HICKORY, N.C. (WHKY)— Corinth Reformed Church is launching “Extending Hope,” a new five-part speaker series aimed at helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s most pressing challenges through practical teaching and discussion.

The free series, which is open to the public regardless of church background or affiliation, will feature nationally recognized authors, educators and thought leaders addressing topics such as parenting in a digital world, prodigal children, church hurt and other issues affecting families and communities.

Each event will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Bost Memorial Hall at Corinth Reformed Church.

“In calling his church to be the light of the world, Jesus has called us to be a beacon of hope,” said Nick Perrin, senior pastor at Corinth Reformed Church. “That’s why I’m so excited that, starting this August, Corinth will be bringing hope to the community in this very practical way.

“Tackling some tough topics about tough things in life, our lineup of speakers will not only challenge us to think differently about our future paths, but also motivate us to journey those paths wisely,” Perrin said.

The series opens Aug. 20 with “Extending Hope to Parents in the Digital Age,” featuring Read Mercer Schuchardt, Ph.D., associate professor of communication at Wheaton College and a contributor to the book Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age.

During the presentation, Schuchardt will discuss how technology influences the way children think, learn, communicate and develop their understanding of themselves and others as digital devices continue to play an increasingly significant role in daily life.

Church leaders said the goal of the series is to provide practical guidance and encouragement while creating opportunities for continued learning. In addition to the presentations, Corinth will offer supplemental resources, including book studies and occasional mini-sermon series, to help attendees explore each topic more deeply.

Additional information about the series, including speaker biographies, event dates and a recommended reading list, is available at corinthtoday.org/extending-hope.