Category Archives for "missions"

The Stretched Blog Visits The Daily ReTort

Today, I’m guest posting as part of The Network for Tor Constantino at his blog, The Daily ReTort. In my post (5 Reasons To Go On A Missions Trip With Your Family), I share some thoughts about faith, family, and missions. Here’s an excerpt to get you started.

5 Reasons To Go On A Missions Trip With Your Family

Early this month, our family traveled to Guatemala to serve the orphans and widows in and around the village of Santo Domingo Xenacoj.

Deciding to go in the first place was a pretty significant leap of faith.

As a father and husband, did I think we would be safe in a strange land removed from many of the luxuries we currently enjoy?

Did I really want to spend my vacation time working instead of relaxing somewhere?

How were we going to come up with the money necessary to make this trip a reality?

These were just some of the questions that troubled me for weeks as we processed this decision last fall.

Having arrived at the other side of this mission trip, I can tell you that we made it. We were safe. The vacation time from work was well spent. And God provided the funds for this trip in ways that far exceeded our greatest expectations. (Click here to keep reading.)

If you’re visiting from Tor’s blog, I’m glad you stopped by. I hope you’ll check things out and become a regular part of The Stretched Community. You can sign up to receive daily blog updates by adding your e-mail on the main page (I promise not to send you spam). To help you get a taste of my other writing, here are a few of my favorite posts:

You can also click here to link to more about my experiences in Guatemala.

Have you ever taken a mission trip with your family? If so, how did it impact your family? What’s holding you back from going on a mission trip?

Short-Term Mission Trip = Long-Term Impact

Why should anyone go on a short-term mission trip?

This is a question that I’ve heard in one form or another. People often imply that a short-term mission trip has little impact on those being served. And they typically assume that a short-term mission trip has minimal impact on those serving other than to make them feel good about themselves for a few weeks.

I’d like to say that this doesn’t have to be the case. My recent experience is proof that short-term mission trips can have a huge impact.

Let me explain.

Missions has surrounded me in one form or another since I was a young child. In elementary school, my parents hosted a missionary in our home for a few months. In junior high, I remember my dad traveling to Haiti for a short-term missions trip with other members of our church. When I got to high school, I attended five short-term mission trips with our high school youth group. I also was the missions coordinator for our church’s vacation Bible school on summer. In college, I traveled to Chicago twice to serve with Habitat for Humanity during my Easter vacation. And I was privileged to go twice to Urbana, an InterVarsity missions conference for college students. Each one of these experiences has had an impact on me, and I know these experiences have helped to bring housing, help, and hope to those in need.

When I graduated from college, I wrestled with a mission minded decision. Should I go into full-time missions as a missionary, or should I go to work in the world of engineering? The more I grappled with the decision, the more it became clear that God calls people to the “normal” working world just like He calls people to the mission field. As I began to explore and experience the construction industry, it became more and more obvious to me the construction industry is a BIG mission field. God can use Christ followers to make a difference in the corporate world, in schools, in hospitals, and in so many arenas of every day life in America.

After nearly twenty years in the industry, I remain convinced of this. I work in a mission field today.

But there is still a place in my heart for serving others outside my company. There has been a passion in my heart to serve others in strange places. Three years ago, I nearly experienced that dream and passion as my wife and I were preparing to go to Nairobi, Kenya to serve in the slums of Mathare. Some unexpected circumstances caused us to cancel these plans, and I began to wonder and even resolve myself to the fact that this dream would never be actualized.

Fast forward to last spring.

Many of you know the story, I was asked by the high school youth pastor at my church to consider going to Guatemala with the youth group. It was a decision I didn’t take lightly. I prayed. I sought godly council from friends and family members. And I analyzed the reasons to go and not go on this trip. When it came down to it, I had to take a leap of faith.

This initial trip changed my life.

I developed a passion for the people of Guatemala. I started dreaming about going back again. And I began to understand that God could use me at home AND in strange places.

This trip changed other people’s lives.

