International missions fair to educate, raise awareness

S tudents desiring more information about missions need look no farther than the student center on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 where 18 missionaries and representatives will gather for an international missions fair.

The fair is to help educate and raise awareness among students of mission opportunities both international and national. Four different organizations will be represented as operating in Russia, China, Bolivia, Guatemala and West Africa.

“I see people all the time who devote their studies and lives to preparing to be a missionary,” said Allison Winn, the missions promotion student leader. “But so many people have never heard that it’s not just for a few people, but all of us have been called.”

Joe Hall, the current missionary in residence, has been heading up the project alongside Christian Ministries student leaders Ashley O’Sullivan and Winn.

“I really had a desire to get several different organizations here at one time so students at Ouachita can see their options,” Hall said. “[During the fair] they’ll have three to four days where they can really evaluate and think more intentionally about the opportunities available for them missions-wise.”

Although the missionaries and representatives will only be on campus Tuesday and Wednesday, the whole week will be focused on missions.

Noonday services in Berry Bible Chapel on Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be dedicated to testimonies concerning missions. In Tuesday’s chapel, Dr. Gordon Fort, the vice president of operations for the International Mission Board, will speak. Refuge on Thursday night will also have a mission emphasis.

“We’re having a special Tuesday night service,” O’Sullivan said. “

The service, a prayer vigil, will be from 9-10:15 p.m. in the chapel of Berry Bible Building.

The fair will even involve the Arkadelphia community.

“There will be a pastors’ luncheon for pastors from around the area to come meet with the missionary personnel,” Hall said.

Other activities will be going on in an effort to take a more interactive approach to missions. Banners representing countries will be placed in the major buildings on campus emphasizing prayer needs in each country.

“I am most excited about the banners,” O’Sullivan said. “Students can come and write out their prayers for the country … Even if you don’t feel called overseas, we want people to develop a habit of praying for those countries.”

Another interactive move is making the missionaries and representatives available in the alumni room during mealtimes.

“Sometimes students don’t have a lot of time at booths because they are running to class,” Hall said. “We’re hoping to get students more face time with missionaries and representatives this way.”

“I’m excited for the campus to be reminded of the urgency we should be feeling and realizing,” Winn said. “I want people to want the world to know [about God].”