November 01, 1991 by

A Midwest Missions Conference Organized By Students For Students

Partially as a result of the spiritual awakenings in England and America toward the end of the last two centuries, new major thrusts in missionary activity were launched. Students were in the vanguard in each instance. "Is it too much to expect that God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh in the 1990s? " asks Dr. David McKenna in The Coming Great Awakening.

The student coordinators of Mandate '92, the Midwest Student Missions Conference, are praying and preparing toward such an awakening. During the middle of the 1980s, this regional missions conference came into being through students with a vision for prayer, spiritual awakening, and world evangelization. Now, in the 1990s students in the Midwest are hoping that God has carried the original vision forward, "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).

After Urbana '84, inspired students from Wheaton College and Trinity Divinity School rallied together in preparation for the first Mandate '86 conference at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. They were challenged there by David Bryant, now of Concerts of Prayer International, and George Verwer of Operation Mobilization.

Following the original SCOWE (Student Conference on World Evangelization) pattern begun by CalTech students in Pasadena CA during the mid-70s, Mandate has continued to be student organized and led as each year, between Urbana conferences, God has raised up a new team of student leaders. The site has moved around the Midwest from Northern Illinois University in early 1986, to Ball State in 1987, to Purdue in 1989, and Ohio State in 1990.

On the evening of Friday, January 31st through midday on Sunday, February 2nd, 1992, Mandate will return to Northern Illinois University.

The purpose of Mandate '92 is both to share a Biblical vision of prayer, spiritual awakening and world evangelization and to provide delegates with ways to participate in the realization of that vision in these days. The theme this time will be "Into His Presence, Out to the World." Dr. Robert Coleman of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School will address the students at the three expositional plenary sessions. Scott Roley, formerly of Albrecht, Roley, and Moore, will lead the corporate times of worship. Numerous mission agencies will present short-term and career options to the delegates.

On Saturday, participants can be sharpened from a number of directions. Three large group workshops will precede lunch, led by Rod Beidler, the Navigators National Director for Missions Recruitment; Steve Hawthorne, co-editor of the "Perspectives on the World Christian" textbook; and Richard Owen Roberts, author of the acclaimed book Revival. There will be another sixty smaller workshops in the afternoon, followed Saturday evening by a Concert of Prayer, a regular part of Mandate that has acted as a catalyst for the prayer movement in the Midwest. A specific unreached people group will be highlighted during the time of prayer for world evangelization.

Since 1989, the conference has also included a track for pastors and local church leadership. This year's speakers will be Terry Dirks of Multnomah's Northwest Renewal Ministries speaking on prayer and spiritual awakening themes with examples from the encouraging stirrings of revival in the Northwest and David Mays of the Association of Church Missions Committees (ACMC). As the Regional Director of ACMC, David Mays is uniquely qualified to tell how a local church can make a global difference.

Could the Lord use this conference to significantly accelerate the movement of His people toward the year 2000? Would you hold up in prayer Mandate '92 and its vision, that together the church will "look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:12)? For prayer cards and brochures, contact Mandate '92, CPO 751, Lock Box 10062, Chicago, IL, 60610, (313) 329-4184.