So here's my response paper to Urbana09 for my church for giving me a full scholarship: (its suppose to be only 2 pages max 1.5 spaced)
As I sit here once again thinking about what happened at Urbana09 last week, I find myself to be in a similar position to what I felt 3 years prior: major writer’s block. The sense that I have absolutely no idea where to begin my reflection/response paper is due to the fact that so much had happened last week. For me to sum it up in these few words would be nearly impossible. Nevertheless, here is my attempt to be as concise and brief as possible. But first, a disclaimer:
In response to what most people are intending when they ask “how was Urbana09?” My answers would be: worship was awesome, speakers were great, and the seminars were pretty good, at least the ones I went to. However, this is actually a question I hate answering because it gives me no leeway to share more in depth of how/what Urbana was for me. So for those of you reading this, please don’t ask “how was Urbana?” to me, or any of the attendees. If you really want to know more about Urbana09 (even after reading this whole booklet), please come up and ask us to share some details in which God has spoken to us at Urbana, to share with you on how God is moving in us and how YOU can help us and pray for the decisions we may have committed at Urbana09. Personally, I would love to discuss it over beverage or even a meal, depending if I know you or not? Haha…
Anyways, in response to an invitation like that, I would answer that Urbana09 was overwhelming, informational, moving, and answering.
First, it was overwhelming because of the nature of the conference. To be among 17,000+ attendees, volunteers and leaders was even too much for an extrovert like me. Trying to find some alone time to spend with God in solitude, a spiritual discipline I’ve been trying to practice, was nearly impossible. However, sticking to what I had told the rest of OCM Urbana attendees, I was fortunate enough to find time each day to fast(only for 2 days =X), pray, and really listen to what God wanted to tell me. I found that through these times of solitude and prayer, I was able to listen with clarity for the things that God wanted to say to me. For the things that God wanted to me to do, as well as for the things that God wanted to convict in my heart for the things that convicts His heart.
Second, Urbana09 was informational, as all other preceding Urbanas with the thousands of seminars available, as well as the hundreds of mission agencies that were there. One particular seminar that struck me the most was the very first one I attended. The title of the seminar was “The Missional Church and Worship.” In summary, the speaker points out that people who experience genuine transformation and enter into renewing covenant with God will be unable to NOT be Missional. In return, we will be able to engage with God in spirit and in truth as true worshipers; by living out a lifestyle that is of transformation, a lifestyle that has a renewal of a covenant with God, and a lifestyle that speaks of missions in all that we say and do.
Thirdly, I say that Urbana09 was moving because I definitely felt that God is making a move with the current generation and the generations of collegiate students to come. God is definitely stirring the hearts of this generation to the things that stir His heart. The statement that echoes in my head was asked by one of the speakers, Ruth Padilla Deborst, when she asked us, “Jesus Christ became flesh, and He chose to dwell with us in our neighborhoods. Do you have the eyes to see Him?” As many of you know (or for those that bought an OCM Urbana shirt) that the theme verse for Urbana09 was John 1:14. The idea that Jesus, God, the word, became flesh and chose to dwell among us in our neighborhood was echoed in all the plenary talks. That the King of all kings, Lord of all lords, the almighty, the creator, the one true God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to live and dwell among us, to die for us and our sins.
Lastly, Urbana09 was answering. I say this because going into Urbana09, I was longing for an answer from God for a direction. From Urbana06, I had felt that God was calling me into full time ministry. But for the past 3 years or so, I have been searching and searching for an answer from God and found no luck. I was beginning to become discouraged and was extremely scared that I might have misheard God 3 years ago. Going through the internship over these last few months at OCM and volunteering with Intervarsity however, I was affirmed that I didn’t mishear God; I was merely at a crossroad between seminary and full time staff with Intervarsity. So with this at heart, I prayed and hope that God would finally give me an answer to my dilemma…and He did. As I have mentioned, I was able to find time to pray and consult God alone, as well as with Spiritual Advisors and peers throughout the week. As a result, I have decided to apply to be a full time staff worker for Intervarsity. I have an understanding that God is calling me to the mission field of University/College Campuses. To mobilize the collegiate communities in New York/New Jersey region to help raise awareness on the importance of being transformed by God, renewal of our campuses and covenant with God, being missional in the things we say and do, and to live a lifestyle of true worshipers that our Father seeks with students and hopefully with faculty as well.
So yeah, that was Urbana09 in a nutshell for me. If you have any more questions and/or would like to know more, please come speak to me. i definitely have a LOT more to share if you're interested. =]