While we were in Guatemala, our team built a house for a family (thanks to The Stretched Community for funding this project). We installed stoves in the homes of widows in Xenacoj, the community where we served. And we played with children and taught them about the love of Christ.

Many people would naturally wonder if these efforts really made any difference.

I can tell you with certainty that they did! When our family returned to Guatemala last month. We saw how the house we built last year propelled this family forward financially and also spiritually. We saw hope in the eyes of widows we had served last summer. And we even ran into children we had served last year who remembered the “gringos” who came and played with them last summer.

Our short-term mission trip was not a waste. It may have had some short-term impact, but I know it also had long-term impact.

Our family is planning to return to Guatemala to serve again. We think about the people we interacted with last month, and we pray for them constantly. We are strategically thinking about how we can continue to have an impact in Guatemala – even while we’re here at home. And we are sharing our story. We hope we will inspire others to consider similar short-term mission trips. We pray that we might be able to encourage others to find ways to help others in distant lands. And we know that our short-term mission trip will have a long-term impact.

How have you seen small actions result in large outcomes? What small step can you take this week to have a large impact in the future?

Have you ever been on a short-term mission trip? What was the impact of this trip?

What’s stopping you from going on a short-term mission trip?

Would you ever consider going to Guatemala with me on a short-term mission trip?

Xenacoj – Responding to Naysayers, Doubters, and Inquisitors

We’ve received a lot of encouragement and positive comments in response to our short-term missions trip to Santo Domingo Xenacoj in Guatemala. Honestly, this is not the reason for going on this trip. While it has been nice to get some positive feedback, our trip wasn’t meant to bring the praises of man.

I guess I wasn’t totally surprised when we heard some positive comments and encouragement related to our trip. But I was a little surprised by some of the comments and questions that came as a result of our trip.

Seriously, here are some of the comments and questions that I received before and after the trip:

Why would you go to Guatemala (or any other foreign country) when there are people in the United States who need help?
How do you justify asking people to help fund a missions trip when you surely must make enough money to fund such a trip?
What’s the purpose of a short-term missions trip? Are you just trying to make yourself feel good?
That’s good for you and your family, but we could never do something like that.
I tried volunteering, but it didn’t end up the way I wanted. I’m glad it’s working out for you though.

It’s hard to know how to respond. I certainly don’t want to come across as “holier than thou.” I have plenty of faults and things to work out. And to be honest, I’m still figuring it out.

But here are some of my thoughts:

First, I agree. There are plenty of people in need right here in the United States. In fact, there are plenty of people in need right in our area. Our family does try to serve locally. And I would encourage everyone to find a place to serve in their communities. Check out soup kitchens, nursing homes, and food pantries to start. But trust me, as Americans, we are all part of the top 1% of the wealthiest people in the world. Visiting a third world country can open ones eyes to how most people live in the world. I’m confident that our family was made a difference while we were in Guatemala, but I’m also certain that the people of Guatemala made a huge impact on our family.

As for fundraising, this was a tough part of our trip for me. If you know our story, Leanne and I were scheduled to go to Kenya three years ago. We had raised nearly $8,000 to cover the of the trip when we had to cancel the trip due to health concerns. So many friends and family had donated generously to our trip, and we didn’t have trip insurance, so we pretty much lost everything that people had contributed. Asking again three years later seemed like quite a risk to me. What would people think? It was a tough decision that required faith. The other side of it was related to my pride. Yes, God has blessed me with a good job. An engineer in the United States surely makes more money than many, but here’s the reality – it would be pretty challenging for us to pay for this trip on our own. Was I embarrassed to ask for funds to help with this trip? Yes. Maybe. But there are reasons that we could not afford such a trip without a little help that don’t necessarily require justification. Past financial decision. Current giving habits and commitments. The cost of raising a family in our area. All of these things and more could be used as justification for our decision to ask for support. But there’s a little more to this decision. Many people in our area aren’t ready to take a trip to Guatemala (or any other strange land), but they want to help. I hope that we were able to give people a sense that they were helping. I also help that we inspired people to consider how they might take their own next leap of faith.

