Reflecting on URBANA 12

After 3900 miles on the road—we arrived back, glad to be home, but thankful for a safe trip.

“How was it at Urbana?’—is a question several have asked in the past few days, but it isn’t easy to answer. How does one summarize the intense experience of those five days in just a few words? It’s a good exercise though, so I’ll give it a try:

Commitment is the first word that comes to mind. The highlight was, as always, being able to be among thousands of young people who are interested enough in God’s global plan for this world that they invested some significant money, not to mention their vacation time, in attending a convention that is solely about missions. That is an unusual group, and it was a privilege to be with them.

David Platt speaking at URBANA 12

I’m not a big meeting kind of person—I don’t generally like sitting in a big stadium and watching a program take place (unless, of course, it’s a sports event!). But URBANA is somehow different—an antidote to the consumerism within which most of us ‘live, move, and have our being’ within modern America. Instead of being told about all the things we deserve (and therefore need to buy), it was totally refreshing to be among those who want to pursue what God deserves—our worship and our obedience.

URBANA was, to use another word, about living life in focus on Jesus. As David Platt put it in his dynamic message (it’s online—you can listen to it here), ‘we come to Jesus in order to get Jesus!’--to get in tune with Jesus, in step with Him. Stories about what God is doing in the world help one do that.

The URBANA 12 Worship Team

Diversity is another word that comes to mind. More than half of the participants at URBANA 12 were not Caucasian, and as a thorough-going WASP representative, I find that refreshing. Even as America becomes more diverse (and evangelicals around me seem to be afraid of that at times, though I don’t understand why), God’s Kingdom is growing in diversity and creativity in the midst of it.


Which leads me to the last word that I can think of at the moment, which is simply perspective. The younger generation is a me-centered one, we are told, and I suppose in some ways, it is. But more so than my fellow baby-boomers?—I’m not so sure. Our team stayed busy all four afternoons, talking to a continuous stream of these young people about what God may have for them in terms of opportunities to work among Muslims. There are a lot of obstacles in their paths, not the least of which are probably their parents, who very often are so taken in by the ‘American dream’ that they seem to have lost sight of what is really important. In contrast, many of these young people really seemed to want to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

URBANA 12 Exhibit Hall where we had the privilege to meet some of you!

It’s not often that I come to the end of a convention wishing that it weren’t over, but that’s a bit of what I felt this time. Maybe it isn’t over—perhaps a good portion of the 118 contacts we made (and wrote down their information—there were at least that many more that we didn’t) will stay in contact.

And I trust that the commitment that a good 10,000 people made to God’s purposes will bear fruit for eternity. It was good to be there. I find myself already looking forward to URBANA ’16, just hoping I won’t be too old to go!

-ReachAcross U.S. Director