Sunset Presbyterian to host eighth Mission ConneXion Northwest next month

  
   PORTLAND — One of the Northwest’s biggest annual Christian events returns for an eighth run next month, again with a goal of helping every local church fulfill its role in seeing the world reached for Jesus.
    “Set Free... to Take the Gospel to the Nations” is theme for Mission ConneXion Northwest, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 20 and 21. The event, which rotates annually among several large churches in the Portland metro area, will be held this time at Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 N.W. Cornell Road, Portland.
     Last January’s event at Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver, Wash., tallied an estimated aggregate attendance of almost 14,000. Mission ConneXion, which is sponsored by a wide number of local churches, each year features several plenary sessions with keynote speakers, a big selection of seminars related to every aspect of international missions, an exhibit area with dozens of ministries participating, and more.
    Keynote speakers this year are:
    •George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization (OM), a ministry of cross-cultural evangelism, church planting and discipleship training. After serving as the international director from the beginning, Verwer stepped down in 2003 and continues in his ministry with OM, speaking and raising the profile of world missions. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and author of several books.
    •Valery Shean, who ministers to unreached tribal herdsmen in northeast Uganda as a veterinary missionary. By developing trust through the common bond of livestock, she is able to open doors to the Gospel and touch the lives of the people. She is currently leading a “Peace Project”, which is bringing violent, aggressive warriors and tribal elders together in peaceful coexistence with their former enemies.
    •Daniel Oh, who with his wife, Ellen serves as international mentor trainers for One Challenge International, providing life-based mentoring and coaching leadership in different parts of the world. Oh holds degrees in thermal engineering, and a master of divinity and master of theology from Dallas (Texas) Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The Ohs ministered in Indonesia for nine years.

    • Brian Fikkert, associate professor of economics and founder and executive director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College in Georgia. He holds a doctorate in economics from Yale University and has been a consultant to the World Bank. He is author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals.
     For full information on Mission ConneXion Northwest, go to www.missionconnexion.com. There also will be a detailed program inserted into the January issue of Christian News Northwest.