Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to be passionate about missions.

• Been on staff with Intervarsity for 28 years
• Love the strategic questions that students are asking about their lives
• We’ve been taking students on short term missions and it has shaped us as a family and as a student movement these last 12 years.
• It’s been a win-win-win for me to be able to be a part of Urbana, to see this generation really come alive to what is Jesus’ call on their lives in His global mission. That’s what gets me up in the morning!

This year’s event is being hosted in St. Louis Missouri.  Could you tell us a little bit about the history of Urbana, and its purpose now?

• Began in 1846 and was originally called the Convention for Missionary Advance. It was initially held in Toronto, Ontario.
• About 1000 students came together. It has happened every three years since then, aiming to ask each generation of students what is their role in God’s global mission and how can they give their lives to God’s global mission?
• I bump into missionaries all around the world who point to Urbana as a time and place that they felt God’s call on their lives.
• It is amazing how God continues to use this conference.
• This year we are expecting about 16,000 students.
• Every Urbana we try to listen to the issues that affect each generation of students. Some of the growing skill base among students today is in the tech world.  This Urbana will feature the first hack-a-thon or hack for missions.  A couple 100 students will be in a track to use their computer skills to develop apps that will serve global mission.  This is another way that the global church needs the expertise of current students and their computer skills.

What was your first experience at Urbana?

• My first experience was 87 – Billy Graham and Tony Campolo were speakers that year.
• A missionary from Brazil told us, “Don’t dream all the wrong dreams about your life. Dream God’s dreams for the world.”  I felt so challenged by her simple story and her authentic sharing of how that was true in her life as a lifelong career missionary in Brazil.  It captured me and I realized that this is something I want for myself and for my family.
• Soon after we headed to Bulgaria, leading a group of students, and some phenomenal things took place – all because of an experience at Urbana.

Who are some of the speakers this year?

• Patrick Fung – international director of OMF is the Bible expositor – He’ll be teaching from the Gospel of Matthew, looking at the Great Commission in its context
• Evelyne Reisacher will be speaking about the persecuted church and talking about how we continue to love and have hope for the Muslim world
• Allan Matamoros – serving with Partners International and will be talking about Latinos in missions
• David Platt – he has such a gift for speaking to this generation!
• Click here to see the full line up!

Is it still possible to register for Urbana?

• Yes! Visit Urbana.org to register
• There is also info on housing arrangements and some travel information as well.

Can you tell us a little bit about the impact that Urbana has had on its attendees and on global missions?

• I think first of my own story. This will be my 9th Urbana.  It has continued to call me and re-call me into His mission.  He continues to invite us to trust Him in His global mission.
• I have seen Intervarsity Canada called into short term service work and long term mission work because of Urbana.
• After Urbana 2012, we saw a 50% increase in those going on short term missions. God used these STMs to then call some of these people to go overseas long-term.
• Urbana has had a role in a program called the Canadian Student Leadership Track.

What is the trend you call migration and how is it affecting global missions?

• 3% of the global population lives outside their country of birth.
• The 20 century is called the Age of Migration – the numbers of people on the move are massive. We continue to see this trend in the 21
  • Many people move looking for better jobs, education and quality of life.
  • Others come as refugees as they are forced out of their countries due to war or famine.
  • We also have students who are studying internationally.
• Many of these people are coming from unreached people groups and are now living in North America. These unreached people groups are living across the street from us!
• Migration is a great opportunity for missions. The mission field is coming to us.
• The greatest needs and opportunities are still outside of North America and so traditional missions should continue and yet at the same time there is something “missionally malignant” when we are willing to get on a plane and go across the world to bring the Good News of Jesus but we aren’t willing to cross the street to engage those who have not heard.

How many Canadian students attend Urbana?

• Approximately 1940 Canadians are attended. 1500 or so are students.
• We are thrilled with the number that God is bringing.

If people want to learn more about Urbana and Intervarsity Canada, where might they find that information?

• Urbana
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of Canada
• Mission Pilgrims