North Greenville University held its 2008 Global Missions Conference Sept. 8-11. This year’s theme centered on “Revelation Song” based on Revelation 7:9-10: “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’?”
Gracia Burnham spoke to NGU students during the recent Global Missions Conference.The week-long conference included close to 70 missionaries, food from other cultures, and unique chapel speakers.
Guest speakers included:
? Gracia Burnham, who served as a missionary to the Philippines with her husband Martin. They were held hostage in the Philippine jungle by the group Abu Sayyaf for 376 days. Her husband was killed in a fire fight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf Group. She was wounded but later freed;
? Tom Grassano, founder and director of Urban Harvest Ministries. He and his wife Lidia have a passion to empower the disenfranchised and equip the church to do relevant ministry among the urban poor and unchurched;
? John Brady, who serves with the International Mission Board of the SBC in the region that encompasses North Africa and the Middle East. He worked as a strategy associate before becoming regional leader for the NAME region in 2000; and
? Nathan Bramsen, a 2006 graduate of NGU and founder of ROCK International, a nonprofit organization seeking to be the “lap of Jesus” for children trapped in the middle of war, disaster, abuse and crisis situations. He was born and raised in Senegal, West Africa, where his parents served as missionaries for 25 years.
Apart from the speakers, international meals were served each evening, a coffee house was held on Monday night, and missionary speaking sessions in classes and evening chapel services were planned.
“My hope is that God moved in the hearts of students and mobilized them,” said Allen McWhite Sr., director of global missions. “It’s been an incredible week. Every region of the world was represented here.”
McWhite, who has orchestrated Global Missions Week at NGU for the past seven years, finds new things to be excited about each year. He is thrilled with the decisions and commitments that more than 200 students made during the week. “We just wanted to see God call more students out to serve.”
Global Missions Conference Global VillageThe missionaries and their organizations were displayed in the global village throughout the week to give students an opportunity to talk with and receive information from the missionaries about working in the mission field.
Jeremy DeLaHoussaye, representative for ROCK International, made his rounds with Bramsen to speak in several classes. “God gives each of us passions and desires; he gives them so we can use them to bring him glory. Pursue your passion, regardless of what it is,” stated DeLaHoussaye.
Many students are apprehensive about the idea of pursuing either short-term or long-term missions. Fortunately, Summer Shine Resort Ministry is an organization located in various parts of America that trains students for missions. Although it is not limited to just that, Summer Shine provides training for many different occupations, with a focus on Christian ministry.
Applications for this year’s upcoming mission trips are in high demand, thanks to the International Mission Board and their numerous displays of local and overseas trips. The IMB trains and sends students to more than 200 countries in 11 different regions. Joy Bausum, representative for Overland Missions, explained to students about the three-month training program the organization provides at their base in Africa.
NGU student Chris Comstock, who traveled to Budapest with LIGHT ministries, shares his experience. “I saw firsthand the depravity of people and the need for the gospel. Go and share the gospel message with people. Sit with them, and let them see the Jesus you serve through your life. You’d be amazed at the receptive nature people have.”
NGU student Simone Gatewood demonstrates that one does not need to leave the country to take the gospel to people. “Going on the LIGHT team trip was a great experience! Even though I was still in the States, it was a completely different way of life in North Dakota. God really used our team to minister to some of the students out there and just to show love to some of the people of the town!”
New missions destinations to East Asia, Guyana, Detroit, and another trip back to India will be available to NGU students next summer.