Urbana Archives Share your story.
K 03/06/09
I went to Urbana 2006 not really knowing what to expect, trying to find some meaning to my then unemployed...
Bob Durham 06/27/07
I attended Urbana 90. God then led me to Albania, helping two mission organizations disciple Albanians after that, over a...
Kate 06/01/07
I attended Urbana '06. As a first year in college I didn't really know about Urbana until my IV leader...
Alexandria (part 2) 05/30/07
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my wonderful Urbana family group. My family and I were divinely ordained--I...
Alexandria 05/30/07
Before Urbana I was at best lukewarm, and I hated it! I knew that I needed God and that I...
Michelle 04/24/07
Instead of the answers I sought, God gave me a burden for campus revival. On the last night, I happened...
Jim 04/19/07
I attended Urbana 61 to see if God wanted me to go into full time missions. The speaker who most...
Chae 04/12/07
Praise the Lord! I flew from Korea to Chicago only to attend Urbana 06. When I got back from Urbana...
Mary 03/21/07
Hi, at Urbana God did not send me a specific calling. I was however, blessed with the ability to speak...
Amanda 03/20/07
I had never heard the Lord's prayer put to song before. I remember that night in 2003 as being charged...
Chara pt. 3 03/17/07
When I came back to school, I found out that I've been accepted to work with Youth for Christ for...
Chara part 2 03/17/07
In Oct. or Nov., I applied to go with Youth for Christ. At Urbana, God really laid working with youth...
Chara 03/17/07
I went to Urbana for the first time in December. I have wanted to be a missionary since my first...
David 03/16/07
My experience at Urbana was uplifting. It left me with a zeal for God I've never known before. Ajith Fernando,...
Megan 02/23/07
God used Urbana to change my life...He taught me what true worship is, and showed me Himself. All praises be...
Brenton 02/16/07
I felt like god called me to not work in other nations, but our own nation. I am a musician...
David 02/13/07
Through Urbana, not only did I mature in my faith, but I also decided to become a missionary full-time.Through the...
Laura 02/12/07
being only 17 and not know want i really wanted to do with my life, i was confused. God laid...
Loren 02/12/07
I went to Urbana with a calling for the youth of America on my life. The Global Missions Center caused...
Mary 02/12/07
I am so glad I attended Urbana. Through this event, I felt God calling me into the urban ministry. Now...
Trey 01/31/07
I attended Urbana 2000 at the prompting of my missions teacher. God really confirmed a calling to cross cultural ministry...
Wiatta Thomas 01/31/07
I graduated from Emory University this past May, and took a job in Atlanta out of 3 others that were...
Ryan 01/31/07
"The need does not determine the call"- the book,Courage and Calling. Missions, working for IV, spreading the gospel, these callings...
Dana 01/30/07
I went to Urbana expecting to discover more about missions and God's calling for my life. What I found there...
Kyung(Roy) 01/30/07
God called me to Urbana06? Not sure. But I know that I felt something.. something that can't described into words....
Jacci 01/30/07
Our whole family was at Urbana. We all came home with a desire to live in a more ethnically diverse...
Richard 01/30/07
this is my story in a nutshell. i believe that while at Urbana I was meant to meet people of...
Sarah part 2 01/25/07
I thought i would not run into people I knew there by chance because I was only going to know...
Sarah 01/25/07
A burden for people with AIDS led me to pray. I also prayed that God would give me the gift...
Ashley 01/24/07
I'm hesitant to sing worship songs which include phrases beginning with "I will . . ." But at Urbana, God...
Terri 01/24/07
I was deeply moved during Urbana. The night that Sharon spoke from International Justice Mission, I was called. I felt...
Jane 01/23/07
God's Choreography The Lord made use of every minute to introduce me to his loved ones. My first Urbana, I...
Monica 01/22/07
25 years ago as a kid, God seemed to be calling me to China, but I had a hard time...
Andy 01/20/07
God called me to go to China and share his love cross-culturally! I came back and promptly added Chinese 101...
Daniel 01/19/07
On Saturday, Dec. 30, I was reading Friday’s Urbana Today newspaper on page 6 about Missions and Creation Care. In...
Jackey 01/19/07
Urbana was amazing! I went to Urbana feeling numb towards God. Urbana taught me how to get back in step...
TIM 01/19/07
during the break between the first and second half of the dec 31 evening session, i was in my seat,...
Rob 01/18/07
My grandparents were missionaries, my parents are missionaries, and I was always told that I was going to be the...
Tara 01/18/07
Urbana was the most amazing experience of my life. I made my choice to come very reluctantly but am so...
Marie 01/03/07
I became a Christian on May 4, 1972 at Kent State University. I travelled to Urbana 73 on a Greyhound...
Jim and Jill 12/30/06
The third day of Urbana, I was called to a Bible study leaders’ meeting. All my friends went ahead to...
Daniel 12/04/06
My wife and I were married December 18, 1967. A week later we drove 1400 miles from Salt Lake City...
Kevin 08/23/06
