Biola’s Missions Conference 2025 invited missionaries from all around the world to speak at this year’s breakout sessions. Here’s some highlights from a few breakouts.
“THE NINEVEH PROTOCOL AND THE GREAT ADMISSION”
In a breakout session on Mar. 19, a missionary talked about how God slowly led her away from her plans to be a successful doctor and into missionary work in the Arab and Communist parts of the world. She looks forward to the day that all tribes, tongues and nations would worship God (Revelation 7:9).
She started her journey at 15 when she prayed on a Friday night, telling God, “I’m going to give you everything.” In turn, God asked: “Are you willing to give me your career aspirations?” Later in her senior year of high school, she saw a film about missionary Hudson Taylor, and God told her: “This is the life I have planned for you.”
Having served in countries such as Morocco and Turkey, this missionary asked us to consider how much we care for the unreached people groups. She called us to reorient ourselves to not just know God’s character and not stay in our personal comfort, but to have God’s heart.
“HOW TO DO MUSLIM MINISTRY…WITH CONFIDENCE!”
On Mar. 20, two FrontiersUSA missionaries serving Muslims in Jordan for the past 10 years shared insights on effective ministry.
They noted that Muslims are deeply spiritual, frequently using phrases like “Alhamddulillah” (“Praise God”) and “Insha’Allah” (“If God wills”). They cautioned against street evangelism, stating that it is ineffective with Muslims and could result in missionaries being forced to leave Jordan.
They emphasized that building relationships with Muslims is not overly complex or mystical, outlining four key steps:
- Humanize Muslim friends — recognize shared struggles and commonalities despite cultural differences.
- Pray before stepping into a new place — seek God’s guidance in every interaction.
- Release the savior complex — understand that God is already working in their lives, and you are partnering with Him when the time is right.
- Just do it — step out in faith, even when afraid.
The missionaries encouraged believers to share their lives with the Muslims, build relationships, sit with them in their suffering and ask for help — an act that can be deeply humanizing. They recommended these practices as well:
- Use your gifts and talents — be yourself; God works through who you are.
- “Drip Jesus” — naturally share what’s on your heart and mind without hiding your faith.
- Be curious — take an interest in people and their religion.
“YIELDED, SURROUNDED, & GROUNDED: REDEMPTION JOURNEYS THROUGH MISSIONAL BUSINESS”
During breakout session B on Mar. 20, missionary Carmen Owen spoke about her lifelong missionary career, specifically her time as a founder of Naomi House in Thailand. Owen was born in Kinshasa, Zaire and later relocated to California with her parents at a young age. Owen and her family continued their journey in missions in Puerto Rico and Panama.
Owen was then called to Thailand, where she moved with three missionary families. Alongside these families, she helped open an orphanage for children with HIV. She also had the opportunity to serve at a girls’ detention center in Thailand. There, she taught the Bible in Thai, taught English and life skills and helped these girls rehabilitate their lives after intense and tragic experiences of crime, abuse and trauma.
In 2020, Owen founded Naomi House, a social enterprise center focused on discipleship. Through a partnership with Adorn, a business in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, they were able to take in women and teach them life skills, specifically sewing. Many of the women were refugees with their families from Laos, where they were severely persecuted for their faith. Naomi House has since become a number one location for girls on probationary release. Naomi House also hosts annual family camps, where families have been restored and baptized in the name of Christ.
Owen focused on the words yielded, surrounded and grounded as a foundation for the type of missionary work she’s done throughout her career.
“When God calls us, all he’s asking is that we yield to him and say ‘Yeah, God?’” said Owen. “Because sometimes, the hardest thing is not knowing what comes next … [this] makes a string of yes’s that leads you on a path of righteousness.”
