URBANA 06

I dont feel like I can adequately describe for you the overwhelming and huge experience that urbana actually is. What I would suggest is that you take the highlight video tour online at www.urbana.org The videos are arranged chronologically. In my opinion the best 2 talks from the week were by Brenda Salter McNeil Dec 28 evening and Sharon Cohn from International Justice Mission on Dec 29 evening. If you listen to nothing else listen to their talks. And if you want to hear someone not from America talk about the potentially deadly flaws of the western church then give a listen to Oscar Muriu Dec 28 evening.

What I would say in talking most with people who were at urbana is the overwhelming truth that we are each a part of the image of God. We reflect and care about different things and that is how God uniquely chooses to act in the world; through the Church, his body. And that we (college students in particular) are in the most unique and potentially amazing time when we really believe that we are going to change the world.

I'd say if you run into someone who went to URBANA 06 watch out. They probably are about to blow your mind. This is a picture of some UNCW and Cape Fear Community College students who are a part of that calling. Some made commitments to become missionaries, some to serve on campus, some to give up things. All have committed to do something.

On a side note, St. Louis as a city was shocked to see what 22,000 hungry college students could do in a matter of hours to the local restaurants. There was a constant line about 30 people long. Some places had to close because they ran out of food. Mostly we provided an economic boost to a city that could use some encouragement. and they took notice.

Finally, on a sad note, while playing frisbee barefoot the night before the conference officially kicked off, I lost my last, best frisbee when a staff intern inadvertantly threw my NOVA (a sweet brand of disc) too high over traffic and it landed on the roof of the Edward Jones Dome. thankfully, discs are super cheap. most importantly we didn't hit Tom Boyle, a national VP with InterVarsity.

Well I'm out. I'll add more later. Currently, I'm in Charleston with the Webers enjoying staff prayer and bonding.

URBANA 06

As most of you know from December 27th to New Years, InterVarsity in partnership with campus ministries from across North America and throughout the world hosted its 27th missions conference URBANA 06. I will be posting soon with student testimonies, pictures, and what the conference means to UNC-Wilmington and our call to change the world.

What I would like to do in the mean time is invite you to experience a taste of what our students (along with 22,000 of their new best friends) were a part of this past week. On the website www.urbana.org much of the audio and video from the conferece is accessible to the general public (with the exception of a personal statement from Bono exclusively for URBANA attendees). In particular I would invite you to watch Brenda Salter McNeil and the Testimony of Sharon Cohn from IJM.

I have to catch my flight. Talk to you soon.

-matt