As part of its annual World Awareness week, John Brown University is hosting a missions fair in the Walker Student Center. Tuesday through Thursday, 17 Christian missionary organizations will make themselves available to students interested in short-term and long-term missions.
This year the non-profits represented will be: Africa Inland Mission, Avant Ministries, Bethel Baptist Mission Haiti, Camino Global, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Crossworld, East-West Ministries International, For God’s Children International, International Mission Board, International Teams, Operation Mobilization, One Mission Society, Send, Serving in Mission, Teach Beyond, World Adventure and Wycliffe.
In addition to the missions fair, there was a international food fair on Monday night in Simmons Great Hall.
Hans and Jane Koebele, the current missionaries in residence, began planning the event in early August, along with Billy Stevenson, director of international programs and Frank Hubert, director of discipleship.
The overarching goal of World Awareness Week includes recognizing the significant number of international students and faculty on campus, in addition to the social, academic and spiritual diversity they bring.
“Our international students and Missionary Kids who come from over 50 nations around the world and bring a wonderful multicultural flavor to the campus,” described Hans Koebele.
Along the same lines, the University also desires to promote awareness of the global church. The Missions Fair is an opportunity for students to explore the call to make disciples.
“The goal of the Missions Fair itself is to create awareness of world missions – God’s heart for the nations and how He wants to use each of us for His redemptive purposes in drawing people from every tribe, tongue and nation to Himself,” Koebele said. “Our personal goal would be for God to speak clearly into students’ lives about what He is doing in the world, and how they can step out in faith to be involved in His plan for the nations.”
Koebele added that as a full-time missionary, he believes that this event is an opportunity for students to continue to grow their global knowledge and see the world from God’s perspective, which he views as a necessary component of the Christian faith.
“This event helps to center on that Biblical vision and break down the stereotype of missionaries as ‘Christian superstars,’” Koebele explained. “Faithfulness, a humble spirit and a Christ-centered life are actually the chief prerequisites for successful missionaries.”
Even for those who are not interested in long-term missionary work abroad, the missions fair offers a way to be involved through internships, short-term trips, prayer or financial support.
For more information, visit the Missionaries in Residence Facebook page.
For more information, visit the Missionaries in Residence Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JBU-MIRs/129072047881.