Huntington University hosts Missions Emphasis Week
FOR RELEASE: Thursday, March 9, 2006
Huntington, Ind. "Huntington University recently wrapped up its 2006 Missions Emphasis Week. It was the sixth year for the annual event, which works to bring global awareness to the Huntington University campus. Dozens of missionaries were on hand to lead chapels and speaking sessions about missions throughout the world. This year's Missions Emphasis Week theme was Right Here, Right Now.
This year's theme was to get the point across that the Kingdom of God is here and now, said Sarah Stoner, a student leader in the Huntington University missions organization, Global Vision. The power and life of Jesus is within us, and now is the time to live out what He has called us to do.
Dr. Luke Fetters, Global Vision sponsor and assistant professor of ministry and missions, was impressed with the student group's leadership during the week.
I'm always amazed that our student-led group, Global Vision, pulls off such a good week of events each year, he said. We had more than a dozen missions organizations represented on campus for the week. It appears that some interesting partnerships are going to be emerging between one of the organizations, Food for the Hungry, and our Department of Social Work. That's exciting.
Another highlight of the week for me was the final convocation on Friday morning, Fetters added. At that convocation, opportunities were presented to get involved in ministries or agencies helping our neighbors, lesser privileged folks in our country, and international immigrants and refugees in the region. They really seemed to capture what it could mean to reach out to our own 'Judea, Samaria, and uttermost parts of the world' right here and right now.
Highlights from this year's Missions Emphasis Week included breakout sessions led by missionaries, an ice cream social, and a What You Didn't Know about the Missionaries game involving fun facts and prizes. The Friday convocation also highlighted some needs in the local Huntington community and listed opportunities for students to get involved.
Missions is still relevant to the Church today because it's at the heart of God, said Stoner. God also has made it clear throughout Scripture and throughout history that He calls Christians to come out, be separate, live as aliens, go to distant lands unlike your own.
For some, that is a literal calling, she added, to go to a new and distant land, across oceans and language barriers, and the love the people you meet while you're there. For all of us, it means that no matter where you are, get out of your comfort zone "associate with people who aren't like you, serve them, share the love of Christ by your words and actions, speak the truth, be full of compassion and love, get with the broken and dirty and strange. We have the power of the Kingdom of God living inside us, and that Kingdom is here and now.
