by Halle Johnson, Student Public Relations Writer
For decades, Cedarville University’s Global Outreach (GO) conference has brought in speakers with a passion for missions. The annual conference, which will end on January 12, features keynote speaker Zane Pratt, vice president for global training for the International Mission Board (IMB), and more than 80 representatives from missions organizations.
The conference is held in the Dixon Ministry Center and will include three days of events, seminars, and chapel worship services. Zane Pratt will speak at 10 am on Wednesday, January 11.
The GO Conference is open to the public and free of charge.
In addition, on Wednesday evening the school of nursing, the school of education, the school of engineering and computer science and the department of English, literature and modern languages will host panel discussions on missions in their particular academic disciplines.
“Through partnerships between our faculty and visiting missions organizations, we aim to show students that in today's culture they can take their job anywhere,” said Brian Nester, director of Global Outreach. “We want to keep the needs of the world in view of our students, so they can see areas to use their academic education not only to meet a specific need, but primarily to share the gospel.”
The conference also features several seminars that will address common questions regarding missions, including the Great Commission, church planting, introversion in missions, working in high-risk areas and difficulties of long-term missions.
Cedarville’s global outreach department, originally called Missions Involvement Service (MIS), was founded in 1972 by Don Callan, former athletic director and men’s basketball coach, and Harold Green, campus pastor and vice president of Christian ministries from 1969-1995. Since its founding, the office has centered on equipping students for short-term missions, assisting long-term missionaries through partnerships and training students to become more informed about global and domestic missions.
“We exist to help the Cedarville community know, live and share the gospel,” said Nester. “We locate and arrange opportunities for students to experience missions and to understand the Great Commission. Our aim is equipping students to be sent locally and around the world to have impact for Christ.”
The schedule of events and additional information can be found on the CGO Conference website. All chapel services and speaking events can be livestreamed through Facebook, YouTube and the chapel website.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082 undergraduate, graduate and high school dual-enrolled students in more than 175 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, high graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement rankings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.