North Greenville gets international taste of missions
Posted by The Skyliner on September 17th, 2008Monique Quarles & Alyse Sandal
Staff Writers
The 2008 Global Missions Conference at NGU occurred last week, Sept. 8-11. This year’s theme centered on “Revelation Song” based from the text of Revelation chapter seven.
“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.’” – Rev. 7:9-10
The week long conference included close to 70 missionaries, food from other cultures, and unique chapel speakers.
Guest speakers included Gracia Burnham, Dr. Tom Grassano, John Brady, and Nathan Bramsen.
Apart from the guest speakers, other activities were planned. International dinners were served each night, a Coffee House was held on Monday night, and scheduled missionary speaking sessions were designated in different classes.
On Tues., Sept. 9th there was a meeting for guys and girls at the Tigerville Baptist Church. The guest speaker for girls was Vickie Arruda and for guys, Alan Garnett.
“I hope that God moves in the hearts of students and mobilizes them,” said Dr. Allen McWhite, Sr. Director of Global Missions.
The events and services were meant to be inspirational, motivational, and mobilizing.
“We want students to ask themselves the question of where can God use them,” said McWhite prior to the missions conference, “They don’t have to be a certain major; God can use them anywhere.”
For the past year, McWhite has put endless hours of planning and hard work into the much-anticipated Global Missions Week.
“It’s been an incredible week.” McWhite said following the conference. “Every region of the world has been represented here.”
McWhite, who has been orchestrating Global Missions Week at NGU for the past seven years, finds new things to be excited about every year. He is thrilled with the decisions and commitments of the students from this past week. “We just want to see God call more students out to serve. It’s been a good, intense week.”
The missionaries and their organizations were displayed in the Global Village, which was located in the conference room across from the Mass Communication Dept. Students came and talked with missionaries, got the opportunity to ask questions, and received more information about working in the mission field.
Students also had opportunities to eat with missionaries in the dining hall, listen to them speak in classes, and attend bonus chapels. Jeremy DeLaHoussaye, representative for ROCK International, made his rounds with his partner, Nathan, 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.”
Many students are apprehensive with 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 missions 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 over 200 countries in 11 different regions. Joy Bausum, representative for the Overland Missions, explained to students the three-month training program the organization provides at their base in Africa.
Chris Comstock, senior youth ministry, traveled to Budapest with LIGHT ministries, shares his experience. “I saw first hand 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.”
Simone Gatewood, junior psychology, 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 some of the [people of the town] love!”
This year’s mission trips include ones repeated from last year, as well as a few new endeavors. East Asia, Guyana, and Detroit are new trips for this coming summer. India is not a new trip, but it has not been repeated for several years. Applications for this year’s trips are to be turned in by Oct. 3rd.
Tags: Fall 2008, Vol. 108 Fall - Issue 2