables |
|
Fluor Fountain (Wednesday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 4-6:30 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) |
| Singer-Songwriter Showcase | Students from the Worship Arts and Commercial Music program will be showcasing their gifts and talents, featuring original music. | Eddy Stage (Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & 4-6:30 p.m.) |
| Bible Writing | Join us as we write the books of 1, 2, & 3 John together, verse by verse. | Fireplace Pavilion (Wednesday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 4-7 p.m. and Thursday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 4-7 p.m.) |
| Testimonies of Hope | A quiet place to be encouraged by the video testimony of others and be empowered to process emotions and/or hurt. | Marshburn 1 (Wednesday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & 4-7 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 4-7 p.m.) |
| Puppy Patch | Come hang with the cutest puppies on the SUB Lawn! | SUB grass area (Thursday 4:30-6:30 p.m.) |
Resources
Need to Process during TC23?
Check out our resources available during TC23
- Spiritual Direction - 30-min time slots
- Check-in at Student Services Front Desk (across from the gym)
- Wed 11:30-1:00 p.m., 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Thurs 11:30-1:00 p.m.
- Pastoral Care — 30-min time slots
- Check-in at Student Services Front Desk (across from the gym)
- Wed 1:30-3:30 p.m., 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Thurs 4:30-6:30 p.m.
- Biola Counseling Center at the Student Health Center — Drop-in times
- Wed 10 a.m-12 p.m. at the Student Health Center
- 4-6 p.m. at the Biola Counseling Center
- Thurs from 12-3 p.m. at the Student Health Center
- Wed 10 a.m-12 p.m. at the Student Health Center
- Center for Marriage and Relationship — free relationship advice
Race
Sex
- Talking Back to the Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality by Rachel Joy Welcher
- Center for Marriage and Relationships
Doubt
The Torrey Memorial Bible Conference is a three-day conference beginning Wednesday morning, October 11 in Chase Gymnasium with overflow in various locations around campus. There will be 4 credit opportunities offered on Wednesday, 5 credit opportunities offered on Thursday and a 2-credit opportunity to process the themes more deeply through prayer and reflection on Friday morning.
All Main Sessions and Breakouts are for 1 conference credit unless otherwise noted.
Full-time students (12+ units) are required to fulfill 5 conference credits, but are invited to attend the entire conference!
Part-time students (9-11 units) are required to fulfill 3 conference credits, but are invited to attend the entire conference!
Students taking 8 units or less are encouraged, but not required to attend.
If you accumulate more than the required conference credits, the additional credits will count towards your spiritual development (chapel) requirement for this semester.
BIG THANK YOU to our amazing Event Services and EMC Video Production staff who are never fully appreciated for the amazing work they put into this conference.
Thanks to Leon Darley and the Bon Appetit team for making the opening lunch possible.
Shout out to our amazing Chapel Interns:
(L-R) Cienna Lopez, Gracie Ghattas, Hannah Fodera, FaithJean Weber, Kaira Low, and Andrew Cantelmi.
We’re so grateful for the tremendous Torrey Conference volunteers that have put in countless hours to make it all happen. You’re the best!
-web.jpg)
-web.jpg)