Urbana 12 one year away

Urbana 12 is just one year away.

USA (MNN) ― It's just one year away. The largest student mission conference in the world, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship's Urbana 2012, will be kicking off one year from today.

Director of Urbana 12 Tom Lin is encouraging students to get it on their calendars today. "We believe that seeking God's direction for their future and what God wants them to do in the world starts at Urbana. So their journey starts at Urbana 12, their stepping out starts at Urbana 12. We hope for 18,000. We're hoping for and praying for Urbana 12."

Urbana 12 will be December 27 through the 31st in St. Louis, Missouri. "Our big vision for Urbana 12 is to compel this generation to give their whole lives for God's global mission," says Lin. "And as someone who loves seeing students' lives transformed, I yearn to see this in this generation."

According to Lin, "[Students] are waiting for a big call. A lot of them are waiting to give their lives to something meaningful. We want to compel this generation to give their whole lives to God's global mission."

While justice issues have been at the forefront of recent Urbana conventions, Lin says, "We also believe the traditional form of missions is equally important. So we want to mobilize a variety of missions."

Lin says, "Registration begins March 1. What we're hoping for right now is that people would go to our Facebook page. Type in Urbana Missions and 'like' us there. You can also follow us on Twitter at Urbana Missions," which will give you all the latest news about Urbana 12.

Urbana's theme and speaker line-up will be announced as we get closer to it.

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Mission Network News: "Ghana (MNN) ― In the Western world, radio is hardly the most popular technological medium. With the invention of televisions, smart phones, iPads, and internet, people wishing to get discipleship outside of the church have an abundance of options open to them."

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Christian businesses set the bar

Ghana (MNN) ― A crippling poverty rate of nearly 30% and an unemployment rate of 20% in Ghana is now seeing an upswing with potential for economic growth.

This attracted in Global Advance Marketplace Mission Conferences with the hopes of Christians setting the bar for business excellence in Ghana.

Marketplace Mission Conferences were held last month in Accra and Kumasi, the two most-populated cities of southern Ghana. These conferences are intended to train up business professionals in God-honoring business practices and provide them with useful tools.

Through the Marketplace Mission Conferences, 30 Ghanaian business entrepreneurs were put through 100 grueling hours of Strategic Business Training.

Training includes seminars such as biblical principles for business, entrepreneurship, financial principles, marketing planning, integrity and a business leader's role in the Kingdom of God.

Global Advance targeted Ghana because of its unique position as one of the few English-speaking countries of West Africa. Also, according to Business Today, Ghana is projected to experience an economic growth rate of 4.5% this year. In all of Africa, Ghana was in the top 10 regions for most growth experienced over the last decade.

With these factors in mind, Ghana is perfectly positioned with potential to be a major future economy in West Africa.

What makes Global Advance Marketplace Mission Conference training so unique is the pairing of Christian stewardship standards with practical business knowledge. Attendees of the conferences are trained to have high standards of excellence.

When Christians make headway in society with positive impact in their community, people notice. This, in turn, opens up great conversation starters as business men and women can share their hope and joy in Christ motivating them to have high business standards and to love their neighbors.

Please pray that Christian business men and women in Ghana would set good examples in a country positioned for economic growth. Pray that this example would warm hearts towards helping their community and searching out the God who started it all.