The Urbana Experience

Main Plenary Session

"Does the word of God stop with
you or spread with you?"

"We don't come to Jesus to get stuff.
We come to Jesus to get Jesus!"
-David Platt

"If the message is not good here,
then it is not good for export"
-Calisto

From December 27-31, 16,000 students from all over the world congregated together in St. Louis, MO with one purpose and goal in mind.  To receive God's heart for missions.  During these 5 days, participants were both challenged and convicted to be living their lives for the Lord wherever and whenever they are at.  By the end of Urbana, over 4,000 committed their lives to long-term missions (+2 years).  Along with this, here are some of the other highlights:

- 96 people decided to become a first-time follower of Jesus.

- 2,740 recommitted their lives to Jesus.

- 6,434 committed to inviting a friend who does not follow Jesus to study the Bible.

- 7,058 committed to serving and learning in a global or cross-cultural setting.

- 5,744 committed to going on a short-term (less than one year) mission.

- 3,071 committed to going on a mid-term (one-to-two year) mission.

- 4,224 committed to investing their lives in long-term (more than two years) mission.

CSLT at Urbana.  Team SFU!!
From Left:
Mona, Lida, Vanessa, Esther, Anika, Andy, Christina

As most of you may already know, SFU sent a total of 7 students to Urbana involved with the Canadian Student Leadership Track (CSLT) where they embraced the Urbana experience through a Canadian lens.  As they were being challenged through intensely studying the gospel of Luke, three specific Canadian Idols (not the singers) were revealed to them:  Comfort, Tolerance, and Niceness.  It is these three idols in Canada that as long as they remain idols in our lives, the gospel cannot be advanced forward.

This is just one of the many things our students received from the CSLT track at Urbana.  

Click Here to read some testimonials of our Canadian SFU Students.

Please be praying for our students as they come into this next semester on fire for the Lord.

Old and New from SFU together at Urbana

Some of my closest friends throwing me an Engagement Party
at Urbana

SFU Urbana Testimonials

Anika's Experience

1.  What were you hoping to receive by going to Urbana?

I went to Urbana with three questions on my mind. 1. What is the mission of God? 2. Why is it so important? and 3. How then should I live? I was hoping that my Urbana experience would give me some pieces of insight into these questions, as well as give me a broader idea of what the Kingdom of God looks like from the perspective of ALL nations.

2.  What was the most significant thing that you received during Urbana?

The most significant thing I received at Urbana was a commitment from the Father. Throughout the week through speakers and their stories I became very aware of the great sacrifice involved in giving my 'yes' to God. At the end of the week we were challenged to commit to join Jesus in his global mission. I did give my yes to Him, but it became so much more than that. My yes to him was followed immediately by his yes to me. No hesitation on his part! It reminded my of taking wedding vows - my life-long commitment to Him and His mission resounded with His lifelong commitment to me. God is patient and faithful.

3.  What are you looking forward to this upcoming semester/year/3 years?

This semester I am looking forward to being at SFU with a new purpose. Part of that will be joining Vanessa in leading a Bible study in Surrey!

This year I am looking forward to walking with Jesus and the changes in me and others that will bring.

In the next 3 years I am looking forward to lots of parties. The implications of inviting people to a great banquet means you always need to be ready to celebrate!

4.  How can we be praying for you and your ministry?

Pray for gentleness, humility, and fearlessness as I extend Jesus' invitation, especially here on campus. Pray that the mission of God to seek and save the lost would direct everything I do.

Esther's Experience

1.  What were you hoping to receive by going to Urbana?
From Urbana I was hoping to receive some guidance or direction as to where God wants me and how to work throughout the campus to build a community with others outside of the IVCF group.

2.  What was the most significant thing that you received during Urbana?
The most significant thing I received from Urbana was probably the peace and reassurance that He has a great plan for the SFU campus and for my life and not to fret. Coming into Urbana I was a bit hesitant and nervous but now I feel calm and ready for what's in store.

