By Joe Conway
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Send North America Conference, still a full seven months away, is fast approaching a capacity sell out. And now the missions gathering has gained a major partner for the Aug. 3-4conference to be hosted at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
North American Mission Board (NAMB) President Kevin Ezell announced last week that the International Mission Board (IMB) is partnering with NAMB to make the Send North America Conference truly comprehensive in missions scope. Paid registration has already surpassed 7,300.
At its core, the Send North America Conference is a two-day gathering of the church in North America. The heart of the gathering is to see a movement of people from within the Church living out the mission of God in their everyday lives. The conference holds promise to be one of the largest missions gathering in North American history. It is designed to bring mission leaders at every level from across the continent together for encouragement, vision and action.
“Working together on this conference means churches and individuals will truly be able to come away with a complete vision and plan for their church’s mission activity in North America and around the globe,” said Ezell. “This kind of opportunity is unprecedented in Southern Baptist life and I am very excited about the potential.”
In addition to providing a comprehensive vision and plan, a missions mobilization gathering is a natural partnership for IMB and NAMB. Platt shares the excitement and anticipation for what the event can accomplish.
“When I first agreed to be a part of the Send North America Tour, culminating in this event in August, I had no idea that I would soon be serving alongside NAMB as president of IMB,” said Platt. “I am exhilarated when I think about all the possibilities we have to mobilize Christians and equip churches for mission in North America and the nations together, and this conference is a reflection of that reality. I am eagerly looking forward to NAMB and IMB together hosting thousands of people in one place for God-glorifying, gospel-saturated worship all aimed at sending those people out from local churches on mission all over the world.”
The conference will provide many opportunities for networking in between breakout sessions, main sessions and worship times. An abbreviated list of speakers includes Platt, Matt Carter, Louie Giglio, Al Mohler and Eric Mason, among others. Worship sessions will be led by Passion Band, Casting Crowns, David Crowder and Shane and Shane.
Another compelling aspect of the Send North America Conference is the focus on mobilization and next steps following the event. Participants will have the opportunity to respond on-site to several missions avenues from exploration to support to church planting and unreached people group engagement.
Organizers hope churches and individuals will be encouraged to live life on mission as a result of participating in the conference. That may mean beginning the conversation about what life on mission looks like, exploring where to plug in with NAMB and IMB, increasing support for missions or becoming personally involved as a church planter or other type of missionary.
The cost of the conference is $129. The event website provides information on lodging and other important notes. To register, visit sendconference.com.
Joe Conway writes for the North American Mission Board.