I went to Urbana during my sophomore year of college. It was here that missions changed from being just a...
Michael Haynes at Urbana 79 06/13/06
It was while a student in college that my mind was led by God to respond to an opportunity for...
Virginia 05/16/06
I am so happy that Geri Rodman's message at Urbana 2003 is on the website!! I went to Urbana...
Barb & Mike 03/21/06
Urbana '79 was coming, and Barb got a job in the Urbana Dept. We'd become Christians as hippies, living in...
Melissa 02/24/06
Hi Everybody! I attended Urbana in 2000 and 2003 and in 2003 God used George Verwer to grab my heart...
Monica 04/30/05
Dear Urbana, I attended Urbana 2003, and in 2004 I began working on a ministry team with Youth For Christ...
Rachel 07/26/04
Through God's persistant grace and his working in my heart at urbana, I was struck with an urgency to follow...
Richard 02/12/04
For the past two years, I have had a dream to start a civil engineering business where the employees give...
Cheryl 02/09/04
Before I went to Urbana I thought my life was okay, but my attitude changed. My life isn't just about...
Sandra Shelton 02/07/04
I'm now on staff with IVCF in Bemidji MN. When I was a student at Hamline university I attended Urbana...
Liz 02/04/04
Urbana '03. I often glanced at the ASL (American Sign Language) section periodically, just out of curiosity. During praise, I...
Marquita 02/04/04
When I arrived in college I told myself that my worst fear would be that I would get so caught...
John 02/04/04
Where else could I find 19,999 other believers in christ who were about the same age as me that worshipped...
Ky 02/04/04
I attended Urbana '03 because I thought God was speaking to me about a career in ministry. I was a...
Shellanna 02/04/04
Urbana 03 changed everything for me. I am a completely different person from the way I act, to the way...
Jeremy,Tampa, FL 02/03/04
How amazing is God's will!!! Urbana `03 was the most amazing experience! My eyes have been opened to a world...
Robert 02/03/04
I was a little skeptical of large Christian conferences, because I had never attended one before Urbana. What can I...
Robyn 02/03/04
Urbana was so awesome... I felt so blessed by the worship, the talks, and even by being a small group...
Christina Linville 02/03/04
I attended Urbana 2003, and let me tell you, I will never be the same. Urbana became a big part...
Ryan 02/03/04
Through the Urbana 03 convention I was encouraged to teach in the American public school setting. During one of the...
Kory A 02/03/04
I was so overwelmed at the promising future of the Young adult generation by attending Urbana, I am in Seminary...
Marty 01/23/04
I attended Urbana '84, hoping NOT to hear God's voice. My father, whom I dragged to Urbana, met a friend...
Jennifer 01/20/04
Going to Urbana 03 was such a blessing. Worshipping with 20,000 brothers and sister was amazing. The speakers were great...
Brenda 01/17/04
When I attended Urbana in '03, I was struggling with an eating disorder and did not want to give them...
Wayne McCloskey 01/05/04
Urbana 03 was incredible. The wordhip, speakers, seminars, and exhibits were truly life impacting. I will never forget Urbana 03....
Jimmy 01/04/04
I came to Urbana 03 expecting just another retreat. Did God ever surprise me. It was the most amazing experience...
Jason 01/02/04
I attended Urbana 03 and it was so awesome I can't even think of words to describe it. The people...
Sharon 03/28/03
I attended Urbana '79 and WoW, its experience is still with me when I recall it. The highlight for me...
Asee 01/10/03
Attending Urbana 2000 was total last minute, being almost the last person to reserve a seat on the greyhound! Urbana...
Patrick 12/16/02
Urbana 2000 was awesome. I learned so much through fellowship with 20,000 of my brothers and sisters through christ. God...
Michelle from Jamaica 10/20/02
Urbana 2000 was an awesome experience! I got involved in more ways than I thought possible. Again I was reminded...
Kyu 10/09/02
After a heavenly experience in Urbana 2000, the global perspective of God's glory is still vivid in my mind. I...
Trina 10/08/02
I attended both Urbana 76 and 79. In addition to great memories, I have some of the materials...
Paul 08/13/02
As a former IVCF staff, Urbana's greatest payoff is now 13 years later. A fellow church elder questioned our sending...
Ray & Tracy Price 07/03/02
We went to Urbana 96 as a newlywed couple asking God "What can you do with Ph.D. in Pharmacology overseas?"...
Ana from Arg. 04/27/02
I went to Urbana for the first time in the year 2000. It was an amazing experience, which opened my...
Sally 04/19/02
I realy enjoyed going to Urbana 2000. I learned a lot about missions and how important is is to share...
Colleen 04/03/02
I attended Urbana 2000 because it sounded fun and I regretted having not prepared my heart for what God offered...
Catharine 02/14/02
I went to Urbana 2000 and it was great. I went as a small group leader and I loved my...
Liam Steele 01/26/02
I really didn't know what to expect when My pastor asked me to think about attending Urbana. Prayerfully, I went,...
Andrew E. 01/11/02
As one of the few Canadians at Urbana 2000, I found my experience awesome. Seeing all of those people worshiping...
Russ 12/28/01
I was really honored to be apart of the many christians around the world while attending the Urbana Conference. I...