Before this trip and definitely after the trip, I felt a renewed sense of calling to my job and to our area. There are plenty of lost people in our area who need Christian influencers in their lives. A short-term missions trip certainly doesn’t solve all the problems of a third world country or village. But it does make a difference. As I stated before, the trip made a huge difference in our family. Trust me, our kids have a different and broader view of life, poverty, thanksgiving, and love as a result of this trip. The Bible is clear that we are called to go into ALL nations baptizing and teaching people to follow Christ. Following the Great Commission requires some stretching. A short-term missions trip may be just what you need to get a new perspective on life. It will stretch you beyond your comfort zone, and it will open your eyes to a whole new world in need of God’s love.

Yes. It is good for our family. But it can be good for you too. You can go to Guatemala, but you can also serve right where you are. Don’t become paralyzed by the patterns and temptations of this world. Get outside your comfort zone. Make a decision today to help someone who really needs help.

Stop making excuses. Stop living through others. It doesn’t matter how old or young, how fat or skinny, how rich or poor, or how cool or not you are. You can make a difference. You can do something to forever change the lives of others. You can serve. Don’t let another day go by without making a decision to be a change agent for someone in need.

I’m sure we’ll get other questions along the way. I’m sure I’m still figuring it out. But I’d rather be active, uncomfortable, and stretched than inactive, lazy, and full of excuses.

Choose today to make a difference in someone’s life. Maybe it means overseas missions. Maybe it means going next door. Don’t wait to have all the answers. Don’t wait for things to fit cleanly in a nice box. Serving can be messy, but it’s so worth it!

What can you do today to make a difference for someone in need?

Xenacoj – A Stretching Experience

Guatemala was life changing.

Trying to find the right words to capture my experience is challenging and perhaps even impossible.

I will continue to reflect on this trip for a while. I was up in the early hours of the morning thinking about it. I think about it when I’m driving in the car. I think about Xenacoj when I’m eating my meals, when I’m talking to people, and when I’m running. This experience is on my mind all the time.

The people of Xenacoj have left a permanent mark on me.

I was stretched in making the decision to go in the first place. It took a lot of faith and trust for me to take my whole family there. Would they be safe? Would they stay healthy? How would they respond to the poverty, the language, and the living conditions? How would we pay for a trip of this magnitude? Would people really support us after what we went through three years ago? All kinds of questions went through my mind when we initially decided to pursue a trip to Guatemala.

I was stretched during the trip. Three of our family members experienced illness while we were there. I had to sleep on a bed that was about a foot shorter than me. Sleep in general was tough for me most of the trip (the rest of my family seemed to sleep fairly well). We slept right in the village where we heard fireworks, roosters, dogs, music, talking, snoring, and church at all hours of the night and morning. The language barrier was initially a challenge. It took a couple of days until we actually felt like we were serving. Once we started serving, we saw some pretty deplorable conditions and desperate poverty. We couldn’t fix everything.

And I obviously continue to be stretched following the trip. How do I respond? I don’t want this trip to simply be a “nice” experience. What is next for our family? When can we go back to Xenacoj? How should we live our lives differently now that we are home in the States? How can we continue to help GO! Ministries and the people of Xenacoj and Guatemala? How can we inspire others to stretch outside their comfort zone and consider missions? Questions, thoughts, and ideas permeate my mind constantly.

And yet, it’s difficult to fully capture what we experienced. Perhaps the easiest way to show you is through a video that Dave Sgro (founder of GO! Ministries) put together using our pictures. There are a few inside jokes and stories in the video, but the video does a pretty good job touching on many of the things we did on the trip.

How have you been stretched by a missions experience? What questions do you have for me (or my family) about our experience in Guatemala?

Saturday In Xenacoj (and Antigua)

As I indicated yesterday, I am still getting my U.S.A. Legs under me. With this in mind, allow me to share the details of our day on Saturday in Guatemala. I’m hoping to add pictures into each of these posts, but you can hop over to my personal Facebook profile if you want to see all the pictures.

