Look Who's Talking about Urbana!
Rick
Warren
Pastor, Saddleback Church,
Lake Forest, California
Author of best-seller The Purpose Driven Life
Absolutely NOTHING matters more than the Kingdom of God, so you can't afford
to miss Urbana! If you are serious about not wasting your life, do whatever
it takes - even if it means selling everything - to get there! You'll meet
God at Urbana.
Joni Eareckson Tada
Founder, Joni and Friends
I’ve experienced the deep and profound moving of God’s Spirit
at Urbana. I can look back and point to decision-making milestones in my
life and ministry, all bearing testimony to that moving. It will happen
again to thousands of young people this year as their hearts are called
to missions in the US and around the world. I can already picture the angels
in heaven, lined up to get a front row seat to see what the Lord Jesus
will do this year at Urbana, and to rejoice in the fruit of His Spirit
in the years to come as students take the Good News to the streets.
Louie Giglio
Founder, OneDay Conference
Director, Passion Conferences/The Passion Network
Unquestionably, God's heart is for all peoples, and the culmination of
all of life is the united worship of every nation, race, tribe and tongue.
Joining God in that mission is not an obligation, but our highest honor.
Thus, the heartbeat of Urbana. For decades, Urbana has existed as one
of the beacon lights in God's global cause, rallying young adults to
engage in the stuff that matters most. Having been there recently, Urbana
feels to me like heaven on earth... probably because at the end of the
day the multiethnic chorus of heaven is what Urbana is all about.
John Stott
Author, Theologian, Missionary,
Founder of John Stott Ministries, United Kingdom
Having attended six Urbanas in the past, I am glad to endorse this triennial
student missionary convention. It challenges each student generation
to consider seriously the claim of God on their lives, in the light of
world need. In my travels I have met many missionaries and other Christian
workers whose lives were profoundly changed by the Urbana experience.
The huge worshipping crowd, the opportunity to meet and hear Christian
leaders from all over the world, and the serious Bible study together
constitute a remarkable and even unique inspiration.
Rebecca Manley Pippert
Author, Out of the Salt Shaker
Urbana is one of the most significant Christian conventions I have ever
been privileged to attend or address. It is impossible to participate
in Urbana without one’s world view being widened, knowledge of
Scripture deepened, false assumptions challenged, and a passion for missions
and true discipleship enhanced. The “festival” dynamic at
Urbana - the joy of worshipping with 20,000 others - is almost incomparable.
Ravi Zacharias
President, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
Urbana is a unique convention that has a profound impact on the one who
comes eagerly waiting to hear from the Lord. The Urbana convention touches
the heart and through that heart touches the world.
Ken Fong
Senior Pastor, Evergreen Baptist Church, Los Angeles
I've attended every Urbana since 1990 except one, and I can say without hesitation
that the Lord has used these triennial conventions to transform not only my own
heart but our entire understanding of the purpose and mission of the Church.
In a nutshell, God keeps using Urbana to show us his heart... for individuals,
for the Church, and most of all, for the world. We sent over 60 students and
adults to Urbana 2000 and three years later, the impact of that convention is
still being felt and heard in our church, in the city of Los Angeles, and in
far away places.
Mimi Haddad
President, Christians for Biblical Equality
Urbana builds strategic bridges to the next generation of leaders by
engaging their vision, talent, and passion to meet the global challenges
of the Gospel. One of the most priceless resources the church has is
the sold-out dedication of the next generation of leaders. I am thankful
for the multi-ethnic and gender-inclusive approach of Urbana, reflecting
the biblical truth that the Gospel is indeed for all people, and that
God gifts all Christians regardless of race, class, or gender.
Samuel Escobar
Honorary President, International
Fellowship
of Evangelical Students
Former and current Urbana speaker
During several decades the Urbana Mission Convention has been a God-given
instrument to challenge new generations to consider the divine call to
missionary service in all the world. As Latinos are and will be an important
aspect of the missionary force of the future, I want to encourage all
Latino Evangelical leaders and youth to be part of this unique event.
There is no other event where you can learn so much about Christian mission
in such a short time and with such good company.
Ray Bakke
Executive Director, International Urban Associates
I continue to travel the world in ministry, but nearly everywhere I go
on six continents the leaders of mission agencies come up and say, 'I
heard you at Urbana ('84 or '87)!' It is impossible to overestimate the
gift of Urbana to the Kingdom of God.
