GO Conference encourages pursuit of the Great Commission
March 30, 2017
Whether you are an international missionary, a church planter, a business professional or a teacher, your life should be spent fulfilling the Great Commission. This was a resounding theme during the ninth annual GO Conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS).
On January 27-28, more than 550 students and guests gathered to be challenged to go into all the world and fulfill the Great Commission. Main speakers included Danny Akin, president of SEBTS, Tony Merida, SEBTS associate professor of preaching and pastor for preaching and vision at Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina and Matt Carter, pastor for preaching and vision at The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas.
Akin started off the conference telling the story of martyred missionary Jim Elliot. After sharing Elliot’s famous quote, “Oh that God would make us dangerous.” Akin said, “Have you ever prayed that prayer? Might it be that when the demons see you coming they might tremble because they see the hand of God on your life.”
Expositing the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, Merida said, “These words are actually some of the most important words in all of Scripture. This last command is our first priority.”
Merida went on to encourage everyone to take part in God’s mission. “Jesus can use the G.E.D. or the Ph.D.,” he said. “The question is not, ‘Do you have the education?’ The question is, ‘Are you available?’ Is your heart captivated by this King?”
Carter charged students to not only see the need to take the gospel around the world and to lost neighbors but to be part of meeting that need. He encouraged them to obey the command of Christ in the Great Commission through the power of the Holy Spirit.
“You have the power in you right now to do powerful things with Christ for the kingdom of God,” Carter said. “You are just as equipped and just as called.”
The GO Conference included breakout sessions addressing the topics of using passions and gifts for the gospel, sharing the gospel without fear, weaving the gospel into stories and dealing with the unexpected as a missionary.
Students also had the opportunity to hear from people involved in ministry in the U.S. and former international missionaries about ministry opportunities and what life is like as a cross-cultural missionary.
On Friday night, students had the opportunity to view the new “Insanity of God” movie followed by a Q&A session with Scott Hildreth, director of the Center for Great Commission Studies, and Chuck Lawless, dean of graduate studies at SEBTS.
The conference wrapped up on Saturday night with a special concert by Shane and Shane.
To watch videos of the main GO conference sessions and GO Talks, click here.
To view photos of the event, click here.