By Bill Richardson
Pastor of Adult Ministries, Evangelical Free Church of the Palouse, Pullman, WA.
The first time that I went to Mission ConneXion in Jan 2011, I was completely blown away by the interest in missions in the Northwest of America. Coming from Scotland, where missions conferences are small or nonexistent, to see nearly 20,000 people come through the door was amazing. Both Sharon and I instantly caught the vision of Mission ConneXion and were delighted to be part of it. The quality of speakers and wide ranging scope of workshops are rich and diverse, filled with expertise, real life stories and top notch training.
Sharon became involved in taking notes for the Steering Team every month and loved the focus and energy of the meetings. They were faith-filled and God answered many prayers. There are usually always gaps in the teams which need volunteers, and the teams are very dependent on God to work out manpower and financial needs – and yet it happens in the most exciting ways! In the main conference itself, our kids were given jobs to do, and loved being part of the ‘buzz’ that this missions conference has! They were inspired and have talked about God’s mission plan in a different way ever since.
Sharon would encourage anyone who wants to be part of a dynamic God-driven opportunity to step forward, attend a meeting and see if there is an opportunity to use your gifts and skills. You won’t regret it and will see God at work in amazing ways through the people who visit the steering committee and in the way God brings together a whole range of Mission ConneXion events throughout the year. As people going out on mission, we received considerable prayer and advice from the Steering Team, who are passionate about mission. Bill MacLeod has a vast contact network of Christian workers, and he was instrumental in providing preaching opportunities for me while a student at Multnomah Biblical Seminary . He was also a personal reference and confidant in the period following my graduation and during our interview selection process as we transitioned from students into full-time ministry. As with so many other things in the Christian life, your involvement with Mission ConneXion will bless you way more than you expect!
