Wednesday, Mar. 19 marked the first day of the 2025 Cook Missions Conference at Biola University. The line to Chase Gymnasium swelled with anticipation, stretching past Fluor Fountain to the Biola Library, and the room was quickly filled with Biolans.
Tim Kim, resident director of Alpha Hall, offered a short reflection on the conference theme, “CALLED,” with a short scripture reading from 2 Timothy 8:9.
“The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few,” said Kim.
Kim also led the Parade of Nations, an annual Mission Conference tradition, calling the nations in order of decreasing Christian populations. The gymnasium was flooded with a rush of applause and colors, as well as the overwhelming reminder of the conference’s larger aim: to call Christians to reach the unreached.
Biological science major Isaac Owen and intercultural studies major Abraham Chu, this year’s Student Missionary Union’s (SMU) conference directors, gave thanks to the 100 student volunteers and 12 coordinators, before introducing President Barry Corey to the stage. Corey welcomed new students to the conference and explained this year’s historic choice to change the name of the conference itself to the “Clyde & Anna Belle Cook Missions Conference” in honor of former Biola University president, Clyde Cook.
SESSION ONE
Greg Steir, founder and director of Dare 2 Share Ministries International, served as the first conference speaker. He emerged with a posture of humility and dynamism, beginning his message with the unconventional conversion story of his uncle Jack.
“God calls unlikely people to preach an unstoppable message so he receives the glory,” said Steir, preaching from 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
Steir affirmed this message with examples of unlikely people called to spread the “unstoppable message,” including his daughter, who suffered from severe anxiety, and his late, mentally-disabled brother Doug. Steir also offered a word of encouragement to young people in particular, explaining that, historically, the youth are key for inciting revivals. He even cited Jesus as the “first youth leader.”
Steir also used the image of a work glove to highlight the importance of the Spirit in answering this call. He explained that, on its own, the work glove is useless, until it’s filled with the hand. “If you don’t think you can, that’s a great start, as long as you know that He can,” said Steir.
Steir ended his message with a challenge for Biolans: to answer the call and share the unstoppable message with a stranger throughout the next 48 hours.
“Why 48 hours?” said Steir. “Because studies show that if you don’t do what you’ve learned within 48 hours, you’ll never do it. Why 48 hours? Because I’m sick and stinking tired of Christians talking about evangelism … but not [doing] evangelism. Why 48 hours? Because today is the day of salvation. Why 48 hours? Because we are in a place and space where people desperately need the hope of Christ.”
Session one ended with a video invitation for students to participate in “THE CALL(ED): Reaching the Unreached” experience in Kim Dining Room. Students were also invited to a variety of other on-campus activities, including a pop-up marketplace at Fluor Fountain, a Missionary Fair on Lot F and endless worship in the Student Union Building (SUB).
SESSION TWO
The second main session for the 2025 Cook Missions Conference opened with worship lead by Circuit Riders Music. After, pastor and youth leader Jarrod Gunter was introduced.
Gunter began with a review of the gospel, emphasizing that Christians must be bold for this message and for Christ. He challenged students to wrestle with the idea that believers are called to be activated.
“Before we can activate a movement, we need [God’s] Spirit activated in us,” said Gunter.
He also criticized the lack of Spirit-led action and boldness in the church. He continued by encouraging students to realize that they cannot be the same as others when the Spirit is given to change and set them apart. Gunter added that real change in society begins with a righteous riot of spiritual warfare where he calls students “Riotstarters” who pray for and evangelize to others.
Gunter attributed the dangerous normalization of doing life without the Spirit to Christians having a false sense of courage and boldness. He encouraged students to realize that they cannot be the same as others when the Spirit is given to change and set them apart.
“When we are activated we will wake up to the difference in the Spirit,” said Gunter.
This also starts with a correct understanding of the kingdom of God. He identified the problem, saying that it is the perspective that Jesus is a president where we try to vote on his commands instead of treating him as king. He continued by saying that the Spirit gives power to engage and relate to others and that it is important to remember that the Spirit is not just a keeper but an activator.
Gunter concluded with a charge to students to continue to abide in the Lord and the reminder that unless the Spirit is activated in your life, you have limited the purpose for which he came to be with you.
SESSION THREE
Michael LeBlanc, a Biola alumnus, and his wife Morgan LeBlanc spoke about their experience as missionaries in Papua New Guinea and their work with Ethnos 360. The couple urged students to obey the Great Commission and be the person that reaches the unreached.
”Many will say ‘this is where I’m called — to reach those around me,’” Michael LeBlanc said. “But the problem for the unreached is that there is no one around them. Someone needs to go.”