Crystal 12/23/01
I attended Urbana 2000 as a high school senior. From an early age, I have wanted to be a missionary...
Steph 12/18/01
My life hasn't been the same since Urbana. It was at Urbana that I felt led to serve God in...
Liz 12/03/01
I remember at Urbana 90 asking God to burn everything that was not of him. I also agonized over what...
Keith 11/27/01
I attended Urbana 1993 not knowing what to expect. God met me and spoke into my life in an amazing...
Tim 09/22/01
It was Alex Gee's message "There is no worship without reconciliation" that helped me to realize my own sin in...
Krista 04/24/01
I just wanted to thank you for your service and commitment to the call to serve Christ. I found your...
Chrissy 03/28/01
God spoke to me regarding my lack of knowledge about world events. He showed me that . . . ultimately...
David 03/28/01
For me, Urbana 2000 was about seeing how God was working in so many people's lives to fulfill His plan...
Cheryl 03/28/01
Urbana 2000 was a time of renewing of spirit, mind, body and joy in the Lord for me. God laid...
Marcie 03/27/01
I went to Urbana 2000 because my pastor said it would "be a great time and I loved it when...
Kristi 03/15/01
I've never gone to Urbana, but God has used it to change my life. Two of my friends went to...
Carrie 01/20/01
Coming from a broken home and a broken relationship with my biological father, it has been hard to grasp the...
Alexander, Greensboro, NC 01/18/01
I attended Urabana 2000, I learned to have a humble heart before the Lord and to come broken. He has...
Felix, from Puerto Rico!! 01/13/01
This was my first time at Urbana and it was really exciting, challenging and eye-opening!!The topics about Racial reconciliation and...
Jessica 01/12/01
I attended Urbana 2000. I was expecting God to give me tangible answers for my future. However, He did just...
Gloria 01/09/01
I resisted God EVERY TIME He tried to break me at Urbana 2000--I wrestled with Him verbally and spiritually. Yet...
Rayhee 01/09/01
Urbana 2000 was absolutely an incredible experience for me. This was my first time attending the conference, so I really...
Julie 01/09/01
I've been truly blessed by the opportunity to attend Urbana as a college freshman in 1993 as well as attend...
Liz 01/04/01
On Dec. 30th, 1996 I met God! That day while taking quiet time I read a devotional that said God...
Peter 01/03/01
Urbana 2000 was an awesome experience, from the moment I got there till the New Years Eve celebration. Ken Fong...
Kevin 01/03/01
I was a passive Christian before Urbana. The Staff Leaders at Intervarsity they began to show me how much love...
Robert 01/01/01
I just attended Urbana 2000 and wanted to share how much God used this time to show me what He...
Mike 01/01/01
Being a student at New York University has been a serious challenge to my life as a Christian. New York...
Gene 12/31/00
Bob, one of the 10 men in my small group at Urbana 1964 was also a math major as I...
Diane 12/30/00
Instead of attend Urbana in 1980 as a college student, I went 9 years later as a working woman, unhappy...
Kathy 12/30/00
I'm an Urbana alumni ('73 and "76). I can think of no better way to welcome the new millenium than...
Ming 12/29/00
I attended Urbana '96 as a high school senior and it was an experience that opened my eyes and changed...
Robert 12/29/00
God is indeed, and in deed mighty. I am a pastor on a Roman Catholic campus. When Pastors Ken Fong...
Dotty 12/29/00
Urbana '67 was a milestone in my life. It was there that I made a decision to share the Gospel...
Katrina 12/29/00
I attended Urbana in 1993 as a delegate and then volunteered as a steward in '96, after participating in a...
Steve 12/29/00
I attended Urbana in 1973. It was as if every speaker was reading my journal. I stood up on the...
Joan 12/28/00
I attended Urbana 1976 and 1979, and God did use the experience to lead me to several cross-cultural opportunites, one...
Jim 12/28/00
As a shy, fearful freshman from the University of Kansas I attended the 1948 Missionary Convention. I was a "religious"...
Gillian 12/28/00
The Lord revealed my call to spanish-speaking missions at Urbana '96. Just two years later I moved from Minnesota to...
Queenie 12/27/00
my first time is Urbana 1996. At that time, God began stirring my heart to following him, and doing missions...
David 12/27/00
Urbana 76 was one of the defining moments in creating my passion for missions. I can still hear Helen Roseveare...
Patty 12/27/00
As a dorm convert at UC-Riverside I heard the call to Urbana. After some failed attempts I did go in...
Brendon 12/27/00
I first went to Urbana in '93. It radically chanaged the way I saw God and his love for people....
TONY 12/26/00
I am not the typical attendee because I am one of the many volunteers to help at these Urbanas. This...
Shawn-Andre 12/21/00
Urbana '87! Throughout the entire event, God snagged my heart with a jolt of lightning. As the message of Jonah's...
Sarah 12/14/00
I went to Urbana '96 deciding not to be a lukewarm Christian anymore. From utter cynicism at the people 'on...
Jennifer, Puerto Rico 11/15/00
To see how many students around the world are truly involved on the gospel and missions, impacted me the most....
minjoo 11/11/00
I went to Urbana 96 with my group of brothers and sisters from my church.