Saturday in Xenacoj (and Antigua)

This was a tough day for me as it was my turn to pick up some type of bug. I woke up anticipating the feeding program and VBS which would be taking place at the Center where we stayed in Xenacoj. Unfortunately, I spent the whole morning in bed fighting a fever and sleeping. I woke up around 11:30 just as everyone was leaving. I was able to see Blanca, a young girl we met last year, who has a rare allergy to the sun. It will be exciting to share pictures of her with those on our trip from last year. I also met one of the doctors in town who confirmed that I should continue with Cipro and ibuprofen to fight the bug/bacteria that I must have picked up.

I gathered enough strength to journey with our team to Antigua where we did some sightseeing and shopping. Honestly, I was pretty weak as we wandered trough this popular tourist area. The kids enjoyed bartering for souvenirs.

At night, GO! Ministries hosted an appreciation dinner for our group. Dave cooked five different kinds of shrimp, and we also had salad, tortillas, and cake. If I had been feeling better I’m sure I would have enjoyed the food portion of this dinner very much. Dave showed us a video that he put together highlighting our experiences. And then we each had an opportunity to stand up and share with the group about our week.

This trip was a huge deal for our family. Many of you know that Leanne and I had to cancel a planned trip to Nairobi, Kenya three years ago when Leanne was dealing with some significant health problems. I am so proud of her for stepping outside her comfort zone into Xenacoj. While the beginning of the week was challenging, it was obvious as the week went along that she was in her element experiencing the joy of serving in and around Xenacoj. Isaac and Hannah both did a great job as well this week. They both served with full effort, and they engaged with our team and with the people of Guatemala with such compassion. I am so proud of them. It was so great to meet the Spooner family (Jeff, Amy, and Sharett). In a week’s time, we went from complete strangers to wonderful friends. I love the spirit and spunk of their family. German is the man, and his family left a huge mark on our family. Never before have I met such a servant and servant-family. German’s prayers throughout the week were some of the most beautiful and powerful prayers that I have ever heard. He is truly a man after God’s own heart. Jesse Sgro was our team manager, and he did a great fob leading us from his devotion on Monday night to his translation to his constant comedy. And to Dave, thank you for inviting our family to walk alongside GO! Ministries for a week. This is a week that has clearly left a mark on our family.

After everyone had a chance to speak, we closed the evening in prayer. In Guatemala one mode or method of prayer involves everyone praying out loud at once. Our team was placed in the middle and the leaders and locals surrounded us and put their hands on us as they prayed. It was another beautiful moment.

Guatemala Final Support Request

(Note: We’re sending out this letter to family and friends this week as we approach a month before our family departs for Guatemala. Since I consider many of you to be family and friends, I thought it only made sense to send it to you as well via today’s blog post.)

Dear Friends and Family,

Hello! We hope everything is going well with you. It’s hard to believe we’re already into July. The summer is sure to rush by quickly. We hope you’ll have time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends this summer. We wanted to reconnect with you, and let you know about some of the great things that are happening in our family.

We have already been busy with summer activities. Hannah finished up her first year of high school with a great overall experience, and she has already started cross-country practice for the fall season. Isaac will be starting his last year in middle school in the fall. In the meantime, he continues to work on his trumpet and piano skills over the summer. Both the kids are active in the youth worship team at our church. Leanne continues to work part-time as a behavioral therapist for a couple of preschool aged children, and she recently found out that she will be teaching at a preschool in the fall as a four-year-old classroom teacher. And I continue to work at Siemens. Running, blogging, and volunteering with our church’s youth group have kept me busy.

