Urbana 12

So what did you learn at Urbana?  Its a question many people have asked me this week.  (If you didn't know, Urbana is a student missions conference held every three years.  17,000 students attended this year in St. Louis).  It was an amazing experience that I won't soon forget.  Here are some things that happened/I learned/God did:

-God was very graceful in getting our entire Hope College crew there, from paperwork crises, to bringing together 13 people, to funding, to food, He had the thing covered!

-There were 17,000 college aged kids there, all worshiping Jesus together.  That was probably what awed me most- the sheer size of everything.  Imagine Revelation Song being sung simultaneously in 4 languages (English, Spanish, French, Chinese).  I can hardly wait to see what heaven will be like, if that was only a tiny glimpse!  To see so many of my peers who share my values was inspiring- a way of appreciating the scope of God's global mission.  Just how big it is.  Not really even sure I can totally explain this one.  We also sang songs in Hindi, Korean, Swahili and possibly a different African language.  One day every tribe tongue and nation will be together worshiping Him!  What a delight to catch this vision on earth as well.

-We had dozens of breakout seminars to choose from each day.  I went to one on managing finances, one about ministering to honor and shame cultures (fascinating!) and one about gendercide in China and healing.  I enjoyed talking to random people that I met and learning about things that specifically interest me.

-There were hundreds of different mission organizations represented.  It was totally overwhelming, but I made some connections and got information from tons of organizations that will hopefully help me in the future.  Theres a mission organization for just about every kind of ministry in every kind of place!

-Some of the main highlights for me were in the keynote speakers we had each evening and morning.  David Platt challenged us to give up everything for Christ, that being a Christian isn't a halfway thing.  Chai Ling talked about gendercide in China and her own experiences with forced abortion, rape, and the healing love of Christ.  What was a spark 10 years ago when I heard about the Chinese treatment of women was fanned to furnace flame.  All I could say after that night was, "thats everything I want to do!"  They both spoke on the same night and left us rocked, shaken, and on fire!

-Another speaker was a missionary from a very closed country who had endured great personal sacrifice and loss to bring God's love to the people of that country.  She again challenged us to give everything, and in giving her life story spoke with an unswerving calm about the goodness and worthiness of God.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.  She said, "light isn't needed where there's already light.  The Gospel has to go to the darkest of places."  In the wake of her testimony, we were forced to consider the question: what wouldn't you do for God?  How much comfort can you really hold onto.  He deserves everything.  As she was talking and the Spirit was moving, I saw one thing in my mind.  A red lightbulb shining in the darkness, and I knew where my darkest place would be: women and girls who have been victims of sex trafficking and abuse.  I saw eyes with no hope, that had not known love.  Passion stirred deep inside to seek justice for these broken girls, to see them receive the healing love of God, to leave their life of bondage.  

-God was hardcore present all week, and blessings were raining down.  96 Urbana attendees decided to become Christ followers for the first time, and many more made re-commitments.  I got to use some of the gifts God has given me to impact my life and the lives of those around me, which is one of the coolest and most humbling things!  To Him be the glory!  I know that my role for Hope in this next season is as an intercessor, and God totally confirmed that as well.

-One question I tried to ask everyone I came in contact with was "what is God doing on your campus?"  The answers were more or less the same... everyone spoke to the increasing presence of God and of big things that are happening!  God is truly moving right now, and it is so exciting!

Urbana was a truly beautiful experience that I am so thankful I got to be a part of.  I have a greater vision of God's heart for the world, and where I fit into and use my gifts in that.  I got share the time with some awesome people who I am blessed to call friends and classmates and see how God is going to use them for crazy awesome things for His kingdom.  I'm now headed into a yet unknown season in China- but I do know that the God who I felt move so powerfully at Urbana is the same God whose authority I will walk in in China.  Because its all about Him anyways.