Because I live in Calgary...

Josh 11/10/00
Urbana 96 was just one of many steps to God's leading me into missions. He had already put me in...
Ulices 11/01/00
I came from Venezuela in October 1996, attending God's call for mission. God used a small church in Wisconsin to...
Yong-Kyun 10/31/00
I went to Urbana 96. At that time I lived in Toronto. I really loved it and told my friends...
David 10/29/00
During the 1967 Urbana Convention I was among many who stood when George Verwer called for commitment and dedication of...
Rochelle, from South Africa 10/24/00
At Urbana 1996, I witnessed to God's love in our hearts as people were reconciled. This country still has so...
Elena 10/22/00
When I was a young Christian, a friend who was an IVCF staff worker gave me Urbana 87 tapes. I...
Rev. Newberry 10/22/00
I attended Urbana 1987 which directly led to the final decision to go to Pakistan. I remember talking to so...
Beth 10/05/00
At Urbana 87 George Verwer challenged that unless God was telling us not to, to go. A summer in Kenya...
Beverly 10/05/00
I was engaged to be married, and my fiance and I attended Urbana 80 a few weeks before our wedding....
Janet 09/28/00
The candle light communion service at Urbana 1970 was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. If fellowship...
Gregg 09/28/00
After getting saved in 1989, I went to Urbana '90 with a group from my college. God touched my heart...
Michele 09/27/00
Urbana 96. At one of the seminars this guy asked if we believed God loves us. I didn't really. That...
Dr. Kevin Livingston, Knox Presbyterian Church 09/25/00
It was at Urbana '76, hearing John Stott expound the great missionary texts of the Bible, that I experienced a...
Anonymous 09/20/00

