Make Him known. That’s the charge Jesus gave His disciples, and it’s the charge He gives followers today.
Living out the Great Commission is also the message students heard during Student Missions Weekend (SMW) 2019 at WorldSong Missions Place on Jan. 18–19.
The annual event coordinated by Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) brought 120 students and their leaders to Cook Springs for a weekend of worship, Bible study and ministry.
Bible study leader Chris Mills encouraged students to heed the conference theme — to find their “True North” by seeking God, following His direction and making Him known.
‘If we are faithful’
“God has given each one of us skills and experiences to help us make Him known if we are faithful to use them for His glory,” said Mills, who serves the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions as student missions mobilizer, connecting high school and college students with missions opportunities around the United States and throughout the world.
Mills challenged students to find their identity in Christ.
“Our identity determines our direction,” he said. “If your identity is in Christ, He directs you. The more intimate we become with Christ, the more we want to tell others about Him.”
Mills spoke to the students on Friday night during worship and again on Saturday morning before they separated into teams and headed out to missions sites throughout St. Clair and Calhoun Baptist associations.
Morning of missions
Students served in a variety of ways. Some stocked food pantry shelves while others checked for expired or recalled products. At other sites students sorted clothing donations and organized them so clients can more easily find what they need.
During the final session Saturday afternoon students heard from college student missionaries Rachel Pate, who served in Mexico City, and Clay Graham, who served in Phoenix, Arizona.
Both encouraged students to “go,” and each said their missions experiences had changed their lives and their futures.
In his closing charge Mills urged students to find ways to be on mission in their schools and local communities.
“We have a purpose,” Mills said. “Our responsibility is real because heaven and hell are real.”
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