Planning Missions Conference requires more commitment from the coordinators than most attendees realize. Junior biblical studies major Cody Nord drove seven hours to Arizona over the summer to start planning the theme for Missions Conference with co-coordinator Charlie Meo, first year Talbot student.

“We stared at a wall for 24 hours,” Nord said.

After brainstorming on four poster boards tacked onto Meo’s wall, Nord and Meo emerged with three main elements solidified: story, discipleship and local church.

Once they met up with the team, they considered verses and eventually landed on the theme word of Echo and the corresponding verses.

DEFINITION OF ECHO

The conference will have an overarching narrative of God’s story with a special focus on being a part of the local church and making disciples, said Cody Nord, Missions Conference co-director. The theme word stems from Genesis 12:1-3, Matthew 28:16-20 and Revelation 5, each of which convey the same message of discipleship and missions.

The definition of echo not only relates to sound, but can also translate to imitating someone, Nord said.

“We can trace our line and what we do as an echo of what Jesus said,” Nord said.

Missions Conference directors want the conference to make students question whether or not they are discipling or being discipled and if they are tied to their local church, Nord said. It is important for students to be a part of their local church because that is where global missions begin, Nord said. 

“Biola is four years … it’s only going to last for so long, but the church will be forever. It’s the thing that God has mandated will be the one that brings the message to the ends of the earth,” Nord said.

Part of this message to be a part of the local church encompasses the idea of being obedient where you are in your community, Nord said.

VERSES IN CONTEXT

All three of the theme verses have a pretty clear discipleship theme, but may not demonstrate the necessity of the local church as clearly, said Joe Henderson, assistant professor at the Torrey Honors Institute. 

These verses have a strong message for an international mindset, but something else may need to be introduced to help portray the idea of the local church, explained Henderson. However, it could be interpreted that God begins locally, as demonstrated by Abraham in Genesis, and then sends people out, Henderson said.

The theme could be more influential if the focus was on one verse rather than a couple, Henderson said.

“These three verses are all powerful Missions Conference verses, and it’s like they’re not saving any for next year,” Henderson said.

However, Henderson is confident that the intended message will be conveyed throughout the conference.

“I have confidence that the Holy Spirit will apply the words to our hearts and bring about God’s purpose of sending out His people to be a blessing to the nations,” Henderson said.