Urbana 2006

Over the Christmas break, 22,000 students from across North America and 140 countries gathered in St. Louis, Missouri for Urbana, InterVarsity’s 21st missions convention. It promised to be a time of teaching, an opportunity for fellowship with other students, and a chance to talk with representatives from a plethora of Christian organizations who are carrying out the Lord’s work in a variety of contexts. I was at least a little apprehensive going. As a graduate student away from home, Christmas break is a precious window. But I quickly discovered that when the gathering of two or three is multiplied by 10 000, God’s Spirit moves in powerful and unexpected ways.

Under the guidance of Ajith Fernando we studied the book of Ephesians, and the theme set before us was Paul’s challenge in 4:1 to “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” We explored what it means to find our identity in being followers of Christ, while also seeking his calling for our lives. It was an apt theme for a gathering of young people, at once a challenge and an affirmation--each one of us has a purpose, each one is uniquely gifted to serve. Brenda Salter McNeil drew from the story of Abram’s family in Haran and urged us not to settle somewhere short of what God has planned for us. We had time to attend sessions to explore these themes within particular applications, such as AIDS, Africa, global and urban missions, the arts, evangelism, the workplace and academia. I personally learned a great deal from seminars on maintaining spiritual vitality in grad school, discernment and the Holy Spirit, and apologetics for a post-modern mind, to name a few. It was a busy and stimulating five days.

The theme of missions was considered well beyond the classic paradigm of “us” going “there.” Indeed, as Oscar Muriu of Kenya observed, the modern demographics of Christianity show a truly global body, one which must seek interdependence amongst the parts rather than relationships of dependence. We were each challenged to consider our mission field, whether overseas, in urban centres, or in the home, workplace or just next door. I confess that before leaving for Urbana I had wondered if I would feel out of place at a missions conference when I have not felt called to overseas missions. Listening to the stories of explosive church growth in Africa, I was forced to reflect on the state of the church at home. I wonder if many of us succumb to the fallacy of thinking that if we have not been called to be missionaries “over there,” then we have not been called to missions at all. Yet as Ray Bakke noted in his talk on urban missions, “Choosing not to be involved means choosing to be very involved in the status quo.” The idea of missions may sound foreign to our Anglican sensibilities, but we are nevertheless to be faithful to God’s call in the context where he has placed us, with the gifts he has given us. We were challenged to have Christ’s “outstretched hands and dirty feet” as we care for the needy in our communities, yet not to forget that we are called to more than social activism; we are called to share the power that comes only from Almighty God.

Urbana was a wonderful time of teaching, and I know many of us felt the Spirit speaking. It was also a beautiful vision of transformed lives, huge crowds bearing with one another in patience and love, brothers and sisters meeting for the first time in sincerity, worship flowing easily in a dozen languages. It seemed to be a little glimpse of what heaven might be like. That vision was a powerful encouragement that how we serve him does matter, and the beauty of God’s transforming power makes it all worthwhile.

The first Urbana was held in Toronto in 1946. The next Urbana will take place in three years. If there are students in your life, encourage them to attend. For more information or to see a video of the talks we heard visit www.urbana.org.