SEM 2012

SEM 2012 finished over 18 hours ago but the impact it has left on all those involved will last much longer.

Saturday ended with a Q&A Session with all of the missionaries and a general session with Charlie McCordic. Sunday morning began with another workshop led by Frank Roe (ABWE), and Brian Seeley (HCJB), discussing trends in missions. Students were able to grasp what was happening in the world of missions today whether it is negative or positive. Charlie McCordic had one last session encouraging students to use what God has given them in missions today. The weekend finished with a prayer of dedication from Brian Kent (NCEM).

This conference has been an eye-opener for many involved. Learning about missions is paramount for all believers, and whether going into missions full-time, part-time or not at all. Believers need to be supporting missions through finances and through prayer. Most importantly, believers need to be willing to follow the Lord wherever He leads.

...also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

then I said...

- Isaiah 6:8

Want to learn more about where God is leading you? 

A year at the Word of Life Bible Institute is an amazing place to start! Check out Campus Days in May!

Happening Now: SEM 2012

This morning started off with a session, taught by Charlie McCordic, challenging students with what to look for in a missions agency. Afterwards the students had a chance to sit down one-on-one with the missionaries from each organization represented, and discuss the organization and how the student could possibly fit. This discussion time was followed by brunch. After brunch, Mr. McCordic taught on Being Single in Missions and the students had the opportunity to hear testimonies from missionaries who are single or had been single for a large part of their ministry. Following this workshop, Kevin Simkins, from Rock Mills Fellowship Baptist Church, gave a session on the role of the local church in missions. The students were able to discuss in a board-room setting the issues facing the local church and missions today.

Right now, students are meeting  individually with a couple missionaries for about thirty minutes to discuss where they are and what steps they should consider taking in the future in regards to missions.

What's Happening: SEM 2012

Today was a great start to the Students Exploring Missions Conference 2012! First Dean's Chapel in the morning and then incredible, eye-opening sessions in the evening.

Missionaries began arriving right after lunch and were able to set up a table representing their missions organization. After supper, the first workshop took place with the topic of how missions agencies choos missionaries. The speaker for this session did not only speak for tonight but is also the keynote speaker for the entire weekend: Mr. Charlie McCordic. After the workshop, there was a general session with worship, special music and a skit put on by DECLARE, the BI's drama team. In this session, Mr. McCordic talked about how this world has amazing opportunities for missions.

Remember to come back often to read more about SEM 2012!

Happening Now: Students Exploring Missions Conference

This weekend Word of Life Bible Institute has the privilege of  hosting eight missions organizations for the Students Exploring Missions Conference (SEM). The theme this year is Informers: People Need to Hear. This conference shows students the extent of missions across the globe and the importance of everyone involved. Another aspect of SEM is that each student is able to discover how to get to where God is leading them.

Already this morning, students have had a preview of the weekend in Dean's Chapel. Jonathan Ward, Dean of Students, took students through a very practical session on the process of getting a missionary to the mission field.

Please pray for the students; that God will use this Conference in a powerful way in their lives.
Also, keep checking back here for  more updates on what's happening and what the students are learning.

Students Exploring Missions 2011

From WOLBRANOS

Students Exploring Missions (SEM) is a conference where students can attend seminars and talk with missionaries about what it is like to be in missions and what it takes to get there.  God calls all Christians to be missionaries, some to other countries.  What does it take to be a cross-cultural missionary?  Seven mission organizations sent representatives to WOLBI for April 8 – 10 as a wealth of experience in serving Christ around the world to interact with our students.  This year the theme was Serving God in the Adventure of a Lifetime.  Our keynote speaker was Wally Stephenson from ABWE.  Friday night we explored how we can prepare for the Adventure of Missions.  We had sessions on world religions and how to reach them (THUMB).  Saturday we started out on the adventure with sessions on single hearted missions, how a mission board chooses a missionary, missions and finance, and missions and the local church.   The students also had opportunity Saturday afternoon to dialogue with the missionaries and tap into their wealth of experience and knowledge and set their own path of service.  Sunday morning we explored Living the Adventure with sessions on how a missionary should pick a mission board and the tragedy of misused short term missions.  Thanks to all the missionaries and students that participated in the weekend to make it a weekend of adventure!

Special Thanks to:

Wally & Jeannie Stephenson, ABWE  

Brian & Rosalie Kent, Northern Canada Evangelical Mission (NCEM) 

Charlie & Cindy McCordic, TEAM  

Nelson Bezanson, retired from TEAM

Brian Seeley, HCJB World Radio  

Rick Bradford, Serving In Mission (SIM) 

Murray & Diana Schmidt, Africa Inland Mission (AIM) 

Elissa Hawley, New Tribes Mission (NTM)  

As well as Word of Life missionaries:  

Jonathan Ward 

Bea Hart 

John Hopper 

Charlie Lyons 

Sue Reider (click here)

and our conference facilitator Richard Heppner.

       

From WOLBRANOS