VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 4/4/12)—Enthusiasm is building for the seven-day World Mission Conference (WMC) sponsored by American Baptist International Ministries (IM) May 18 – 25, 2012.
32 IM missionaries are scheduled to attend. “The missionaries represent seventeen different nations, some of which are new partnerships for IM,” commented Karen Mason, IM’s director for Special Events. Several of the missionaries and global consultants, including Lauran Bethell (Global – Human Trafficking), Duane and Marcia Binkley (U.S./Thailand – Peace and Refuge) and Glen and Rita Chapman (Democratic Republic of Congo – Evangelism) will lead small-group workshops. For a complete list of missionaries and development workers who will be attending, go to http://www.internationalministries.org/read/40288-may-2012-mission-personnel.
14 Christian leaders will arrive from all over the world to lead a variety of worship services, Bible studies and workshops. They include: Rev. Dr. A. K. Lama, general secretary of the Council of Baptist Churches of N.E. India; Dr. Jules Casséus, president of the Christian University of North Haiti; and Rev. Zhu Zhiguo, president of the Hubei Christian Council (China). For a complete list of international leaders, go to http://www.internationalministries.org/read/41922-may-2012-international-leaders.
The World Mission Conference packs three complementary experiences into a single week. Everyone who is interested in God’s call to serve is invited to attend. For more information on this high-intensity week, go to http://www.internationalministries.org/read/38513-may-2012-hear-the-call.
The week kicks off with a 3-day call retreat, when participants will dedicate themselves to discerning God’s call to Christian service–whether within or beyond the U.S. and Puerto Rico–and on taking next steps to respond to that call faithfully. The call retreat is a joint production of IM, American Baptist Home Mission Societies and the American Baptist Ministers Council.
The conference continues with four days to explore the ways all conference participants hear and respond to God’s mission call, assisted by 14 global Christian leaders and 32 of the IM missionaries who serve with them around the world.
The closing celebration of the conference on Thursday, May 24, will be filled with inspiration from renowned speaker Tony Campolo and the Christian Contemporary Music band, Jars of Clay.
“Whether you are exploring an initial call to service, seeking God’s direction for the next phase of your discipleship or just eager to learn about and join what God is doing the in world, this will be a terrific opportunity for you,” commented Stan Slade, IM global consultant and associate executive director.
To register for the conference and/or to reserve housing, contact the Green Lake Conference Center at (920) 294-3323. To view the conference schedule, go to http://www.internationalministries.org/read/41687-conference-schedule
Program Fees
$79 per person for The Call Retreat
May 18 – 20
Choose one of three tracks: Mission Involvement Locally; Cross-Cultural Global Mission Service; and Pastoral Ministry. Scholarships are available. To apply, contact Jim Bell at jim.bell@abc-usa.org.
$99 per person for The Call Globally:
May 21 – 24
$149 per person for The Call Experience (the whole week):
May 18 – 24
$15 per person for The Call Celebration
May 24 ONLY
Afternoon with Tony Campolo and evening concert featuring Jars of Clay & Tony. (Dinner meal ticket is extra and must be reserved with Green Lake by calling 920 294-3323.)
The 2012 World Mission Conference is the first of several events that IM will use to celebrate what God has done through American Baptist global mission over the last 200 years, and to launch IM into its third century of mission. “This is a remarkable occasion for IM. Not many mission agencies have been able to reach this milestone. We are indeed grateful for God’s leading and guidance during our 200-year history,” commented Reid Trulson, executive director. “We are honoring the past while moving forward into the future.”
American Baptist International Ministries (IM) was organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America. It began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationship with God, and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.