Westminster College Hosts 99th New Wilmington Missionary Conference

Missionary work is not outdated.  That will be obvious to anyone attending the 99th New Wilmington Missionary Conference at Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA from July 24-31.  Over 1,000 delegates and staff will come together for a week of Bible study, spiritual enrichment, and Christian fellowship.  It is estimated that at least that many more area residents will attend some portion of the conference.  All meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

The purpose of the conference is to deepen the missionary spirit in the church.  Speakers will lift up the call to take the good news of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard or received it.  Others will share some of the great things God is doing in the world and how the church is thriving in many places.  Attendees will be challenged to devote themselves to this mission calling.

This year's theme is "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" ( Matthew 9:37).

The New Wilmington Missionary Conference (NWMC) is unique in that it is an intergenerational and family conference; yet it is distinctively and strongly youth-focused and oriented.

Each year NWMC sends out a Summer Service team of young adults some place in the world for seven weeks.  This year eight college students and an adult leader are in Slovenia helping church planters with contact work.  They will share their experiences on Friday night.

NWMC began as a Presbyterian mission conference for young people in 1906.  It has retained its Presbyterian roots and connections, while promoting the broader Christian witness in the world.

The featured daily speaker is the Moses Pulei, a Ph. D. candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary.  Moses is from the Maasai tribe of Kenya and looks forward to helping African tribal people.  Moses was a sponsored child of World Vision, so speaks frequently on behalf of that program.

Bart Campolo will speak Saturday evening and Sunday morning in Anderson Auditorium.  Bart is President of Mission Year, a national Christian service program which recruits young adults to live and work in inner-city neighborhoods in partnership with strong local churches.

One of the speakers with local connections is Dr. Kang Na, a highly respected professor of religion at Westminster College.  He will teach the adult Bible hour each day.

Nationally known singer and songwriter, David Bailey, will speak daily to young adults and give a Sunday night concert.  David was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and given six months to live.  Eight years, nine albums, 39 states and hundreds of concerts later, David, his songs, and his passions are alive and well.  David is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Ken Bailey of New Wilmington.

Other daily Bible teachers are Rev Catherine Purves of Bellevue, PA; Rev. Sue Yoder of Emmaus, PA; Nate Smith of Allison Park, PA; Dr. Fred Foy Strang of Vero Beach, FL; and Judy Nelson of Ann Arbor, MI.

Mission teachers include Rev. Art Beals of Ventura, CA; Amy Barstad of Colorado Springs, CO; Mohan Zachariah of Bloomingdale, IL; and Rev. Harold Kurtz of Portland, OR.

International speakers are from the Philippines, Slovenia, India, Vietnam, Somalia, Thailand, and Central Asia.  Missionaries from over 20 countries will be telling of their work.

Evening speakers include the Bart Campolo; Moses Pulei; Nard Pugyao of the Philippines; Amy Barstad of Youth With A Mission; S. D. Ponraj of India; a drama presentation; and the Summer Service team to Slovenia.

For the complete schedule of speakers and locations, check the website "" www.NWMCmission.org.  You may also call the NWMC office at 724-946-7195.

THE 99th NEW WILMINGTON MISSIONARY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

VISITORS WELCOME JULY 24-31, 2004

DAILY SCHEDULE

9:00 A.M. BIBLE HOUR

HIGH SCHOOL DELEGATES (College Chapel) "" Nate Smith, Pittsburgh, PA
YOUNG ADULTS (Beeghley Theater) "" Rev. Susan Pizor Yoder, Emmaus, PA
CAREER (McKelvey Campus Center) "" Rev. Catherine Purves, Gibsonia, PA
ADULTS (McKelvey Campus Center) "" Rev. Dr. Kang-Yup Na, New Wilmington, PA

10:00 A.M. MISSION STUDY

  HIGH SCHOOL DELEGATES (campus classrooms) "" Mission Study Classes
YOUNG ADULT MISSION INTERPRETATION (Beeghley Theater) "" Mohan Zachariah, Bloomingdale, IL
CAREER MISSION INTERPRETATION (McKelvey Campus Center) "" Amy Barstad Law, Colorado Springs, CO
ADULT MISSION INTERPRETATION (McKelvey Campus Center) "" Rev. Art Beals, Ventura, CA

11:00 A.M. INSTITUTE HOUR  (Anderson Auditorium) "" Moses Pulei, Pasadena, CA

1:00-4:30 P.M. AFTERNOONS - Recreational Programs

3:30 P.M. MISSION WORKSHOP  (McKelvey Campus Center)

6:45 P.M. VESPERS

BOYS (College Chapel) "" Rev. Dr. Fred Foy Strang, Vero Beach, FL
GIRLS (NWPC) "" Judy Nelson, Ann Arbor, MI
YOUNG ADULTS (Beeghley Theater) "" David Bailey, Stafford , VA
CAREER (McKelvey Campus Center) "" Mission Representatives
ADULT (McKelvey Campus Center) "" Mission Representatives

7:45 P.M.  EVENING MEETING (Anderson Auditorium) "" Programs listed below

9:15 P.M. SOUND & LIGHTS (McKelvey Campus Center) "" Saturday; Monday-Thursday)

EVENING PROGRAMS (Anderson Auditorium) & SPECIAL EVENTS

SATURDAY, JULY 24 7:45 P.M. Keynote Address "" Bart Campolo, President, Mission Year, Philadelphia, PA

SUNDAY, JULY 25 11:00 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE:
 
 Anderson Auditorium, Contemporary Service: Bart Campolo, Mission Year
New Wilmington Presbyterian Church: Harold Kurtz, Ethiopia/ PFF 

 2 - 4 P.M. MISSION DISPLAY
 6:45 P.M. VESPERS
 7:45 P.M. MASS MEETING "" Moses Pulei, Anderson Auditorium
 9:15 P.M. MISSION DISPLAY
   DAVID BAILEY CONCERT

MONDAY, JULY 26 7:45 P.M. Nard Pugayo, Wycliffe "" JAARS, Waxhaw, NC

TUESDAY, JULY 27 7:45 P.M. Amy Barstad Law "" Youth With A Mission

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28 7:45 P.M. S.D., Ponraj, India

THURSDAY, JULY 29 7:45 P.M. Drama Night

FRIDAY, JULY 30 7:45 P.M. Consecration Night "" Summer Service Team "" Slovenia

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