Biola University’s Missions Conference is the largest, student-run missions conference in the nation. In its 85th year, the Student Missionary Union (SMU) chose to focus on discipleship within the local and global church, with the conference theme of “Echo.”

“The goal for the theme was to communicate the truth that local discipleship gives birth to global realities,” said conference volunteer and junior student Hope Gregory. 

Speakers addressed discipleship within different contexts such as academic, practical, global, and pastoral applications. The conference emphasized the importance of Christians being disciples in the local church and the echo effect they can have on the world.

“We wanted Biola students to understand their role in God's grand story and recognize that whether they physically go to the ends of the earth or whether they remain in La Mirada, each disciple of Jesus has been commissioned to make disciples that multiply,” said Gregory.

The directors selected speakers whose ministry locations varied greatly. Key speakers included Biola professor Mickey Klink, director of development and production for Tru Philosophy, Megan Fate Marshman, and Texas pastor Afshin Ziafat. Continuing SMU’s partnership with the India Project, an oral Bible translation project that reaches out to people in India, Rodrick Gilbert, a church planter in Northern India also spoke at the conference. 

Banners, lights and student artwork hung from trees to set the stage for an interactive global learning experience. Classrooms and courtyards were decorated to create simulations of current events for the interactive global awareness workshop which aimed to educate and inspire students regarding international cultures. Booths and music surrounded Fluor Fountain to create “The Marketplace,” where students could donate or buy products to support SMU missions trips. Students were provided with the opportunity to try food and drinks from various cultures with the ethnic lunch and “The International House of Drinks.”

The goal of the conference was to have students leave with three realizations: that they have a story, they are a disciple, and they have a calling to the local church. 

“We want students to know that we are each called into God's story,” said conference volunteer and junior student Kylie Kitabjian. “We can start making an impact now by being involved in the local church and making disciples and being discipled.” 

For more information on Missions Conference 2014, visit http://www.biolamissionsconfer....   

Written by Molly Magee, iBiola Intern. For more information, contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Specialist, at 562.777.4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.