Going to Urbana? Connect with ESN and all of InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries in the following ways.Read more…
Loving our Atheist Neighbors with Truth and Love: Rick Mattson at Urbana
How should Christians approach conversations about faith with atheists? At the Urbana Student Missions Conference, Rick Mattson examined common atheist arguments and argued for a holistic Christian response that includes intellect, care-giving, and friendship.Read more…
The Importance of Realities We Cannot See: Bryan Enderle on Science and Faith
How does modern science and scientific theory intersect with the Bible and the Christian story? At Urbana, Bryan Enderle explored philosophical arguments and quantum mechanics to bring these two seemingly separate threads together. From Dec 27 – Jan 1, volunteersRead more…
15 Posts on Mission, Justice, and the University from Urbana 2015
What does it mean to be part of a global religion, and how can we make sense of the diverse missions, values, and politics of that belonging? How can we as Christians better understand what it means to follow Jesus in a world that is more connected than ever before? After four days in St Louis for the Urbana conference, I feel closer to the heart of those questions than ever before.Read more…
Make Reconciliation, Not Just Peace: Lessons from Burundi at Urbana
When facing problems of racial hatred, Emmanuel urges us to seek reconciliation and not just peace.Read more…
Why Might Christians Be Involved in Nonviolent or Violent Protests? Lessons from Ukraine’s Euromaidan Protests at Urbana
How can Christians decide when to be involved in conflict, and how can they know when to stop? In the past two years, Christians in Ukraine have faced all of these. How have they responded?Read more…
Why should a missional student ever consider gradschool?
When Christians think about the idea of ministry or missions, graduate school might be one of the last things they would think about. Why should a missional student ever consider gradschool?Read more…
The Vocation of Law in God’s Global Mission to Bring Justice & Wholeness: Brian Dennison at Urbana
How can legal knowledge and experience bring justice to contexts outside the U.S.? The opportunities are real and plentiful. In this seminar, Brian Dennison shared what he learned as a law lecturer and coordinator of the law clinic at Uganda Christian University.Read more…
Why should Christians care about diverse worship?
Here at the Urbana conference, the worship has represented a cosmopolitan range of cultures, languages, and worship styles. . . . What motivates this focus on diversity?Read more…
The Missional Professor in Universities Outside North America
Keith challenges us, saying that evangelicals should be commended for ministering well at the periphery of the University; however, now is the time to move to the heart of the university – the podium. There has been a clarion cry to do this in the United States and now there should be a cry to do this globally.Read more…
Developing your Mind for God’s Global Mission: Greg Jao at Urbana 2015
Global poverty, inter-faith engagement, church planting: what do these require besides a prayerful spirit, a willing heart, and an available body? Greg Jao answers his Urbana15 seminar, Developing your Mind for God’s Global Mission.Read more…
Moving Beyond Indifference and Inactivism: Lessons for Christians from #BlackLivesMatter
What role have Christians played in the #BlackLivesMatter movement in St. Louis, and what lessons have they learned? This panel discussion at the Urbana Missions Conference brought together black and white faith leaders to reflect on these movements and gave an opportunity to a packed theater of attendees to ask questions.Read more…
What Would Jesus Post on Social Media?
The popularity and increasing use of social media has been a growing area of heated debate and controversy topic in the past couple of years, in both Christian and secular circles. But how does social media affect us in regard to God’s mission?Read more…
5 Practical Ways to Avoid Cultural Domination and Neo-Colonialism in Western Missions
This seminar addresses how Western missionaries can use their financial, educational, and cultural capital to empower, rather than dominate local environments.Read more…
The Secular Academy as a Mission Field: Urbana Panel Discussion
Too many people go to gradschool who shouldn’t be there, and many people who have the gifts and calling don’t get in or even start. Read more…
Why Is There No Photo About This? Challenging the Comfortable with Photojournalism
What is it like to be a photojournalist, and why would a Christian choose journalistic photographic work over advocacy?Read more…
ESN, Global Scholars, Urbana: A Doorway to the World’s Universities
Global Scholars, are excited to announce that the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) is partnering with Global Scholars around a shared mission. Read more…
Urbana Preview: Cross-Cultural Teaching—One Story and a Few Tips for North American Scholars
Personally I had the opportunity to serve on a law faculty in Uganda for seven years. It was an incredible experience and I got involved in some very meaningful work. However, there was definitely a learning curve. To explain I need to tell a quick story . . Read more…
Loving Your Atheist Neighbor, Part 4 (Urbana Preview)
Everything we say about the faith is potentially dismissible. At first this may seem a liability, but I think just the opposite. Read more…
Love Your Atheist Neighbor, Part 3 (Urbana Preview)
The next question that needs to be addressed, then, is How does one find God? This moves us into positive case-making for Christian faith.Read more…
Loving Your Atheist Neighbor, Part 2 (Urbana preview)
“Science is rational and based on reason. Faith is just the opposite. It’s basically irrational. So unless God proves himself to me scientifically, I’ll never believe in him.” How would you respond?Read more…
Loving Your Atheist Neighbor, Part 1 (Urbana preview)
At the upcoming Urbana Mission Convention, I will be presenting a seminar called “Love Your Atheist Neighbor.” But who is my atheist neighbor? you ask.Read more…