Life Pacific University’s annual Theology Week unfolded this week as a vibrant and multifaceted exploration of the theme, “Baptism in the Holy Spirit and a Healthy View of the Gifts.” Across three days, students, faculty, and guests engaged both the experiential and academic dimensions of Pentecostal theology, creating a space where worship, scholarship, and spiritual formation intersected meaningfully.
The week began on Tuesday with a chapel message from Dr. Ken Bringas, who centered his teaching on the significance of Spirit baptism in the life of the believer. His message invited students to consider not only the theological foundations of the doctrine but also its personal and communal implications. Emphasizing both openness to the Spirit and discernment, Dr. Bringas set the tone for the week by encouraging a posture of expectancy grounded in Scripture.
Following chapel, students gathered for a Theo Talk that shifted into a more academic engagement with Spirit baptism. This session provided a deeper theological framework, exploring historical interpretations, biblical texts, and contemporary questions surrounding the doctrine. The discussion allowed students to wrestle intellectually with ideas that are often experienced more than analyzed, bridging the gap between lived faith and theological reflection.
Wednesday’s chapel moved from theology to practice, as Pastor Ben Dixon led a powerful service focused on the healthy use of spiritual gifts, particularly the prophetic. In a setting marked by attentiveness and reverence, students were invited to receive prayer and participate in prophetic ministry. The emphasis remained on cultivating a biblically grounded and pastorally sensitive approach to spiritual gifts. An approach that builds up the community while remaining accountable and discerning.
The subsequent Theo Talk on prophecy offered a space to process the morning’s experiences through a theological lens. Students engaged in questions about the nature of prophetic ministry, its role in the church today, and how to practice it responsibly. This combination of encounter and reflection highlighted one of the week’s central goals: forming leaders who are both spiritually responsive and theologically rooted.
The week culminated on Thursday with an academic lecture featuring world-renowned Pentecostal theologian Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen. His presentation provided a global and ecumenical perspective on Pneumatology, challenging students to consider how the doctrine of the Holy Spirit functions across diverse Christian traditions. The lecture was followed by thoughtful responses from Meagan Lord, MA, Jen Thigpenn, MDiv, and Dr. Andy Opie, each offering critical engagement and conversation into Kärkkäinen’s work.
The session concluded with a robust Q&A, during which approximately one hundred students participated in thoughtful dialogue, posing questions that reflected both curiosity and theological maturity. This final event encapsulated the heart of Theology Week which is a commitment to serious scholarship that remains deeply connected to the life of the church.
Altogether, the week offered a holistic exploration of Spirit baptism and spiritual gifts, one that honored both the power of spiritual experience and the necessity of theological clarity. For Life Pacific University students, Theology Week was not merely a series of events, but a formative encounter equipping them to engage the work of the Holy Spirit with wisdom, humility, and faithfulness.