By the time you receive this letter, our family will be less than a month away from taking a trip to Guatemala. August 4^th – 11^th, we will be traveling to the village of Santo Domingo Xenacoj in Guatemala where we will meet up with others from around the country and Dave Sgro of GO! Ministries to serve in this small village located an hour and a half northwest of Guatemala City. Last summer, Hannah and I journeyed to Xenacoj with a team from our church’s youth group. While we were there, we built a house, installed stoves in the homes of widows, and we led a sports/Bible camp for kids from the village. (To see a video that recaps our experience go to: http://youtu.be/OQ_mQioXHqY)

This year, we will again be ministering to the children and widows in the community. We will help with a feeding program to children in the village. We will also be ministering directly to the ~200 widows in the village. From our experience last year, we learned that Guatemala is home to the 4^th highest malnutrition rate among children five and under in the entire world. Most people in the village live on a couple of dollars a day, and there are many who struggle with basic health issues. By returning to Xenacoj, we hope to make a difference for people in the village as we share the hope of Jesus Christ through actions and words, and we anticipate God using this experience in the life of our family as a milestone event.

This trip provides an opportunity to meet the physical and spiritual needs of a community that is desperately in need. More than anything, we would value your prayers for our team and those whose lives will be touched by God through us. We believe that God answers prayers, and we’re asking you to pray for safety, good health, smooth travel, and financial support. Just knowing that you will be praying will give us peace as we go to Xenacoj.

Beyond your prayers, if you are led to join us by financially supporting this mission, we would be grateful. We still need to raise just over $1,000 to cover the total remaining cost of the trip. We have been creative to raise the rest of the money required to make this trip a reality, and we want to extend an invitation to you to participate to help us reach this goal. To give towards our trip expenses, go to goministries.info. At the bottom of the page, choose option 1. After you enter your payment information, enter a special note to the seller. The note should read “Stolpe Family Mission Trip”. This will ensure that your donation goals towards our GO Ministries expenses. It will also ensure that your donation is registered as a tax-deductible donation. (You can also give money to us which we would utilize for our airfare and other travel expenses or we’ll turn over to GO Ministries to pay for our expenses in Guatemala.) This is a journey that God has called us to and we would greatly appreciate any level of support you are able to offer. (Any money raised above the $1,000 will be used to help further fund the feeding program in the community.

Again, we really hope things are going well for you. We’d love to hear an update on what’s going on in your life if you have the time. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this letter, and if you have any questions, please let us know. Take care, and we hope to hear from you soon!

With gratitude,

The Stolpe Family

(Jon, Leanne, Hannah, and Isaac)

For more information about our trip, visit Jon’s blog. Here are links to a couple of the posts that explain our trip:

http://www.jonstolpe.com/2013/01/07/another-leap-of-faith/

and

http://www.jonstolpe.com/2013/01/15/guatemala-update-whats-the-big-deal-about-lunch/

Are You A Missionary? You Might Be Surprised By The Answer

Nineteen years ago when I graduated from college, I wrestled with the decision of my career choice. Should I enter the “mission field” by serving in “full-time ministry” or should I enter the workforce? I was graduating from an excellent school with a mechanical engineering degree and roughly $12,000 in student loans. I knew I needed to pay off these loans, and I knew that God had given me knowledge and skills that would be useful in the traditional workplace.

As I wrestled through this decision, I came to the conclusion that I needed to use my skill in the workplace with an engineering job in the United States. I could utilize the financial gain from this decision to pay off my student loans and to help support missionaries who were serving away from home. I also believed that there were plenty of non-Christians in and around the workplace who needed to learn of God’s love. I believed I could share this through my words and especially through my actions – my example.

Fast forward 18 years, I go on a short-term missions trip to Guatemala last summer. Most of the kids who came on the trip weren’t even born when I graduated from college. (Yes, this trip made me feel old in some ways, but that’s another blog post!) In leading up to this trip, it was the prompting of my wife and our youth pastor that encouraged me to take the leap of faith to go on this trip. Having never been on an overseas missions trip of any kind, I thought my ultimate decision to go was the noble decision to make. After all, I would have the chance to be a missionary!

I had that chance. You can read about it by searching ‘Guatemala‘ in the blog search box. While in Guatemala last summer, I built a house for a family; I installed stoves for those in need; and I shared the love and message of Jesus Christ with complete strangers in a foreign land. How cool is that? How do you not feel good about yourself after jumping into this kind of adventure? Talk about a sacrifice. (Do you sense the pride and lack of humility in these questions?)