3.  What are you looking forward to this upcoming semester/year/3 years?
I'm looking forward to what God has in store for our campus. After planning a bit of this semester with Barron and the rest of our group I can't wait to see how everything plays out. I'm excited to use what we learned at Urbana, especially in the seminars, towards our campus.

4.  How can we be praying for you and your ministry?
You can be praying for the small group I'll be leading with Barron on parables. I'm very excited about it because I really enjoy parables and I've never lead a small group like this. Although I am nervous because I haven't lead many bible studies and that I'll be more of a learner than a leader for the group.

Vanessa's Experience

1.  What were you hoping to receive by going to Urbana?
I was hoping to find direction on what I should do after I finish my degree on April 2013.

2.  What was the most significant thing that you received during Urbana?
The most significant thing I received, are the challenging teachings. The way I am living my life as a Christian has been challenged in different ways.

3.  What are you looking forward to this upcoming semester/year/3 years?
I am looking forward to where God wants me to be. My life right now is a blank canvass and I just want God to put all the colors and shapes on it. I am also looking forward to sharing the gospel to all my friends at SFU and make sure that I do this intentionally.

4.  How can we be praying for you and your ministry?
I would like for people to pray that the fire in me won't die and that I will continue to seek the lost. I would also like people to pray for our Bible Studies at SFU Surrey that our numbers will grow exponentially until there is an overflow of students.

Mona's Experience

1.  What were you hoping to receive by going to Urbana?

At first I was trying to look for an answer. At that point, I was actually going through a career crisis. I was beginning to doubt myself and what my life was set you for.

2.  What was the most significant thing that you received during Urbana?
The most significant thing I received during Urbana was God. He found me. I didn't have to do anything but to devote myself to him again. Then, the answers to my doubts came naturally. I began to understand the purpose of my life, and why I had the passions I did.

3.  What are you looking forward to this upcoming semester/year/3 years?
I'm looking forward to living life for Jesus :D. It might sound trite, but I seriously want every hour to be worth it for God.

4.  How can we be praying for you and your ministry?
Please pray for the bible study I will be leading. Thanks!!!! :D

My Urbana Experience

My Intercessory Prayer Team

Urbana 12 would now mark my 3 consecutive Urbana.  Urbana 06 I was a student participant where I received motivation to finish my Engineering Degree, Urbana 09 I served as an intern and steward, and now Urbana 12 where I served on the intercessory prayer team.  Out of all 3 of these experiences, I would have to say that being on the prayer team was one of the most fulfilling.

There were multiple prayer teams serving at Urbana.  What the Intercessory Prayer team was, was there were 8 teams of 8 praying around the clock for the whole duration of Urbana.  There was a specific room in our hotel where the 24 hours prayer was happening.  Each team did 3 hour shifts in that prayer room.  Those who were not praying in the room, some were deployed to select seminars and there was always a team praying at each plenary session.

It was amazing being able to interceed for Urbana in the way that we did.  We witnessed God answering our prayers almost immediately after we prayed for specific things.  A big theme that came up for our group was the theme around ending Genercide (Click here to listen to Chai Ling's story) where a lot of our prayers were focused specifically around restoring the right identities of men and women.  There came, in our prayer times, times of repentance on behalf of men an women, women and men praying and blessing each other and forgiving each other in how we have wronged each other.  It was such a beautiful thing to witness and we all received a great deal of healing around the way we view the opposite gender.

Not only did we receive a lot, God also had something much larger in mind.  As a result of these prayers, God was pressing on the hearts of MANY from Urbana to receive Prayer Ministry (Inner healing on identity).  In Urbana 09, out of the 17,000 that was at Urbana, 2,000 went through the prayer ministry room.  For this Urbana, out of 16,000 that was there, 6,000 went through the prayer ministry room!!  Over 1/3 of Urbana was seeking to restore their identities rightly with Jesus.  In the prayer ministry waiting room, people were choosing to wait for over an hour to receive prayer ministry.  God has indeed done amazing things in the hearts of those at this Urbana and will continue to do so in the years to come.

