Missions Conference 2024

2024 Conference Theme: UNHINDERED

Theme Verse: Psalm 73:26-28

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” - Psalm 73:26-28

Psalm 73 captures a believer’s honest response to a corrupted world. As believers, we can often be covetous of the world's lifestyle because we are lacking an eternal perspective of life and doubt God’s goodness and justice. This psalm is a reminder that though we fail repeatedly, it is the nearness of God that fuels us to proclaim the good news without hindrance. Whether the age of the psalmist, the days of the Early Church, or our present world, the source of strength and the reality of the unhindered Gospel remains the same.

Director's Note

Getting to direct this conference and lead our incredible staff has been the biggest blessing. Seeing the Lord stretch our understanding of what is possible through Him is both humbling and exciting.

We invite you to lean into the conference and actively engage in the sessions, events, and spaces that have been prepared for you. This conference is by students, for students and we hope it feels that way. It is our prayer that this conference will be a time of renewal and growth for us all. We hope that this conference will empower you to go as a disciple of Jesus and make disciples for His kingdom. We are expectant of the wonderful things God has in store for this year!

Schedule

Students will have to obtain 5 total conference credits. All credits over 5 will become chapel credits. All bolded events are worth 1 credit unless otherwise noted. Livestream will be available, but cannot be used for credit. Please reach out to chapel.accountability@biola.edu with any questions.

Chapel Accountability will be uploading conference credits at the end of each session. Please check your MyAccount daily to be sure you have received credit for sessions you have attended. Any missing credits must be reported to Chapel Accountability before the end of Missions Conference to be eligible to be corrected.

 

 

The Great Misallocation: The Global Missions Crisis

• Speaker: Hope Loomis
• Location: BUSN 109
• Description: There is a great misallocation of missionaries and resources preventing the body of Christ from fulfilling The Great Commission. Unpack how Christians can avoid this imbalance while ensuring that all nations have an opportunity to know Jesus.

 

Local Church and Discipleship Panel

• Speaker: Local Church Pastors
• Location: Mayers Auditorium
• Description: Join the conversation of how living unhindered can transform the way we engage with our local communities and beyond.

 

Strategies to Reach the Harvest Fields of the Marketplace & Public Schools

• Speaker: Bobby Parks
• Location: Calvary Chapel
• Description: If you have a passion to reach others outside of the four walls of the church and want to learn strategies for reaching others in the densest harvest fields in the US; the marketplace and public schools, come hear practical approaches of pre-evangelism, evangelism, and discipleship strategies bearing fruit.

 

The Forgotten Church

• Speaker: Anne Zaki
• Location: Chase Gym
• Description: The Bible emerged from the rich tapestry of Middle Eastern culture. However, as we navigate the landscape of today's Middle East, where does the church find itself? Journey with us to learn about the presence and mission of the church in the Middle East.

 

Reaching Asian Megacities

• Speaker: Missionary Couple
• Location: Andrew’s Banquet Room
• Description: Working professionals in the megacities of Asia are among the most unreached people on the planet - often less than 1% Christian. How can we help reach these busy urban professionals? Come hear how God used one missionary family to tackle this daunting challenge and change the lives of hundreds of urban professionals and their families.

 

Armenia's Spiritual Odyssey: Embracing the Holy Spirit in the Face of Persecution

• Speaker: Dr. Simonian and Dr. Kherlopian
• Location: Crowell Music Hall
• Description: Explore Armenia's historical significance as the first Christian nation and its enduring faith despite persecution and tremendous loss. Discover insights as to how the Holy Spirit is moving in spite of this pain, raising up this generation to be a light in the darkness, even to those causing them harm.

   
  

Every Tongue, Tribe, and Nation: Unreached people groups and the linguistic thread of scripture

• Speaker: Dr. Ed Stetzer
• Location: Chase Gym
• Description: From Babel to Pentecost to the throne room in Revelation, there is a clear desire that God be worshiped in the languages of every nation. Dr. Stetzer explains why, and what that means for God’s global mission.

 

Positively Irritating

• Speaker: Jon Ritner
• Location: Crowell Music Hall
• Description: How are European church leaders embracing the challenges of post Christianity to form a more faithful and innovative church?

 

Creative Commissioning

• Speaker: Creatives Panel
• Location: Mayers Auditorium
• Description: How are creatives in various industries integrating their faith into the world of art? Hear how these panelists incorporate the Gospel in their spheres of influence and how they have responded to the Great Commission.

 

Seeing God's Light in Unexpected Places

• Speaker: Susan Lim
• Location: Calvary Chapel
• Description: After being raised with a Buddhist background, Dr. Lim turned to Christ. Join us to hear her powerful story, illustrating how her transformation profoundly affected her family. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel on those closest to us.

 

The Final Frontier: The Bibleless

• Speaker: James Kim
• Location: Andrew’s Banquet Room
• Description: Today, thousands of hidden churches across the world persevere under intense persecution and poverty. Their only hope is to stand firm on the Word of God... if it ever comes. Come and see how the Church plays a role in this responsibility.

