Not so many months ago, Tim Rogers, pastor of Grace Point Church in Paradise, was struggling with a frustration. "I felt like there was a cumulative effect of what I was seeing politically and relative to COVID-19," he said. "I was feeling that Christians are supposed to be people of truth, (but) if Christians can't discern truth in what they're reading and what they're sharing on social media and the theories they engage or propagate, how can anyone take them seriously when (they are) trying to present Jesus as a truth?"

Rogers' frustration grew into a proposal for a Sunday school series and then into a preview session for a limited audience. Now, Rogers, with help from Scott Feather, pastor of Gateway Church, Parkesburg, will present "True or False - Truth, Deception, Conspiracies, and Why It All Matters" for Christians and non-Christians at the Together Community Center, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, on Saturday, May 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be a nominal fee to attend, and lunch will be included.

Rogers has put a great deal of time and effort into researching his subject. As part of his research, he looked into Christian nationalism and its impact on the conservative evangelical block. "The seminar is built to try to increase our understanding of the framework for Christian nationalism and shifting perception of evangelicals and to give us a framework about how to think well about what is true and false," he explained. "We have to identify what is going on in our culture a bit better and (consider) why we want to think certain things are true."

Feather attended the three-hour preview session, and he quickly found himself identifying with Rogers' frustration, but he also recognized a difference in his own reaction to the subject. "I am feeling the exact same thing, and I had thrown my hands up in the air and got angry," said Feather, noting that he appreciates Rogers' calm and deliberate approach to the subject. "(Rogers) thought ... as leaders and educators, we can help people see more clearly, and that's why I was gravitating toward it," shared Feather, who quickly offered to help Rogers run the seminar.

Leaders of the seminar are hoping to help attendees build skills they can use to not only decipher truth, but also to foster respectful discussion. "We can disagree with each other without disregarding each other," noted Rogers. "That is a value for this seminar." Rogers has set specific goals for attendees. "I would hope that people would be interested in coming to grow in their knowledge to learn civil discourse and walk away with some tools that will help them live in both truth and grace with each other," he said. "Help (them) discern what is true and graciously honor ... those around (them) who sometimes think very differently."

Individuals who wish to register for the event may do so at http://bit.ly/trueorfalseseminar by Monday, May 3. Although the seminar will not be livestreamed, it will be recorded for those who cannot attend. Those wishing to watch the recording are also asked to register under "Recording" at the same link.