College to Host Annual Mission Conference July 19-25
Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2014
The 109th New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC) will be held at Westminster College July 19-25. All events are free and open to the public.
The week-long conference will include Bible studies, events to promote spiritual enrichment, lectures by spiritual leaders, and Christian fellowship. The purpose of the conference is to strengthen Christians in their commitment to mission work. More than 25 missionaries and leaders from the global church will share their mission experiences and challenge participants to join in the mission calling.
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 conference will open Saturday, July 19, at 7:45 p.m. in Anderson Amphitheater with Kevin Brown, executive director of Trinity Christian Community in New Orleans.
There will be two worship services Sunday morning at 11 a.m.: Dr. Ingrid Reneau, missionary in Ghana and formerly in South Sudan, will preach at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Bryce Wiebe, coordinator of the Presbyterian Hunger program Enough is Everyone, will speak at Anderson Amphitheater. The Rev. John McCall, missionary in Taiwan, will preach Sunday evening.
Exhibits by 40 missionaries and mission organizations will be displayed in the McKelvey Campus Center Sunday from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
The morning meeting speaker will be the Rev. Mary Hulst, chaplain at Calvin College. She is scheduled to speak Monday-Friday at 11 a.m.
Daily adult Bible studies will be led by the Rev. Dr. Laura Smit, professor of theology at Calvin College, and the Rev. Russell Smith, pastor of Covenant-First Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati.
Adult mission studies will be led by global missiologist Andrew Walls and Scott Gore, president of "in-fusion," from Gilbert, Ariz.
The high school speaker will be Mike Haddox, youth and family pastor from Butler; junior high speaker will be Tasha Ryals, urban outreach minister from Network Ministries; and the Rev. David Loleng, evangelism associate for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will speak to young adults. Childcare and programs for elementary students will be offered.
"Stop Hunger Now" is the mission project for the week. This will be the fourth year the conference will package more than 28,000 nutritional meals for distribution in various countries.
NWMC will celebrate 54 years of sending out a summer service team of young adults someplace in the world for six weeks. This year's group of eight college students and their leaders are serving in the Middle East. They will share their experiences Monday and Friday evenings.
Monday evening's program will feature the Rev. Leon Dorleans, director of Haiti Outreach Ministries.
The highlight of Tuesday's youth-led evening service will be Tree Anthem, a Pittsburgh band that will share inspirational stories and songs from Southeast Asia.
Wednesday evening's speaker will be Frank Dimmock, poverty alleviation catalyst for Presbyterian World Mission and a 30-year veteran of medical work in Africa. New missionaries will be commissioned and current and former missionaries will be recognized for their years of service. A reception in the back of Anderson Amphitheater will follow.
The Rev. Carolyn Poteet, chaplain at Waynesburg University, will speak at the consecration service Thursday evening.
For the complete schedule of speakers and locations or to register, visit the conference website or call the NWMC office at 724-946-9770.
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