Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Urban and Rural Missions to be Incorporated in Harding's Global Missions Experience

News Flash: This press release went out to the local media today, September 12, 2012

More than 750 college students from across the country are expected to attend the 52st annual Global Missions Experience Sept. 27-30 in Floral, Ark., hosted by Harding University.

This will be Harding's ninth time to host Global Missions Experience, formerly known as the World Mission Workshop. The name change reflects a shift in the focus of the conference from a primarily lecture-based format to a hands-on experiential learning opportunity for students to gain practical knowledge that will aid them in the mission fields they may one day encounter.

During the workshop students will have the opportunity to simulate life in Africa, southeastern Asia, Central America, Appalachia, slums of the urban developing world, and refugee camps.

According to Dr. Shawn Daggett, director of Global Missions Experience, this year's workshop will incorporate elements of urban ministry in addition to the rural development techniques offered in the past.

The theme for this year is "Paint My Life for Your Glory."

"We wanted something that focused on God, not us, and we thought about what we can do to glorify him," Daggett said. "Then we realized that we present ourselves as an empty canvas that God can use to communicate his love and mission for the world."

Based on the theme, students will be divided by academic majors to attend classes that center around using their specific major to glorify God. Students will also choose from a variety of stations that allow them to acquire skills needed to evangelize in urban and rural settings. Five keynote speakers who each live on a different continent will address the students at the worship sessions.

Global Missions Experience also serves the dual purpose of sparking interest in mission work and uniting church of Christ sister schools across the nation.

"I chose to be a part of the revival and transformation of Global Missions Experience because it has influenced more people to devote their lives to mission work than anything else we know of," Daggett said. "Also, at a time when unity is somewhat at risk, Global Missions Experience is a real opportunity for students from our sister schools to come together. It is one of the only events that allows students from all our sister universities to interact."

For more information, email gme@harding.edu or call Harding's Center for World Missions at 501-279-5133. To register, visit www.globalmissionsexperience.com. The registration fee is $45 or $30 for Harding students.

Harding is the largest private university in Arkansas with 6,815 students and attracts more National Merit Scholars than any other private university in the state. Harding also maintains campuses in Australia, Chile, England, France, Greece, Italy and Zambia.

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