Our Story

The Emerging Christian Scholars (ECS) Conference and Journal was co-founded by Obadiah Mariona and Dr. Matt Stanton. This conference is for all who are interested in learning how to think, study, and write to the glory of God, regardless of their current education. In 2025, they began discussing the need students had in growing in their academic journey. One of these felt needs was the ability to not only write, but present and publish an academic paper. While most papers are submitted to a professor for a grade, excellent papers should be shared with the wider community of scholarship. Such an avenue does not currently exist in Canada for post-secondary students in Christian education. Thus, ECS was born.

ECS provides students of all levels the ability to grow on their academic journey by providing them the opportunity to present and publish their academic work across a variety of disciplines. This is for BA, MA/ MDIV, and PHD level students. Students can join ECS and present their papers to their peers thereby furthering the scholarship being done in their field. Then, their papers can be submitted for publication with an academic journal so that they can be shared with a wider international audience. However, this conference is not exclusively for those currently in school. Any and all who are interested in learning how to think, study, and write to the glory of God are welcome! We encourage pastors, teachers, writers, professors and all who are interested in continually learning about God to attend the conference!

This conference will benefit those who are not currently a student as our two plenary speakers, Dr. Michael Haykin and Dr. Bill DeJong will not only present their papers but also explain how they wrote their papers, so that all can learn to reflect them in their scholarship. Today, in Canada, we stand in need of men and women of godly character, who are rooted in Scripture and intellectually robust. We seek to raise up a generation, not simply of scholars, but of Christians who glorify God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength. We long for those who are equipped at ECS to glorify God with their minds and serve faithfully and sacrificially in their local church. Join us in September for ECS 2026!