A special conference serves as a catalyst for Great Commission vision.

USA (MNN)–It’s a catalyst for vision of the Great Commission. In a nutshell, that’s the goal of ‘Missions Fest Southern California’, a free regional missions conference slated for November 12-14 this year.

The first MissionsFest conference was held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada in 1984. The weekend conference was sponsored by six local Christian churches from various denominations.

Since that time, the conference has grown and spread into the United States. This year’s California fest has approximately 100 missions agencies setting up exhibits providing information about their work in countries around the world.

MissionsFest is sponsored by individual church congregations. Local churches appoint representatives to help plan and organize the conference.

YUGO Ministries’ Wayne Freeland is among the exhibitors. He sees the value of the gathering saying, “Most people in the local church, especially in cultures like Southern California, are so busy with so many things, they really do not realize how much God is accomplishing around the world through various mission programs.”

Freeland says its three-fold purpose is to inform, celebrate, and challenge believers into action. “God has equipped each of us individually and uniquely for some area of ministry and that particular gift set can be used to encourage and effectively enhance the ministry of some mission agency around the world.”