Westminster College to Host Annual Mission Conference

The 104th New Wilmington Mission Conference (NWMC) will be held at Westminster College July 18-24.

About 1,000 delegates and staff from across the nation and around the world will come together for a week of Bible study, spiritual enrichment, mission challenge, and Christian fellowship. It is estimated that another 1,000 regional 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 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 from more than 20 countries will share some of the great things God is doing in the world and how the number of Christian believers is multiplying in many places. Attendees will be challenged to devote themselves to 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 Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory...."

The conference will open Saturday, July 18, at 7:45 p.m. in Anderson Amphitheater with Presbyterian Church (USA) Moderator the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, pastor of the Mission Bay Community Church, a new church development in San Francisco.

Two worship services are available Sunday morning at 11 a.m.: The Rev. Paul Neshangwe, a peacemaker from Zimbabwe, will preach at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. Hunter Farrell, director of PCUSA World Mission, will speak at Anderson Amphitheater.

Missionaries and mission organizations will exhibit their displays Sunday in McKelvey Campus Center from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

The Rev. Dr. Kang-Yup Na, Westminster College associate professor of religion and coordinator of Westminster's Honors Program, is the featured speaker for the week. Dr. Na is dedicated to youth and mission, two core values of the NWMC. He will speak at the 11 a.m. meetings Monday through Friday.

All evening programs and speakers will be at 7:45 p.m. in Anderson Amphitheater:

The Rev. Dr. Sasan Tavassoli, a former Shi'ite Muslim, will speak Sunday evening. Now an Iranian Presbyterian pastor, Tavassoli teaches and produces Christian programs for Iranian satellite television.

Monday evening's speaker is Ben Lowe, author of Green Revolution: Coming Together to Care for Creation and coordinator of Renewal, a student-led creation care movement.

Shane Bennett is scheduled Tuesday evening. He is a speaker and writer for Frontiers, an organization focused on extending God's blessing in the Muslim world, and has worked in mission mobilization since 1987.

Wednesday evening's speakers are Stephen Christian and Sarah Freeman, founders of Faceless International, a nonprofit organization that organizes humanitarian trips. Christian is lead vocalist for the alternative rock band Anberlin, and Freeman teaches preschool.

Wednesday evening's program will recognize all missionaries for their years of service and honor them at a reception following the meeting. David Bailey, a cancer survivor and folksinger/songwriter, will present a free concert at 9:15 p.m.

Local Christian musicians Greg and Rebecca Sparks will present a concert Thursday evening. The Sparks' national reputation includes a Dove Award nomination for their album Through Flood and Fire.

Each year NWMC sends out a Summer Service team of young adults to some place in the world for six weeks. This year's team of eight college students and their leader served in Berlin, where they shared in ministry opportunities with various partners. They will share their experiences Friday evening at a consecration service.

The Rev. James Edwards, professor of religion at Whitworth University in Spokane, and the Rev. BJ Woodworth, lead pastor of the Open Door and a leader in the emergent church movement, will teach the adult Bible studies offered daily at 9 a.m.

The Rev. Dr. Joan Gray, recent moderator of the PCUSA and parish associate at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, and the Rev. John McCall, a long-time missionary who served as professor at the Taiwan Theological Seminary, will be the adult mission leaders at 10 a.m. each day.

The college age group will be led in daily Bible and mission study by Bennett.

The Rev. Christian Zebley, long-time missionary to Japan and now national coordinator for ESOL/Multicultural Alpha, 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.