Missions Connect challenges students to live on mission

More than 50 college students and leaders heard about God’s heart for their campus, neighborhoods, state, country and the nations at Missions Connect at Vista Church in Scottsdale Jan. 31.

Missions Connect is Christian Challenge’s annual statewide one-day missions conference. It is geared toward helping college students and their campus missionaries fulfill the fourth and final segment in Christian Challenge’s mission statement: “And send missionaries to the world.”

The missions team formed from Christian Challenge campus missionaries prayerfully put together a program that would lead those in attendance to think about missions and how God would have them join Him in His mission.

“Missions Connect helps students who are interested in missions to be challenged to an everyday missional mindset as well as receive valuable information about missions opportunities and involvement both for now and for their future,” said Christian Challenge State Director Marc Hill.

The day began with the fundamental truth that, as followers of Jesus Christ, we should be sharing the gospel. The group was told what a gospel appointment is and how to use it to share Christ. Next, they were engaged in how Challenge Communities — small group Bible studies that are biblical, relational and missional — relate directly to missions and the lost.

During the afternoon sessions, the group went through the steps of planning mission projects, serving with other Christian Challenge chapters in mission opportunities and how day-to-day we should be on mission with our local church.

A new segment added to this year’s program was health and holiness in missions. For any believer, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health that leads us to holiness is important and vital on the mission field. Students were provided with resources to help them succeed not just while serving on mission but also in the lifelong pursuit of following Christ.

In addition to the programming, students had the opportunity to talk with representatives from various missions agencies during the booth fair.

Coming away from this event, students were challenged to serve locally with their churches, seek the Lord for their next steps and grow their hearts for the lost.
Freshman Carolina Acosta said, “Missions Connect was impactful to me because, if we are not serving people where we are right now, how are we going to do that in another country where we do not have our already existing connections at our campus? It is on my heart to be intentional to minister and reach people on my campus now and then see where God calls me.”

Lainee Pegelow, a freelance writer and photographer, is the missions and communications catalyst for Christian Challenge AZ. She is a member of Challenge Church, Flagstaff.