From Missions Conference to Missions Semester

Cedarville University’s Global Outreach (CUGO) is pivoting in 2021 from its annual weeklong mission conference to offer a series of days throughout the semester that emphasize missions-related topics.  

As part of its efforts to maintain a safe and healthy campus during COVID-19, Cedarville will highlight international missions on four different days: a missions-focused chapel and evening sessions on January 27 and 28, and either video or in-person sessions on February 18 and March 11. Even the name of the event has been changed to “Commissioned: CUGO Days.” 

Opening CUGO Days will be Dr. Josh Bowman, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, followed by Dr. Matt Bennett, on Thursday, Jan. 28. Both are assistant professors of missions and theology.

Missions representatives will be available both days to speak with students, faculty and staff. 

While the number of organizations visiting Cedarville campus in January is limited due to COVID-19 protocols, there will still be plenty of opportunities for students to gain insight from missionaries and representatives and build familiarity with a host of ministry organizations. 

For medical and nursing students, The Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) will be represented by Jack Sorg, a longtime ABWE missionary, and healthcare worker Susanna Clutts. Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel (AMG) representatives Ken Ivins, assistant coordinator of short-term missions, and Joseph Haefs, Missions Teams Coordinator, will also be in attendance. 

Mike Slagle, who is on staff with Cru, anticipates interacting with students involved or interested in Cedarville’s global outreach and evangelism in general. On behalf of Navigators, mission mobilizer Marc Wooten and navigator representative Tom Young are eager to speak with medical and nursing students. Finally, Serving in Missions (SIM) representative Ray Hutchison and Dale Harlan, manager for SIM’s Safe Water Project and worldwide water program advocate and adviser, look forward to connecting with engineering students.  

Students will reconvene at 7 p.m. both days to watch a video presentation featuring David Platt, pastor of McLean Bible Church in D.C., and Wayne Chen, director of Radius Asia. Activities on Jan. 27 will close with a time of prayer and discussion. Following the video on Jan. 28, a panel discussion will be held in Stinger’s, the Cedarville University snack shop, from 8-9:30 p.m.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including the Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies - Missiology program, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.