Dear First Pres,
Today I get to share some reflections from Urbana 2018 with the theme, Faithful Witness. To start I invite you to watch this Urbana Summary Video because a picture is worth 1,000 words.
I bet my mother never imagined as she was sitting at Urbana '70, that almost 50 years later her daughter would be on that very platform, preaching to thousands of college students! Our stories of faithfulness never just begin with us - they rewind to the witnesses who came before - those who faithfully answered God's call of "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?"(Isaiah 6).
Ruth Hubbard opened Urbana with the chilling question that lingers unspoken in many of this generation's heart, in light of the 'offensive' nature of conversion in our culture today, in light of the atrocities committed by well-meaning missions in the past, in light of all the resistance and challenges, should we still be having a missions conference? Her charge, "... we MUST" set a bold call that thousands of attendees resonated with, and by week's end they emphatically cried, "Here I am, Send me!"
Fifteen years ago my heart cried out "Send me" as I sat in the audience of Urbana 2003. I wanted to adventure overseas, but I realized that my surrender to God included letting go of that dream. I, somewhat reluctantly, embraced the mission context of my hometown in Fresno and then quickly found meaning in the never-dull journey of everyday faithfulness. In God's great delight, I JOYFULLY received the privilege of preaching Revelation 7 and giving a powerful call to faith on the 3rd day of Urbana. (Catch it here.)
That call was purposely framed in a collective manner - God has called people to join God's mission of redemption - it has not faltered through the pages of history, it has reached every corner of the globe, it has included women and men, young and old. Josh coordinated the New Believer's Room in the Dome, and helped to receive the hundreds of students who stood in response to that call. He shares:
As I walked into the dome to be with my team... a young IV staff who was assigned to be a proctor (take care of tech needs) for the Ferrara theater came up beside me. He said, "I just couldn't wait down in the theater, man ~ I've got to see this." Tears welled up in his eyes and my eyes as we watched hundreds wave their flags for Jesus and descend to the floor. I had the privilege of leading the group out of Entry A to the theater. "Penny" was the first one there who walked with me. She was a young woman from China who had made a decision for Christ that day. As we walked, people cheered us on and I saw dozens, then hundreds behind me, waving flags, surrendering their lives for Christ.
Young Millennials and Gen Z are counting the cost to announce and demonstrate their faith in God by following Jesus out of Babylon and into the Kingdom arenas of marketplace, technology, medicine, education- out to global cities, into local neighborhoods ... Vibrant to share the compelling transformation of Jesus and the Gospel message!
We here at FPC are part of that global call to be faithful witnesses to the redemptive work of Jesus! Together we invite others to receive God's great love as we seek to demonstrate it in every ordinary and extraordinary way possible. God is on the move in Fresno!
This year of 2019, let's go deeper and wider, collectively and wholeheartedly, engaging together in the beautiful and exciting work of God's transformation in our own lives, our church, the city and world!
Blessings,
Beth
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