I just want to share how Urbana/IV ministered to someone I know.

His name is Seung. When he was a...

Melissa 09/19/00
At Urbana 96, I committed my life to missions. I am still not sure what that means or how that...
Jamie 09/15/00
I attended Urbana 93 and I must say that it was truly a great experience for me. And I am...
Melissa 08/28/00
Urbana 96 was an amazing time for me.The most amazing part of it was hearing Elizabeth Elliot teach on the...
Carl 08/24/00
I enjoyed the Urbana convention that I attended in 1993. I made a commitment at that time to be involved...
Christian 08/22/00
December 1987 changed my life. As a sophomore in college I was challenged by the "commitment card" at Urbana to...
John 08/07/00
I first attended Urbana in 1970, a year after I became a Christian at Cedar Campus. I remember John Stott's...
Gwenda 07/26/00
I attended Urbana '96. While i was there i felt God calling me to go to Haiti. After i graduated...
Phillip 07/25/00
Thanks for your ministry. Because of Urbana '70, I was a missionary in Ghana, West Africa for 14 years. We...
Laurie 07/24/00
I believe that I can truly say that Urbana 96 changed my whole life. It is because I attended the...
Julia 07/08/00
In 1996 I had already felt God calling me to work in Northern Canada. While at the conference I learned...
amanda 06/19/00
At Urbana 1996, I found the beginning of my trek to Seminary. I still don't know where that will take...
Ann (not her real name) 06/09/00
I went to Urbana 96 because my mom told me I should go. She had heard from friends that Urbana...
Winston 05/23/00
I ATTENDED URBANA 1990. AT THAT TIME I WAS A STUDENT AT JAMAICA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN JAMAICA. SINCE THEN I...
Beth 05/09/00
Urbana '96 was one of my first obviously "crazy" excursions on the journey with Jesus. Why go with Dad's heart...
Emily 05/03/00
I attended Urbana 96. God really used it to confirm the calling of God to GO! into full time missions....
Rick 05/01/00
I first attended Urbana '93. God moved me there and opened my heart to serving overseas for His glory. God...
Inger 05/01/00
Urbana 93' I always wanted to be a missionary. I prayed to God about Africa. At Urbana, I prayed during...
Pat 04/26/00
I was eight months in the Lord and very independent at Urbana 1987. The evening that Helen Rosevere spoke was...
Ellen 04/16/00
Urbana 1996 was an incredible conference for me. It really cemented my desire to serve God with my life and...
John 04/02/00
My older brother went to Urbana in 1987, then into full-time missions. I went in 1990, and wasn't sure how...
Jim 03/31/00
In 1976 I was invited to go to Urbana '76. To this day, I do not know why I agreed...
Angela 03/20/00
I just want to write and testify of the faithfulness of God and the way He used Urbana 96 to...
Paul 03/17/00
After many years of preparation, we are finally ready to leave for the mission field! I'm not sure if you...
Robert 02/19/00
I attended Urbana 96 and it was a totally awesome experience! This was especially true for me since I received...
James 02/08/00
I attended Urbana 84 with my girl friend, and committed myself wholly to the Lord for whatever his plan was...
Janimal 02/03/00
I first went to Urbana 87 and it literally changed my life...from that point on, I felt the call into...
Joe 02/02/00
Urbana 96 was one of the most powerful spiritual experiences that has ever touched my life. I came to the...
David 01/31/00
I went to the Urbana Conference of 1987 and 1990. In 1987 I listened to many speak but when Helen...
Tim 01/31/00
I have had the privilege to experience the last two Urbanas. They have impacted my life in profound ways. As...
Clara 01/26/00
Urbana 96 changed my life. It was great to experience God there and really understand what was on His heart....
Michael 01/20/00
I became a believer in Jesus Christ at Urbana 79 and through Urbana 81 was able to go to Saudi...
yvonne 01/20/00
