"Facing a Task Unfinished"

After a wonderful week of Christmas celebrations with my family (including 70-degree temps on Christmas Eve... weird!), I headed to St. Louis for the Urbana missions conference!  This was my fourth consecutive Urbana, but hearing the speakers and worshipping with thousands of students never gets old.  

My primary role at Urbana 15, as in 2012, was to share about TeachBeyond with people interested in serving overseas in educational ministry.  Our team connected with over 250 new contacts!  With each conversation came the opportunity to listen to someone's story, share about TeachBeyond's opportunities, and see how God might intersect the two.  

On our first day in the Exhibit Hall, my voice was pretty much gone, and I had to take extended breaks from time at the booth.  In my frustration, I asked, Why am I here if I can't even talk to anyone?!  I only expected my sore throat to get worse over the course of the week.  However, Jesus answered the prayers of friends and family and surprised me with a healthy voice for the rest of the week!  

I was privileged to spend the week with this dynamic mobilization team! 

While there were a number of dynamic speakers and impactful drama presentations throughout the week (you can watch the recordings at Urbana.org), one song in particular has lingered in my mind since returning home from Urbana.  I had the opportunity to introduce "Facing a Task Unfinished" to my home church this Sunday as a part of their missions weekend.  It challenges us to embrace our calling to the Great Commission, no matter where in the world we live.  To my friends who truly embody this song in selfless commitment to Christ: you are an inspiration to me!  Together let's run this race with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12).

"Facing a Task Unfinished"
(Click here to listen to the song and read more about the story behind it)

Facing a task unfinished that drives us to our knees
A need that, undiminished, rebukes our slothful ease
We who rejoice to know Thee renew before Thy throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee to go and make Thee known

Where other lords beside Thee hold their unhindered sway
Where forces that defied Thee defy Thee still today
With none to heed their crying for life and love and light
Unnumbered souls are dying and pass into the night

We go to all the world
With kingdom hope unfurled
No other name has power to save
But Jesus Christ the Lord

We bear the torch that flaming fell from the hands of those
Who gave their lives proclaiming that Jesus died and rose
Ours is the same commission, the same glad message ours
Fired by the same ambition, to Thee we yield our powers

O Father who sustained them, O Spirit who inspired
Savior whose love constrained them to toil with zeal untried
From cowardice defend us, from lethargy awake
Forth on Thine errands send us to labor for Thy sake

Grace Point friends visited me at the TeachBeyond booth!

It was wonderful to reconnect with Hannah, who was in my small group at BFA!