“Amazing,” “inspiring,” “life-changing.” These and many other words are often used to describe the Urbana mission convention (www.urbana.org). For the most part, Urbana has been held once every three years since 1946, each time gathering thousands of university students and young graduates to learn about God’s work throughout the world. When I attended my first Urbana as a student in 1996, I sensed God calling me into full-time campus ministry. Nearly 30 years later, I’m still in campus ministry, a journey that has included more than a decade doing campus ministry in northwest China. Over the past 80 years, God has used Urbana in the lives of more than 100,000 students, expanding their view of God and His work in the world.
This past December 28-31, I had the privilege to serve at Urbana 25. More than 7,000 participants gathered in Phoenix, including 6,000 university students. There was a palpable energy, with spontaneous worship and prayer often spilling out of the Phoenix Convention Center onto the nearby sidewalks. Students were hungry to learn both what God is doing around the world and what their role in God’s global mission could be. In a chaotic world full of conflict that seems to only intensify each day, these young people exuded enthusiasm and hope.
I could say many things as I reflect on Urbana, but I’ll share just three observations:
1. Powerful Talks from Key Christian Leaders
Following in the footsteps of past Urbana speakers like Billy Graham, Patrick Fung, and Elisabeth Elliot, many of today’s Christian leaders spoke powerfully from the main Urbana stage, exhorting a new generation to respond to God’s call. One talk that stood out came from Nicole Martin, the new president and CEO of Christianity Today. She gave a dynamic message from Exodus 14, the parting of the Red Sea. At certain points in history, she said, God provides “inflection points” which change the course of history. The exodus was one such inflection point for the people of God. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was the ultimate inflection point for the whole world. As I look back on my student days, I can see Urbana 96 as an inflection point that God used to reorient my life’s trajectory. Let’s pray that Urbana 25 might be that kind of an inflection point for many young people seeking to join God’s global mission!
2. Stories of God’s Work Around the World
Throughout Urbana, we got to hear stories of how God is at work throughout the world. Ukrainian students continue to love and serve the Lord in the context of war. In India, a Christian ministry organization seeks to address the issue of inequality for women.
One of the more remarkable stories from the main stage came from a Palestinian and a Jew speaking together about God’s work of reconciliation. As these two Christians lead their respective organizations to do ministry in Israel and Palestine, their example of reconciliation and partnership gives hope in a context marked by violence and injustice.
One testimony from a young Colombian woman deeply resonated with the mostly Gen Z audience. As she serves in a difficult undisclosed location, her sense of calling stands out: “I didn’t say yes to go to hard places. I said yes to God, putting my life in his hands.” Whether it’s going across the globe or across the street, God is calling His people to do the hard work of reconciliation. Let’s pray that we would be willing to go to hard places, to have hard conversations, and to do the hard work of reconciliation.
3. The Presence of the Chinese Church at Urbana
Having been displaced from China in 2020 after more than a decade of serving there, I’ve been grateful for opportunities to have continued connections with Chinese Christians both in mainland China and among the Chinese diaspora. I had the opportunity to co-present a seminar on the Chinese mission movement with a good friend from mainland China who is now pastoring at a Chinese church in Texas. As we spoke to an audience of more than 350 people, we were struck how many young people care for the church in mainland China. From that seminar alone, we’re following up with more than 40 people who want to know more about the Chinese church and how they can support it.
Around the convention center, I heard numerous conversations in Mandarin. I myself spoke with young people from Chinese churches in Phoenix, Dallas, California, Seattle, Rochester, and Boston. Compared to previous Urbanas, it felt like the presence of Chinese churches was much more visible, and audible! Let’s pray that God would continue to stir among these Chinese young people as they seek to respond to God’s call.
Urbana is a large gathering that has had significant influence in the past 80 years. God has used this conference to call many into lifelong service across cultures. But it is also just a short conference that happens once every three years. The real work of Urbana comes as we help students pray and think through their next steps. May Urbana 25 yield great fruit among those of us who were there, for the sake of God’s glory. Amen.