Through my experience in intercessory prayer, I now see the value of prayer SO MUCH more than I could have ever imagined.  I now know the power of prayer and the authority that Jesus gives to those whom He calls to be intercessors.  When we pray with the authority of Jesus Christ... things happen.  Our students also believe this to be true.  As we continue to serve the SFU campus, God has placed on all their hearts the desire to be intercessors for their campus.  Our leaders then decided that we need to be covering our campus in prayer and we are now meeting every Friday at 7:30 AM to Prayer Walk the SFU Burnaby Campus.  Already, we have been receiving some exciting promises from God during these prayer walks and are looking forward to seeing what happens this semester.

Please join us in interceding for the SFU Campus:
7:30 - PST (BC)
8:30 - MST (AB)
9:30 - CST (SK, MB)
10:30 - EST (ON)
11:30 - AST (NS)

After Urbana (2 weeks)

Kickoff Potluck!  We actually got new students to come out!!

These past 2 weeks have been exceedingly busy but it has also been the most fun that Barron and I have had doing tabling and Clubs Days.  It was an absolute joy to have students joining us and owning the mission and vision on the SFU Campus.  Within 2 weeks of getting back, we have a core leaders team of 7, we have established 5 small groups (4 in Burnaby, 1 in Surrey), a weekly prayer meeting, and have been able to connect with over 40 new students on the SFU Campus, not including Surrey from tabling and clubs days.

A few days ago, we decided to call each and everyone of these students that signed up and the follow-up conversations that we had with them are producing deeper relationships.  Small groups were being formed on the spot and meetings being set up.  The majority of these students are not Christians but they all seem interested in studying scripture with us.

The SFU Surrey Campus as we were Prayer Walking it, we felt that God was going to be doing something great there and that we just gotta be there to reap the harvest.  The words abundance and overflow were coming up more and more.  It's only the 2nd semester and we already have 8 students wanting to study scripture.  Coming clubs days, that number can easily double.  Please be praying for an abundance of students from SFU Surrey.

Upcoming Events & Prayer Requests

Upcoming Events

• Surrey Clubs Days - January 22, 23
• Urban Dip - January 26
• BC Staff Days - February 10-12
• Next Generation Dialoge - February 15
• Ski Retreat - February 15-17
• Justice Conference - February 21-24
• Urban Dip - March 2

Praise Items

• For the fire and passion in our students as they are learning to grasp the vision and mission
• For a core leaders team of 7
• For the influx of new students studying scripture
• For me being 81% funded for the year
• For the growth and increased passion for prayer in myself and my students
• For the increased interested in Next Generation Ministry
• For the small group(s) in SFU Surrey

Prayer Requests

Students & Campus

• Pray for the Next Gen Small Group & Surrey Small Group that it will continue to grow and the students in it will be blessed abundantly.
• Pray for our Wednesday Leaders Group meetings.  Pray for vision and discernment on how to be keeping the vision and also passing the vision for Leaders-in-training.
• For the SFU Team.  That they will continue to grow in shared vision
• For Lida who is leading this team.

Personal

• Pray for my growth as a leader as I lead and direct this Vancouver Urban Partnership.
• Pray for recruitment (15 students in total)
• Pray for me as I continue to network and connect with other Chinese Churches in the Lower Mainland.
• Pray for the Next Generation Dialogue between 1st and 2nd Generation Chinese Pastors.  I will be one of the three representing the 2nd Generation Chinese Born Canadian.  
• Pray for mine & April's relationship and wedding planning.  We are looking for a venue still.  Please pray for the finances of our wedding too.
• Pray for my funding as I am sitting at around 80% of monthly's.  Pray that I will be fully funded within the next couple of months.
• Pray for me that I will rest well during my Sabbaths
• Pray for me that I will be exercising more regularly.

The Engagement Story

After 15 months of dating, it's official!!  We are now engaged!! 

