Missions Conference 2018

What is Missions Conference?

Biola’s annual Missions Conference is currently the largest student-led Missions Conference in the world. This year, Biola will host its 89th Missions Conference. Every year since the foundation of this mobilizing movement, Biola’s Missions Conference has sought to educate, equip and inspire students to embrace their role in the completion of the Great Commission.

We transmit this vision to the student body during the three-day conference. Classes are cancelled, which allows the entire student body to concentrate more fully on receiving or remembering their role in the completion of the Great Commission. We attempt to accomplish this vision through the utilization of speakers, bands, worship, cultural events, global awareness and other activities to bring the nations to Biola’s campus and ignite students’ hearts for the glory of God.

2018 Conference Theme:
Luminous
Darkness has not overcome.
Theme Verse:
John 1:1-18

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

In the darkness fear creeps in, anxiety haunts, and deceit thrives. In the darkness, we long for light. We are desperate for guidance. In the beginning of the world, darkness covered the face of the earth. Out of the darkness God declared that there be light and it was good. Light was necessary for making God’s creative works visible and life possible.

Because of the fall, our lives are immersed in the darkness. We are sinners who hide ourselves from the glory of God. In the same way as at creation, God declares it good for there to be light. He shines in us to illuminate our darkness, bringing shape, purpose, and healing to the areas that were once hidden. Having been illuminated by the light of Christ, we now are Luminous. We are full of light, shining, especially in the darkness.

We are called to be His Light in this dark world. We are not the light ourselves, but witnesses that testify of the light. This task is not easy, but it is simple. We face burdens, obstacles, and struggles in our journey. Though we are full of his light, we face darkness daily. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. Through our brokenness, the light shines through the cracks.

And now, we can’t help but shine. But why is this? Why is the light so desirable? Despite all of the darkness, the light has come. Despite all of our brokenness, we still encountered the love of God. Once we have experienced the love of God, we shouldn’t be able to keep it inside. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Once we are filled with the light, we do not hide ourselves from the world, but set ourselves on a hill for those around us to witness the glory of the Lord through us. We love others, because God first love us.

Christ is our everlasting light. This light carries hope. This light never fades. Now being filled with the light, we are Luminous. We will shine in the darkness, and never be overcome.

Supporting Passages:
1 John 4:7-21
Isaiah 49:1-7
2 Corinthians 4:5-18
Matthew 5:14-16
Isaiah 60