How did Higher Things get its start and for what purpose was it founded?
The impetus for Higher Things began with the desire of several LCMS pastors to put on a quality Lutheran youth conference that would truly “Dare to be Lutheran.” In early September 1999, plans were unveiled for the Dying to Live National Lutheran Youth Conference in Laramie, WY, which was held in July 2000 and was sponsored by the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. The conference theme was based on the outline of Rev. Harold Senkbeil’s popular catechetical book, Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness. Over 700 registrants from 25 different states were in attendance at what was, for all intents and purposes, the first Higher Things conference. Based on the interest and success of that first conference in Laramie, plans developed for what would become Higher Things. The rest is, as they say, history.
