The Reach Conference

The Following article was written about the missions Conference we just had at my home church. I spent October and previous months organizing this conference. Thank you so much for your support and prayers...this was a huge success!

November 11, 2007

Reaching the World –The Ustick Baptist Reach Missions Conference

By Justin Mitson (Ustick Baptist Church - Missions Committee)

Boise, Idaho - How can we, the Body of Christ, EXPAND the reach of the Gospel through serving as senders? That was the key question of the first Reach Missions conference this week November 9-11 held at Ustick Baptist Church. International Mission organizations joined together with over 15 northwest missionaries right here in Boise to help discover how world missions can be advanced. These mission organizations gave their testimonies, project overviews and shared their experiences in large group settings and personal breakout workshop sessions. Representatives from Children’s Ministries in Haiti to Jewish outreach Missions in Israel were there to inspire, educate and equip, and share real world experiences to challenge others. The Ustick Baptist narthex had mission’s booths spilling out into the hallways packed with information and resources.

The goal of the conference was to involve Treasure Valley Christian Churches and inspire them to work together. Planning for this project began many months in advance. The conference was advertised on Christian radio on several stations (Air1, KTSY, KBGN, KBXL and KDZY). Ustick Baptist Members opened their homes to visiting missionaries and even volunteered for “take a missionary to dinner” night. During the adult workshop sessions, there were also programs for young adults and children, Passport to the World, to help advance the love for world missions for the next generation of missionaries. Those that attended had a wonderful time talking with others who shared a heart to reach the world. During the conference the Lord enabled networking and reunions between missionaries and powerful worship music at the start of each of the general sessions.

The Key note speaker was Mike Klontz, a Representative from New Tribes Missions in Spokane, Washington who spoke from his over twenty years of experience in Bolivia. His prayer for the conference was that God would raise up more laborers to help spread the gospel to the more than 3,000 groups throughout the world who have not yet heard the gospel message. “Not everyone is called to me a missionary, but everyone can help with the call to support missionaries before they head to the field, encourage them while they are there, and assist with their re-entry when they return.” One of the highpoints of the weekend was a concert of prayer where all of the attendees prayed for world missions and the specific needs of the missionaries and their organizations.

God was gloried through the Reach Missions Conference! We look forward to what lies in store for the future as missions involvement continues to grow throughout the Treasure Valley!