Don’t get me wrong when you hear what I’m about to share. God needs missionaries in foreign lands. Missionaries have an opportunity to improve the lives of those in poverty and to bring a message of hope to people who need this message. I definitely plan and hope to go on other overseas missions trips again in the future. (This is part of the reason our family is heading back to Guatemala this summer.)

But I re-discovered something when I came back home. When our group exited the Newark airport on the way home, we were trying to get one last group photo before we got on the bus to go home. As we stood outside the baggage claim, there were hundreds of people walking by us. We just needed one of them to take a picture for us. We asked one person who responded, “No, I’m in a hurry.” We asked a second person who responded, “I’m in a rush, sorry.” We asked a third, fourth, and fifth person, and we received similar responses. Finally, someone reluctantly agreed to snap a picture of our group. When I came back into work on Monday, I heard people yelling and cursing about their present circumstances. I listened as people treated each other with anger and disdain.

What did I re-discover when I came back home? The mission field is right around me where I live and where I work. (I was reminded of this again this week – read my post from yesterday). I am called to be a missionary right where I am. In words and especially in actions, I have a message to share with others, and so do you. I am a missionary! And you can be one too! Will you join me?

When you think of the word missionary, what image comes to mind? Where are you serving these days?

A Tidal Wave Of Generosity

Part of my adventure to Guatemala last year included the construction of a house in Xenacoj (Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Sacatepequez). We built this house with 25 teenagers and 6 adults in two and a half days. It was an experience I will never forget. Part of the reason for our success was the leadership of Joshua Crabbs (pictured with me above). Through his ministry with Casas por Cristo, he has helped to build hundreds of houses for needy families in Guatemala and Mexico.

Another reason for our success was the generosity of The Stretched Community. Through your generous giving, The Stretched Community donated $8,000 which paid for the materials necessary to build this house. (Click here to read more.)

This year, our family is heading back to the same village in hopes of making a difference for children, widows, and families. We’re raising money and saving money to cover the costs of going on this trip. So far, we’re about 27% of the way towards covering the estimated costs of the trip (estimated at $5,000).

We also set out a goal of raising $8,750 to feed hot lunch to 200 children for six months. (We also set a STRETCH goal of raising $17,500 to feed these children for a whole year.) Yesterday was a milestone day in reaching this target. We received our first gift towards this goal. A gift of $40 was generously given by someone in The Stretched Community.

To put it in understandable terms, $40 will provide hot lunch to one child for 114 days (over 22 weeks). $40 will provide hot lunch to 114 children on one day. $40 will provide hot lunch for 22 children for one week. $40 may seem like a drop in a bucket compared to the goals listed above, but it’s huge. $40 literally has the ability to change lives for children in Xenacoj.

It’s my prayer that this will be the start of a tidal wave of generosity. Just like a small spark from a match can start a massive fire, a simple gift can be the spark that changes Xenacoj forever.

To find out more about how you can join the tidal wave, click here. Thank you!

Be generous: Invest in acts of charity.
Charity yields high returns.

Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around.
Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 (The Message)

How has generosity impacted your life? When have you been part of a tidal wave experience?

In The Streets of Xenacoj – Guatemala

When I close my eyes, I can see the streets of Xenacoj. The streets in this small Guatemalan village are made of concrete. They are sometimes empty, but there often filled with the hustle and bustle of activity.

Stray dogs walk against the walls of the homes that outline the streets.

Horses are guided from one place to the next carrying large bundles of wood.

Women carrying baskets on their heads move around the streets. The baskets are filled with fabric and food. Meanwhile many of the women are also carrying a little child in a sling.

Every once in a while, a drunk man is sitting on the corner – delirious to other pedestrians.

Children walk the streets in groups of 3 or 4. They laugh and make up games as they hang out together.

Motorcycles occasionally roll past. Buses motor by with passengers being transported to and from other nearby villages.

Paid armed men stand guard at the front of various stores than are scattered on each street.

Most of the walls are bare concrete. Some are whitewashed with lime and water. Political signs are painted on the walls. Any windows that are right on the street are protected with metal bars. Convenience stores are located on every block.