Urbana 93 was truly awesome! At the conference, i dedicated my life in serving the Lord thru being a missionary....
Gabriela 01/15/00
I went to Urbana 90. Now 9 years after that unique and decisive experience, I am serving as a full...
Bill 01/12/00
Greetings from Panama. My name is Bill, IVCF staff '68-70 in Eastern N.Y. and I have been a missionary/pastor here...
Roanna 01/12/00
A friend and I went together to Urbana '96. I wanted to go overseas and she didn't. As the days...
Steven 01/11/00
Since I've attended Urbana, God challenged me to be a missionary. I was really moved by the message and music....
Nixsa 12/23/99
I went to the 96 and It was a Blessing. It change my life completely! 11 months before the convention...
Patrick 12/22/99
At Urbana 93, I committed to doing a summer, short-term project, and ended up following God overseas the following summer...
Jonathan 12/21/99
I went to Urbana in 1993 and it has had a profound impact on my life. In fact, Urbana 93...
Sandy 12/21/99
I truly loved Urbana and even though I was older and finishing my Master's Degree it proved to be the...
Gina 12/21/99
I went to Urbana 79 to broaden my perspective on the world and to discover how I fit into the...
Art 12/21/99
It was in 1970 that my wife Mae and I were at Urbana. What an experience! I had returned from...
David 12/16/99
Just after midnight on January 1, 1997 I went to bed with the radio on after ushering in the new...
Dana 12/09/99
I attended Urbana '90 my senior year of college and have been on your mailing list ever since. I am...
Nan 12/09/99
In the fall of 1976 we were invited to go to Urbana by our local IVCF local staff member as...
Darla 12/09/99
Urbana '96 was a life changing! Before Urbana, I wanted to do missions yet I was interested in linguistics. At...
Bruce 12/07/99
I learned of Urbana while a graduate student in Pennsylvania. The challenge of Urbana 1970 was potent, and I took...
Wayne 12/06/99
I find myself in the place of God's calling after ten years of study and prparation - Lima, Peru. God...
Mike 12/06/99
I was a delegate at Urbana '81. I am now a Member in Training with Wycliffe Bible Translators, with whom...
Linda Jane 12/01/99
5 years after college: Heard about Urbana in 1990, interested in missions. Attended Urbana in 1993, went on short term...
u96 open mike testimony 11/26/99
"God has shown me about divine appointments. My dad’s heart is very bitter towards God and I could never figure...
u96 open mike testimony 11/26/99
"I was born in Istanbul, Turkey, for my brothers and sisters in Greece that’s Constantinople. I came to Urbana knowing...
U96 open mike testimony 11/26/99
"This week God has shown me that He is so worthy of my trust no matter how often I keep...
U96 open mike testimony 11/26/99
"I’m the only student from my campus at this convention. God stirred my heart in a strange way. I started...
U96 open mike testimony 11/26/99
"Just being here at Urbana 96 has been an incredible experience. I just feel like this is giving a taste...
U96 open mike testimony 11/26/99
"I just wanted to share with you how God spoke to me [at Urbana 96]. He encouraged me in my...
Martha 11/17/99
My husband and I and our four children serve with Christian Veterinary Mission in Kenya, East Africa. We work among...
Edward 11/15/99
Urbana 90 was more than a success, it has challenged me to be more committed to Jesus Christ than ever...
Vicki 11/15/99
I went to Urbana a broken person but God did a miraculous work on me that week. A healing took...
Todd 11/15/99
I attended Urbana ’87 hoping to find a place to serve on the mission field . . . God did...
Mary Ellen 11/12/99
At Urbana 84, the world suddenly opened up for me. I heard about what God was doing all over the...

 
 

"Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!"

Psalm 117:1 (NIV)

 
 

Urbana Stories

“I attended Urbana 84 with my girl friend, and committed myself wholly to the Lord for whatever his plan was...”

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