The 2025 Cook Missions Conference hosted seven speakers, featured worship led by Circuit Riders Music, and exhorted students to look at the Great Commission as something that is not optional. Here is what it looked like.
As students fill Chase Gymnasium and find their seats, each session starts out with an SMU team huddle for prayer.
PARADE OF NATIONS
The “Parade of Nations,” a Missions Conference tradition, kicked off the conference at the start of Session one. With exactly 100 different countries represented, the anticipation in the gym rose as each country was called. This year the countries were called in order of decreasing rate of Christian population as the percentages flashed on the screen. The parade was emceed by Tim Kim, Resident Director of Alpha Hall. March 19, 2025.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Greg Stier, director and founder of “Dare to Share International” on “The Unstoppable Message.” During his talk, he used a work glove to illustrate how we are used by God but can do nothing without Him.
Pastor Jerrod Gunter spoke on the topic “Called…To Be Activated.” His talk emphasized the importance of Spirit-empowered boldness.
Michael and Morgan LeBlanc, missionaries in Papua New Guinea, gave a shared message entitled “Christ Over Comfort.” In this message, they shared about their work with Ethnos 360 and urged students to reach the unreached people groups of the world.
Yasmin Pierce, a missionary with Circuit Riders, spoke on “The Higher Call.” She emphasized the importance of daily ministry that is done out of love and not obligation.
Ed Stetzer, dean of Talbot School of Theology gave a message entitled “Our Mission in this Moment.” He spoke about giving God our “yes” and letting Him lead us wherever that takes us.
John Mark Comer, author of “Practicing the Way” and “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” gave a talk called “A New (or really old) Model of Discipleship.” He made a case that the American model for discipleship is not producing true disciples and urged students to take part in discipleship that includes “the whole gospel for the whole person for the whole world .”
WORSHIP
Worship was led by Circuit Riders Music a band born out of the Circuit Riders movement which seeks to evangelize, equip, and mobilize students to share in the gospel. Their passionate and expressive worship welcomed the Holy Spirit and set the tone for sessions including sets of extended worship after the night sessions.
EXPERIENTIAL SITES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Each year, the Student Union Building (SUB) is transformed into a prayer and worship space where worship is held continually outside of session times from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Upper SUB floors are turned into process spaces for prayer such as the Student Government Association (SGA) Conference room.
Missionary Picnic and Storytime hosted on Metzger Lawn was a chance to hang out with missionaries and hear about their work.
The Student Missionary Union (SMU) held a “Marketplace” Next to Fluor Fountain where they sold exclusive shirts designed for this year’s conference theme “Called”. All proceeds went to SMU to fund their global mission trips.
“Peace by Piece” was held at the Fireplace Pavillion day two of Missions Conference and was a chance for students to put together puzzles and talk to representatives of missionary organizations all while listening to live jazz.
The Missionary Organization Fair is held both days of the conference where students can walk around and talk to different organizations to learn how to get involved with missionary work.
OTHER SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Session 3 on Wednesday, March 19 started with scripture reading. Spotlights illuminated designated people in the gym while they read out the theme verse in various languages.
Session 4, which opened on Wednesday, March 20, was an orchestral production that set the stage for “Global Voices”; they performed worship songs in different languages.
“Global Voices” worship took place after the orchestra, and included songs that highlighted many different languages, including Afrikaans, Japanese, Romanian, and American Sign Language (ASL).
Romans 10:15 “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
