USA (MNN) — InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has begun searching for the new director of it’s tri-annual student missions conference, Urbana.
(Photo courtesy InterVarsity)
Tom Lin
Last week, in a press release, InterVarsity announced the search as it transitions the director’s responsibilities into one full-time position. Previously it had been split between two positions.
Tom Lin, InterVarsity vice president and director of missions, and his predecessor, Jim Tebbe, had been the men responsible for putting on Urbana 15, prior to the merge of their positions.
Lin explains, “The Urbana Director leads and directs the Urbana Student Missions conference. It’s the person who’s overall in charge of shaping the next Urbana, Urbana 18, thereby shaping the call to missions for the next student generation. So it’s a huge responsibility and a huge opportunity.”
As with any transition, many changes are expected to occur. But one thing not changing is InterVarsity’s dedication to both the Urbana conferences and the students it serves.
(Photo courtesy InterVarsity via Facebook)
“Urbana’s purpose will remain the same in mobilizing this generation toward global missions. But every director will bring in their own sense of vision for what this next Urbana should look like. They’ll shape it, they’ll probably bring in some creativity, some areas of emphasis. They’ll bring in their own style of spiritual leadership and their own style of organizational leadership,” says Lin.
Urbana conferences have been held every three years since 1946. In the early days, students would gather on the campus of the University of Illinois for the event. Now, since 2006, students gather instead at the Edward Jones Dome and the Americas Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Urbana 18 will be held in this same spot.
InterVarsity says it is privileged to be responsible for hosting Urbana for the North American church. It’s a responsibility not taken lightly by the organization, and it’s why they’re asking for prayers regarding their search for its new director.
(Photo courtesy InterVarsity via Facebook)
Please pray for God to bring to InterVarsity the person He has set aside to serve as Urbana’s next director.
Also pray for God’s guidance and leadership of InterVarsity’s staff as they sift through applicants to find the one God has marked out for them.
“My hopes for the next Urbana director are that this person would be an experienced missions leader, someone who loves students, and someone who’s passionate about God’s Word, passionate about people of every ethnicity and culture, and passionate about God’s purposes in the world,” affirms Lin.
For those interested in the position as Urbana’s director, learn more by clicking here.
To learn more about Urbana, click here.
