Missions Conference

Our church has a long legacy of missions conferences that have sparked years of change in people's lives ~ and in the church's life.  I have heard of the missions conference where a couple was called to Africa.  I have heard of the conference in 1987 when the speaker asked men who were interested in a work trip to meet over to the side afterward, and out of that, eight young-ish men (dads with young children; not retired men as the speaker thought would be interested) went on a 2-week short-term trip to Colombia, which birthed a strong short-term missions emphasis in our church. 

We still have a 15-day missions conference.  Granted, there are not activities each day, but it spans 15 days.  Global Worship Night.  Saturday morning men's breakfast.  Afternoon ladies' group.  Annual ladies' dessert with testimony.  Nine meals in homes.  Missions fair on a Sunday morning in the gym.  Three main speakers on Sunday mornings.  Three Saturday night special events.  Missionaries speaking in adult & children's Sunday school.  Missionaries speaking in Awana.  Missionaries speaking in youth group.  Missionaries sharing in prayer meeting.  

Over 120 men showed up to the men's breakfast, where our pastor and his two brothers (all three of whom have spent decades in ministry) shared about the influence of their own father and also their own successes and failures as dads and men.  I heard it was very encouraging! 

I was unable to attend the annual ladies' dessert this year, but I heard the missionary "was not only sharing about her campus ministry but opened up about the painful family situation they are going through. Giving testimony about the faithfulness and love and sufficient grace of our Lord Jesus."  I have been amazed how consistently transparent that Tuesday night in November has been.  

The first Saturday night was a (very efficiently run) nacho bar, followed by the Great Race of Faith (visiting 5 countries for 9 minutes each) before breaking up into children & adults.  I can't speak for the children's session, but the adults were spurred on to love Jesus and share Him with this generation. 

The Great Race of Faith captured the enthusiasm of our children!  In Mexico, we made an Eye of God craft. In Turkey we played a matching game of unreached people groups (or we could have drawn Bible verses in henna on paper hands). In Japan we did origami. In China we practiced calligraphy (or did a chop stick relay with pom poms).  In Tanzania, we carried an empty 6-gallon water jug in a relay race around the gym.  

The second Saturday night was Taste of Missions.  Sub sandwiches were provided for all, and then you could visit food carts stationed around the gym.  Each cart had a few catered dishes from an international restaurant, and you literally could be served a bite of each one, if desired.  India, Kenya, Thai, Mediterranean, and Chinese. Yum!  Afterward, children and adults had separate programming.

The third Saturday night we were unable to attend the Coffee House Night followed by hearing from the main speaker. 

And Missions Conference culminates on the third Sunday with a Missions Fair in the gym, with dozens of booths representing both local & foreign ministries.  Some of the children's Sunday School classes take prepared "passports" and a scavenger hunt page, and spend their Sunday School time, visiting the booths in small groups and asking questions to learn about the various ministries.  It's always a highlight & is an upbeat way to end the conference!