VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 5/3/12)—Registration is still open for the 7-day World Mission Conference (WMC) sponsored by American Baptist International Ministries (IM) May 18-25, 2012 at the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, WI.
The 2012 conference, which will include a 3-day call retreat weekend (May 18-20), focuses on discerning God’s call to Christian service and how to make that call a reality. The theme is 2012: Hear the Call. For more information go to www.internationalministries.org/Events. To register, call the Green Lake Conference Center at (920) 294-3323.
“We’re excited about kicking off IM’s 200th anniversary by bringing together IM’s global servants and international guests who are deeply and personally involved in the work of God globally,” commented Reid Trulson, IM executive director. “They will share personal stories and experiences that will inspire and challenge us to listen for and respond to our own calls.”
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: the Rev. Dr. A. K. Lama, general secretary of the Council of Baptist Churches of North East India; Dr. Jules Casséus, president of the Christian University of North Haiti; and the Rev. Zhiguo Zhu, president of the Hubei Christian Council (China). For a complete list of international guests go to http://www.internationalministries.org/read/41922-may-2012-international-leaders.
“International Ministries is moving into an era of renewed, proactive efforts to cultivate missionary candidates and match them with the invitations and opportunities from our international partners,” notes IM director of recruitment, Rev. Jim Bell. “We are looking forward to meeting and interacting with persons whom God might be calling to step out in faith into new ventures of service.”
The conference will conclude on Thursday, May 24 with keynote speaker Dr. Tony Campolo, Professor emeritus of sociology, Eastern University; Founder and president of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, and a concert by the popular Christian band, Jars of Clay.
To register and reserve housing, contact the Green Lake Conference Center at (920) 294-3323.
Registration fees:
$79 per person for The Call Retreat – May 18 – 20;
$99 per person for the Call Globally – May 21 – 24;
$149 per person for The Call Experience (the whole week);
$15 per person for The Call Celebration – May 24 ONLY with Tony Campolo and evening concert by Jars of Clay.
For more information, go to www.internationalministries.org/Events.
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 Christ, 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.
ABCUSA 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.