 

Spiritual Hygiene & Hearing from God

• Speaker: Kiki and Jonné
• Location: Crowell Music Hall
• Description: Practical equipping for an upgraded prayer life where your identity is rooted in what God says about you, and freedom is found through intentional times of inner healing.

 

Revival In Our Generation? Conversation about Asbury, Biola, and Europe

• Speaker: Sarah Breuel
• Location: Calvary Chapel
• Description: Join us as we talk about the biblical basis for revival, history of revivals, and what God has done in Asbury. What is He doing in our generation in the US, Europe, and beyond?

 

Yes, Elon, you are missing something

• Speakers: Kayla Spand
• Location: Chase Gym
• Description: “What's the point of sign language in a video if you have subtitles? More importantly, what's the point of translating the Bible into signed languages?” An introduction to special considerations and challenges in translating the Bible into the 400+ signed languages worldwide.

 

Global Missions And The Impact Of A Wholistic Gospel On Poverty

• Speaker: Mike Bell
• Location: BUSN 109
• Description: Explore and dig deeper into the causes and cures of poverty, what “community development” is and why it plays an important part of Gospel informed global missions activity.

 

A Million Views Per Day: What Could Your Artistic Talents Render?

• Speaker: Joseph Hanford
• Location: Andrew’s Banquet Room
• Description: The production of the new animated Jesus Film is a new way for Christians in film to develop ministry in their fields. Learn how artistic believers are producing this motion picture and how we can use our artistic talents for all kinds of ministry.

 

The Case of Mistaken Identity

• Speaker: The Chens
• Location: Mayers Auditorium
• Description: If we listen to the quiet voice of God, we can discover that each of us are more deeply loved than we could ever imagine, which is easy to forget. This is our truest identity, and the place from which we are destined to live a life in belonging, community, and on mission for God.

 

 

Prayer Chapels

• Times: 24hrs Wednesday and Thursday
• Location: Talbot “Jonah” Chapel: personal or introspective prayer, Rose Prayer Chapel: global and corporate prayer
• Description: Come stop by any of these prayer chapels for a space to process with the Lord or to pray for the nations!

 

Acts 1:8 Prayer Walk

• Times: 24hrs Wednesday and Thursday
• Location: Library Walkway
• Description: The Acts 1:8 Prayer Walk is an interactive prayer walk. There will be signs explaining what it is and prayer prompts hung in the trees!

 

SUB Worship

• Times: 3/20 Wednesday and 3/21 Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• Location: Student Union Building
• Description: Join us for a time of corporate worship and prayer! This space is designed to be a set apart place to encounter God’s presence and process conference outside of the main sessions. Worship will be led by fellow Biola students!

   
  

Global Awareness

• Time: 3/20 Wednesday and 3/21 Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: Kim's Dining Room
• Description: Global Awareness is an interactive experience highlighting John 1:5, how God continues to work despite times of darkness. The rooms include the Persecuted church in China, historically Christian regions in Europe and Latin America, how God works amidst suffering in war-torn areas and the role of prayer, as well as testimonies from different MKs and TCKs on Biola’s campus.

 

Missionary Organization Fair

• Speaker: 3/20 Wednesday and 3/21 Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: Lot F by Fluor Fountain
• Description: This event is a highlight of Missions Conference. Missions Organizations from around the world, focusing on both local and global missions, have come to Biola to share what they do and how you can get involved.

 

Moments on Metzger

• Times: Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Location: Missionary Fair Booth
• Description: Join us to play board games and soccer with missionaries!

 

Experience the Unhindered

• Time: 3/20 Wednesday and 3/21 Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: Fluor Gazebo
• Description: A 5 minute, 3D sound experience transporting you to an unhindered moment of Paul’s life in 1st century Rome. Come experience the unhindered.

 

Missionary Bingo

• Time: 3/20 Wednesday and 3/21 Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 pm
• Location: Missionary Fair in Lot F
• Description: Come play a game of bingo for the chance to win merchandise from a Missions Organization!

 

Colson Award Presentation

• Time: 3/21 Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Location: Chase Gym during Session 4
• Description: Andy Bales recently retired from his nearly twenty-year service as President and CEO of Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles. Since its establishment in 1891, URM has been the vital center of hope for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness on the streets of Skid Row. His deep commitment to the homeless community and his courage to hold his convictions under opposition has been recognized locally and nationally, and Biola University is pleased to honor him as the tenth recipient of the Charles W. Colson Conviction and Courage Award.

 

Marketplace

• Time: 3/20 Wednesday and 3/21 Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Location: Fluor Gazebo
• Description: Here you can purchase merchandise at Fluor Fountain!

 

South Africa Spotlight

• Time: 3/21 Thursday, 12 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Location: Fireplace Pavilion
• Description: Come experience a glimpse of South African culture! There will be snacks, music, and activities.

 

Sunrise Worship

• Time: 3/21 Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Location: Metzger Lawn
• Description: This will be a time of worship, coffee, and muffins.

 

Basecamp Worship

• Time: 3/21 Thursday, 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Location: Fireplace Pavilion
• Description: Join us for a time of worship, prayer, and reflection after Thursday’s evening session! We will have cookies and hot cocoa!