MaryGrace Grego
What is the CEF?
The Christian Economic Forum (CEF) is one of many diverse programs that The Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation at Grove City College has to offer driven students. The CEF is an international conference that serves as a platform for Christian leaders to discuss some of the world’s most significant challenges. Their goal is to consider how they, as Christ-following leaders, can apply faith-based solutions to these issues.
One of CEF’s unique qualities is that it always takes place in a location bustling with entrepreneurial and innovative energy—often abroad! Junior Entrepreneurship major, Emily Haught, was intrigued for that very reason.
The Center for L.I.F.E at Miami University of Ohio sponsored seven students to attend the CEF from 5 Christian, undergraduate programs across the country, including: Calvin University, Cedarville University, Grove City College, Lipscomb University, and Miami University. Only 3 exceptional students were able to be selected to represent Grove City College at the CEF, making it highly competitive.
Emily Haught’s CEF Experience
Haught found out about the CEF through one of her professors, who reached out about the opportunity because he knew she was highly interested in study abroad programs. She said, “From there, I applied directly to CEF.”
The CEF conference took place in July 2025 in Noordwijk, South Holland, The Netherlands. Haught said that she had an overall great experience at CEF. She described it as a hub of believers from all around the world, all with diverse experiences, stories, and careers—always someone new to talk to and learn from. Haught recalls, “As a student, I did feel intimidated at times, but everyone was so encouraging, welcoming, and open when I asked questions. I was eager to learn, and they were just as eager to share, which took a lot of the pressure off.” She had many opportunities to step outside of her comfort zone, speaking to business professionals and practicing her networking skills, which she said was invaluable. Furthermore, simply listening to their experiences was equally meaningful.
Each day, Haught and her fellow cohort of students heard from different speakers and attended a variety of breakout sessions. Students also had the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings with willing CEF members, which Haught did. She recalled, “I was able to share a meal with a CEF member and hear more about his experience, which was especially impactful.” Haught also enjoyed having a group of students to return to as a cohort each day to reflect, review, and discuss key takeaways together.
Haught’s Key Takeaways
Haught had several of these key takeaways during her time at CEF—not only from the speakers, but also from the experience of attending as a student and practicing networking in a professional setting with fellow believers from around the world.
Most notably, she said that one of her favorite perspectives she gained came from “a conversation I had with an American couple, Michael and Laura Schubert, who have lived in Indonesia for 20 years and run a resort, Telunas Resorts, where they employ locals with few work opportunities. I asked them about how they manage their “work-life balance” as a Christian couple, as business owners, and as parents of four children. He explained it to me like this: all time is God’s time. We should not think about it so much in terms of the common idea of “balance,” where we picture a scale with “work” on one side and “life” on the other. That image almost assumes the two are competitors and must be kept equal to be healthy. Instead, it is important to establish rhythms of work, community, and rest. They should not be treated as opposing forces, but rather as parts of a whole life lived for God.” Haught explained that this perspective stuck with her, “For a believer, there is no separate “work mode” and “spiritual mode,” because every hour of the day and everything we do is lived under God’s lordship.”
Growing Goals at GCC and Beyond
Haught says that her experience at CEF has helped her to feel more confident in settings where nearly everyone in the room is older, wiser, and more experienced by giving her the opportunity to practice initiating conversations. Once she did so, she realized that it flowed naturally and did not have to feel like a formal interview. Rather, a normal conversation in which she was eager to learn, and they were excited to share their experiences. She said, “This is something I will carry with me throughout the rest of college, as well as into my future career in business and as an entrepreneur.
Would Haught recommend the CEF?
When asked if Haught would recommend the CEF to GCC students, she said, “I would definitely recommend CEF… It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with Christian business professionals from around the world, as well as to meet fellow students who share similar passions. The networking opportunities are invaluable, as the room is filled with so many people eager to share their experiences and insights.”
Interested in the CEF?
Check out more information on the CEF HERE.
Upcoming Center for E+I events this semester:
Richard G. Staley ’62 Visionary Entrepreneur Speaker Series with Patrick Colletti