1) Undoubtedly others will attend from North Park University (Chicago). Driving with them to Urbana, sharing the experience together, and then coming back would offer a unique opportunity to bond with students with a heart for God's purpose in the world. I would hope that they would share their experience with their classmates at the university and perhaps even stimulate their participation in a missions fellowship and/or prayer group. This could well set the tone for spiritual leadership during the four years of study there.

2) Catching a glimpse of the world from the perspective of the speakers and workshop leaders at the convention would open his eyes to the "big picture." When I went to college I travelled from my home in the Far East to the States, having the privilege to pass through many countries of East Asia, India, the Middle East, and Europe. This jaunt of 3 months made a vivid impression on me and all my future courses were influenced by this exposure. Although your son has had a unique opportunity for an international orientation (a bi-cultural home, living in Colombia, then living in Japan, Urbana will infuse this unusual background with a broad Biblical perspective. One of my collegues here who also grew up in a missionary home (Western Europe) and felt he had a fairly global perspective says that his horizons exploded at Urbana. In his words, "It is just a unique alignment of breadth and depth."

3) While just beginning his university experience and being away from to Urbana will undoubtedly challenge him to face the Lord's call on his life. There could be no better time to get down to business and face seriously what life is all about and what God is calling him to do and be than in his freshman year.

On the other hand, one could argue that attending as a senior would mean that his three years of study would greatly inform his ability to appreciate what he is hearing and seeing. However, by that time his mind and heart would already be filled, perhaps to distraction, of what he will be doing when he graduates, and many basic decisions would have been made.

Thus, weighing the two options, I would suggest attending as a freshman.

May the Lord guide him as he faces this and other decisions.

Thanks again for your note! Un fuerte abrazo.

Jack

P. S. As to "how to go about it," we are encouraging students to register on the web. All the details are there. If you encounter any problems, just let me know.