Ouachita will host Global Focus Week (GFW) Monday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Oct. 28. GFW is a week dedicated to encouraging those interested in missions to mobilize themselves in order to spread God’s word. Missions is not simply international; it can take place internationally, nationally or locally.
“We want students to see God’s heart for the nations and through that, feel the need to go out and be a part of the mission,” said Sarah Bolin, a GFW co-coordinator and senior Christian Studies and Spanish major.
Global Focus Week will host various events throughout the week, including Noonday, which will be globally focused that Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week.
Speakers who have a specific interest for missions will be brought in each day to share their stories, experience and advice. A world prayer will take place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 p.m. each night. This event will include a time of prayer focusing on specific continents and countries as well as the people doing missions in these places.
Cultural activities will also be held the Monday of GFW. This will be a time that brings together international students not only from Ouachita, but Henderson as well.
“For each culture and country represented, the international Tigers and Reddies will have facts set out and games set up for American students to participate in,” said Bolin. “These American students may have never experienced a different culture before.”
During the Tuesday of GFW, a missions fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event will introduce its attendees to different ways to become involved in missions. Some organizations attending include: Cru, an evangelical Christian organization, Elic, and the International Mission Board. Later that day, an East Asia Panel will be held. This discussion will consist of people who have travelled to East Asia, and will be available to answer questions.
Refuge will still take place on Thursday after the football game during the week of GFW, but like noonday, it will focus on mobilizing missions.
Friday will include a community prayer walk. During the walk, participants will be split into groups, as they walk around Arkadelphia praying for the residents and community.
“GFW is coming up fast, and even though we are still planning, we are ready for what God is going to do on, off, and through both OBU and HSU campuses,” Bolin said.
Breakout sessions will also be held throughout the week, focusing on numerous topics. All sessions will focus on mobilizing missions, and some will include guest speakers. Some breakout session topics may include: evangelism training, life in the missions field and how to mobilize others. One large topic includes the “six roles”: going, sending, mobilizing, welcoming, praying, and learning.
This is the first year for Ouachita to host Global Focus Week, but the goal of the event is to impact the entire campus. Members of the coordinating team have travelled to Global Focus Week’s that have taken place on other campuses, allowing Ouachita’s GFW leaders to gain a better idea and understanding of what GFW should include to make the largest impact possible.
“I am most excited that it won’t only be OBU students participating, “said Bolin, “but Henderson students as well.”
For more information about Global Focus Week contact Bolin at bol@obu.edu or visit obu.edu/calendar/event/global-focus-week/ for specific events and times.
