From April 29-May 1, 2005, MissionsFest Southern California is hosting an inter-denominational world class missions conference in Ontario Convention Center, California. Not only is it open for people of different ages to attend, the admission is also free. There will be special plenary speakers, dozens of seminars; over 90 mission agencies will host displays and special programs for pre-school, grade school, youth and adults of all ages.
With the theme “God’s Heart… Your Mission”, MissionsFest aims to educate local churches of the urgency for evangelize and thus informing Christians of ways to educate, mobilize and serve others by introducing agencies, organizations and individuals who are involved in these activities.
The event is sponsored by churches of various denominations, majority of which are Chinese churches located in the western region of United States. For example, the Chinese Bible Church of San Diego is encouraging its members to participate by providing free entrance in the upcoming event for the whole family.
The conference program includes children’s program, youth program, special family projects, exhibitions, worship groups, and plenary sessions featured by speakers such as Dan Baumann of Youth With A Mission, Brad Buser of New Tribes Mission and Richard Sharp of Operation Mobilization.
Loren Cunningham, director of YWAM, testified regarding MissionsFest: "It is a time in which we mobilize many into missions. First in prayer and in giving but also in going." A testimony came from a teenager – “It teaches you what God is doing in other countries – it's kind of cool to see what's happening."
Last year alone, MissionsFest conference reaped an approximate 33,000 attendance in Vancouver, Canada. This year the expectations are to be no less successful. More than 30 churches are sponsoring this event and over 85 various mission agencies and Christian universities will set up a booth during MissionsFest. (For detailed information, please visit MissionsFest Southern California website at http://www.mfestsocal.org/.)