The streets are a collage of color and community.

I’ll always remember trying to get from one end of the village to another spot in the village as we were installing stoves in the homes of widows throughout the community. As I walked with a group of four students, we were stopped by local emergency personnel. They informed us that there was a swarm of stinging bugs between us and our destination. We waited for nearly twenty minutes in hopes that the swarm would dissipate. Finally, we determined to make it to the next home. The police officer cleared us to go, and we took off quickly down the street. About half-way to the home, we encountered hundreds of giant black wasp-like insects flying all around us. I knew we needed to keep moving. Despite the fact the a couple of these insects landed on us, we miraculously made it past the swarm without a single sting.

This summer, our family will be returning to the streets of Xenacoj where we will have the opportunity to serve the community alongside GO! Ministries and others. I’m looking forward to walking along these familiar streets. I’m looking forward to seeing the sights and hearing the sounds. And most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing the people and interacting with them in the streets of Xenacoj.

To find out how you can help the people who walk these streets every day, click here.

What is it like on your street? What is your favorite thing about your street? What would we see if we walked on your street today?

I Remember When…Urbana ’90

I remember when I went to Urbana ’90.

What’s Urbana? I can hear you asking.

Urbana is a missions conference sponsored by Intervarsity. The conference takes place every three years between Christmas and New Years on the campus of the University of Illionois in Urbana/Champagne, Illinois. The conference is specifically geared towards college students, and the conference is designed to challenge students to consider missions.

I actually had the opportunity to go to this conference twice – once in 1990 during my freshmen year in college and once in 1993 during my senior year in college. I have great memories of both times. In a way, Urbana ’93 came at a more critical time in my life as I was processing what to do after graduation. Maybe I’ll share more about that in another post.

Urbana ’90 was an eye-opening experience. In a way, it felt like I was being thrust into a more adult existence during this conference as I faced big issues and wrestled through challenging topics with other students. My dad was there, but I didn’t seem him often as he stayed in a different dorm and participated in different activities geared towards pastors. At Urbana ’90, I stayed with three other friends from my home town in Mt. Holly, NJ – Andy Travis, Paul Braun, and James Harton (pictured above).

Together, the four of us spent the conference listening to great speakers, worshiping with 20,000 other college students, talking to missionaries in the exhibit hall, and debriefing in a small group in the dorm (with the guy standing behind us in the picture). In between all these activities, we walked around the snowy University of Illinois campus.

One of my favorite speakers from Urbana ’90 was Isaac Canales (funny that my son is named Isaac). His message was hilarious, but it was also powerful in challenging my heart. I can’t find a video feed of the message, but I found another video of Pastor Canales that features some of the same elements of his message at Urbana. If you have a few minutes, you’ll enjoy listening to Isaac Canales:

It’s kind of interesting that none of us became full-time missionaries. Andy is a scientist, Paul is a professor at the University of Illinois, James is a musician, and I’m an engineer/manager. I think the term missionary carries a certain expectation that can miss the mark. When we hear the word missionary, we expect to hear about someone who has gone overseas and who works full-time for a missions organization serving others and spreading the Word of God. God can still use us right where we are. We can be missionaries in our neighborhoods, in our places of employment, and in our other activities. I think this must be one of the messages that I came away with when I left Urbana.

As I remember this conference which took place over 20 years ago, I’m thankful for the springboard towards missions that took place. I still have an interest in missions overseas, but I’ve also realized that God calls us to be missionaries right where we live and work. You can read some of my thoughts on this in my post: Where Is Your Xenacoj? Missions has definitely become a focus in our family, and I’m looking forward to seeing where God takes us as we continue to serve Him.

If you are a college student, I would highly recommend that you check out Urbana. The next one is coming up this year – Urbana 12! For more information, click here. (I just discovered that the conference is now held in St. Louis, Missouri – still worth the drive!)

Have you ever been to a conference that changed your world? Tell us about it.

« Previous 1 … 9 10 11 12 Next »