College to Host Annual Mission Conference July 23-29
Posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The 106th New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC) will be held at Westminster College July 23-29.
About 900 delegates and staff from 36 states and 34 countries will come together for a week of Bible study, spiritual enrichment, mission challenge, and Christian fellowship. It is estimated that another 800-1,000 regional residents will attend some portion of the conference. All events are free and open to anyone who wishes to attend.
The purpose of the conference is to deepen the missionary spirit in the church. Speakers will urge attendees to follow Jesus Christ more closely and lift up the call to take the good news of Jesus to those who have not heard or received it. Missionaries and leaders from the global church will share some of the great things God is doing in the world and challenge participants to join in this mission calling.
The NWMC is unique in that it is an intergenerational and family conference; yet it is distinctively youth-focused and oriented. Evenings offer a particularly good time for a youth group to visit. Contact the conference office at (724) 946-9770 for arrangements.
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 theme verse for the conference is Romans 9:17: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
The conference will open Saturday, July 23, at 7:45 p.m. in Anderson Amphitheater with a leader from a Chinese house church in Beijing.
Two worship services are available Sunday morning at 11 a.m.: the Rev. Dr. Hunter Farrell, director of World Mission for the PCUSA, will preach at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church; and York Moore, national evangelist for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, USA, will speak at Anderson Amphitheater.
Missionaries and mission organizations will exhibit their displays Sunday in the intramural gym of the Field House from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Shane Bennett, speaker and writer, is the featured speaker for the week. He works for Frontiers, an organization focused on extending God's blessings in the Muslim world. He will speak Monday-Wednesday and Friday at 11 a.m. and lead a consecration service Thursday at 7:45 p.m.
All evening programs and speakers will be at 7:45 p.m. in Anderson Amphitheater:
Monday evening's speaker is Dr. Alexander Kharitonov, president of Christian Camping International/Russia since its founding in 1994 and president of Narnia Center, a Christian publishing house, since 2009.
NWMC will celebrate 51 years of sending out a Summer Service team of young adults to some place in the world for six weeks. This year's team of five college students and their leader, Dr. Kang-Yup Na, Westminster College associate professor of religion, traveled to South Korea. They will share their experiences Monday at 9:15 p.m. and Friday at 7:45 p.m.
The Rev. Bryan McFarland, this year's young adult speaker, will share a hunger presentation and concert Tuesday evening.
Wednesday evening all missionaries will be recognized for their years of service with a reception in the Field House lobby following the evening meeting.
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bailey, author and teacher from New Wilmington, and the Rev. Dr. Ray Hylton, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Evanston, Ill., and former pastor at First Presbyterian Church in New Castle, will teach the adult Bible studies offered daily at 9 a.m.
The Rev. Dr. Esther Wakeman, vice president at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Caroline Kurtz, former missionary in Ethiopia and Sudan and currently on the staff of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, will be the adult mission leaders at 10 a.m. each day.
The Rev. Jen Haddox, associate director of World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, will lead the high school Bible study.
For the complete schedule of speakers and locations or to register, visit www.NWMCmission.org or call the NWMC office at (724) 946-9770.
More Stories
