GAINESVILLE, Georgia, Dec. 21 /
Christian Newswire/ -- College students from across the country and around the globe will be traveling to St. Louis in December for Urbana 09, InterVarsity's twenty-second Student Missions Conference. Four representatives from Adventures In Missions will be joining them. Many participants will be inspired to dedicate their lives to God's service. Some will answer the call to the mission field.
"Urbana is a gathering of people that take the Lord seriously when He says to 'go and make disciples,'" said Allison Johnston, AIM's World Race Program Coordinator and World Race Alumna. "We are excited to come alongside and share with them about the World Race and all that God is doing through this experience."
Organized by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the December 27-31, 2009, conference will focus on the most pressing global issues currently faced by those active in missions around the world. The four main focuses at Urbana 09 are: movement of peoples, money in terms of missions funding, environmental stewardship and divisions between peoples.
"The theme for Urbana 09 is He Dwelled Among Us, taken from the Gospel of John 1:14. This theme is becoming real to us as we prepare for Urbana in the midst of an economic downturn that is leaving many ministries with financial shortfalls," said Urbana Director Jim Tebbe.
For generations, Urbana has sought to accomplish four objectives: declare God's character and mission as revealed in Scripture (missio Dei); inform participants about the current realities in global missions; call all participants to join God's mission; and motivate participants to serve in global and cross-cultural missions.
"God is at work in the midst of all kinds of unique challenges," said Tebbe. "Attendees will hear speakers from a variety of cultural contexts discuss how God is at work and will also learn about the needs that still remain. They will also experience worship with thousands of others in one of the most diverse worship gatherings in North America."
"Adventures In Missions is excited to be a part of this event once again," said Seth Barnes, AIM Executive Director. "I've found that the main thing one needs in a relationship with God is hunger to know Him and be in His presence. Urbana is a great opportunity to connect with God and develop this relationship, as well as a great avenue to explore where He may be calling you to serve."
About InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is an interdenominational ministry to university students in the United States, with over 32,000 students involved on 550 campuses nationwide. InterVarsity is a founding member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, which is advancing Christian student work in 150 countries. The first InterVarsity student missions conference was held in Toronto in 1946.
About Adventures in Missions
Adventures In Missions (AIM) is an interdenominational missions organization that focuses on discipleship. They emphasize prayer and relationships in their work amongst the poor. Since being established in 1989, AIM has taken over 80,000 people into the mission field, some for as short as a week and others for as long as a year or longer. Through 14 bases around the world, AIM has year-round ministry to places where "the least of these" are found. AIM believes that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed.