Right after April said "Yes"

The plan for the day was to go to Rivendell Retreat Center to have a day retreat. However we had two close calls where our plans could have fallen through. #1 Snowfall warning...in Vancouver! We were afraid the ferries would cancel and the roads being too slippery to drive on. #2 April got really sick in the morning.

When we woke up at 6:30am in the morning, we checked the road conditions and were amazed that it was all clear; and though some ferries were cancelled, ours was not. So despite April being sick, we still proceeded with the plan. Besides, April was wondering in the back of her mind if this trip had "ulterior motives" 

Look at all the snow! (Bowen Island)

After our ferry ride and some driving, thank God we arrived safely, just before the snow covered the hill leading up to the retreat center. There was so much snow!!! We really thought we might have to push our car up the hill!

We spent the first half of the day resting and having our own personal retreat.

Rivendell common room. So serene

When the afternoon came, April was feeling much better (thanks to Advil) and Justin was much more rested.

Here is where it happened! 

The purpose of the afternoon was to come together and pray as a couple. During our prayer time, we reflected on different stages of our relationship. At each stage, we paused and came to reflect on how God has been active in it. There was a sense of appreciation and thankfulness for God and each other as we saw how God shaped us through our relationship. 

Throughout this prayer of appreciation, Justin was looking for the right pause/moment to "pop the question." April, during these pauses was also wondering, "Is it going to happen now?"

After many different pauses, it was time and Justin got down on one knee and asked April to marry him.  Of course, April said "Yes" with teary eyes.  Then Justin brought out a beautiful engagement ring and placed it on her ring finger.

We then went off into the town for a time of celebration.

Artisan Square

The Cafe where we called our parents and shared the great news!

Hot Chocolate, Spicy Chocolate, Chocolate Truffles... Oh My!!

The wonderful view walking back

Dinner at the fancy restaurant, Tuscany, specializing in wood oven baked pizza.

Mmm... Pasta & Pizza... *drool*

Justin thoroughly satisfied

April thoroughly satisfied

We are both thoroughly satisfied

Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and support for both of us.

WE HAVE A TEAM!!!

4 out of the 7 that are going to Urbana

Urbana

Since InterVarsity started the Urbana Student Missions Conference in 1946, it has impacted over 250,000 people to devote their lives to God’s global mission. Urbana 12’s mission is to compel this generation to give their whole lives for God’s global mission. Participants are challenged by leaders of the church, are able to speak with hundreds of missions organizations, get to attend an amazing selection of seminars and tracks, and study the Bible inductively with other students listening for God’s call on their lives.

The University of Waterloo Korean Christian Fellowship was a fairly large community of around 40.  However, there was a serious concern because only 8 of those 40 were studying scripture.  It was difficult to get students to come out to small group bible studies.  Then Urbana 09 came around and there was a lot of excitement in the KCF community.  Around 20 students decided to go together to explore what God's Global Mission could look like.  What they didn't know was that after Urbana 09, all 20 of them received the call to start and lead their own small groups in their own campuses.
At the beginning of the year,  the Waterloo KCF Community had one small group of eight students studying scripture.  At the end of the second semester (after Urbana 09), they had eight small groups totaling 52 (not including the 20 leaders) studying scripture!!  Students were becoming Christians in this community and making lasting impacts on their campus and on.  

This was three years ago, so what does this have to do with SFU?  For two and a half years, Barron and I have been developing a community of missional leaders at SFU.  We have indeed seen some extraordinary leaders but what good is one student?  Aren't we far more effective as team?  Well, the exciting news is that we have a team of students from SFU going to Urbana 12.  Seven to be exact have registered for the Canadian Students Leadership Track, which means that seven will be engaging in God's mission together as a community!  This is a huge milestone that we will remember for the years to come.  We will look back at this 5, 10, 20 years down the road and see this as the start of the building of the strong sustainable community at SFU.   

As you can tell, I am extremely excited about this and the possibilities that could come from it.  God has really blessed IVCF SFU abundantly the finances of our students and provided with more than enough for everyone!  Please join with me in praying for our 7 student leaders going to Urbana.

Our team sharing the vision with churches