Che Ahn
Senior Pastor, Harvest Rock Church, Pasadena, California
CEO, The Call
I believe in the vision of Urbana to call and send students into the
mission field.
Patrick Johnstone
Author, Operation World
Urbana is the queen of mission conventions and the one used to measure
all other such efforts. How much we need this Great Commission emphasis
in the post-9/11 world with all its dangers and extraordinary opportunities
for the expansion of God's Kingdom! May these 21st century convocations
surpass in impact those of the 20th century.
Vinoth Ramachandra
Secretary for Dialogue and Social Engagement, IFES South Asia
Author, Faiths in Conflict
Urbana is unique among mission conventions in North America in that it
challenges college students to re-orient their lives around God's Kingdom
goals and values in the world. Such mission begins where we are, impacts
our own neighbourhoods and cultures, and widens into cross-cultural partnerships
with the global body of Christ. It is about listening and receiving,
as well as giving and doing.
Roger Cross
President, Youth for Christ/USA
We know from experience that this is a great convention that will do
so much to strengthen your own faith and broaden your view of the world.
Both YFC and IV share the same commitment to help you become a life-long
follower of Jesus, and this convention will be a significant step in
helping you accomplish that goal.
Peter
Cha
Instructor, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA Trustee
During the past sixty years, the Urbana Student Mission Convention has developed
a distinguished track record as a premiere mission convention for college students
in North America. In recent years, however, Urbana has also become a significant
Kingdom event where thousands of young people from various racial and ethnic
backgrounds come together to experience multiethnic worship as well as to expand
their vision for global missions. This week-long event not only introduces
them to the global mission field but also to the amazingly diverse family of
God, thus shaping not only their vision for missions but also their identity
as global Christians. I am convinced that there is no other Christian gathering
that makes as much a Kingdom impact on our young people as this triennial convention
does.
Denny Rydberg
President, Young Life
If you have experienced the life changing love of Christ, go to Urbana
03. If you have a desire to be used by God, then go to Urbana 03. If
you would like to see His Kingdom come to the corners of this hurting
world, then go, go, go! Expose yourself to the dynamic call of God and
launch your life into service in His name. Go to Urbana 03!
William
Lane Craig
Research Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology
Author, Reasonable Faith
For decades InterVarsity's Urbana conferences have been on the cutting edge
of world evangelization in vision-setting, strategic thinking, and mobilization.
To find your place in helping to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to carry
the Gospel to every nation, there is no better place to begin than Urbana!
Rev.
Elward D. Ellis
Pastor, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia
It is essential at this moment in history for Christian college and university
students to become aware of who they are and the role they are called
to play as God's reconciling ambassadors in the world. I can think
of no better opportunity to begin or to nurture this global Christian awareness
and understanding than InterVarsity's Urbana Student Mission Convention…Whether
the students hails from any one of the Latino-American, African-American,
Euro-American, Asian-American, or Native American communities, Urbana
is an opportunity to get to know the global God of John 3:16 better and
to come closer to an understanding of His purpose in one's life. I heartily
endorse Urbana with this one caution: it may clarify God's purpose in
your life.
Peter Kuzmic
Distinguished Professor of World Missions and European Studies,
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Urbana is the most horizon-broadening, spiritually enriching and empowering
event that young people can attend anywhere. The joyful worship and serious
study of Scripture, focusing on current global challenges and personal
responsibility, are life-changing. Anyone yearning to be a part of the
mission of God will find their time at Urbana invaluable.
Paul Borthwick
Senior Consultant, Development Associates International
Former Urbana speaker
Mission and church leaders I meet often speak of the impact that Urbana
has had on their lives. Pastors in USA churches readily credit Urbana
for their global vision. International leaders describe how Urbana has
inspired them to take the missions vision home in an effort to mobilize
students in their own countries. For over 50 years, the Urbana Student
Mission Convention has served the global impact of the Kingdom of Christ.
I eagerly anticipate Urbana 03 and the impact it will make on the current
student generation.
Rev. Virgil Lee Amos
General Director, Ambassadors Fellowship
Urbana is the largest catalytic event in the United States of America
which draws students and mission-minded individuals together to be informed
and challenged to the opportunities and responsibilities of world evangelism.
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