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Visit to "A" Final Frontier |
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"...it reminded me of the privilege and strength there is in Christ-centered partnership. Viewing the majestic "Alaskan Range" of mountains off in the distance put into perspective the significance of something that appears small, like Mission ConneXion, when you stand far away, but which really is large, formidable, and breath-taking when you begin to see it close up-like the Gospel and the mobilization of workers! Your prayers moved mountains. Thank you!"
 What an honor it was to be a keynote speaker at Mission ConneXion Alaska this past April in Fairbanks. It was their seventh annual event.
 Soon after my arrival, we did an hour-long television program at Christian TV station KJNP ("King Jesus North Pole"-really!) about the conference. The next morning found us on secular talk radio KFAR in Fairbanks with the call-in "Problem Corner" program, though we must have solved all their problems as only one call was taken. Then we were off to Alpine Lodge, at the North Pole-seriously! I did not see Santa and his elves, but the North Pole Worship Center had about 60 men in attendance for their annual retreat, in which I spoke on 2 Tim. 2:15 and the theme of "Standing as Men of Honor - Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth."
 Saturday morning started early with a breakfast at the convention center with all the mission agency exhibitors. This was MCAK's second year to host the event at the convention center within Pioneer Park, which was dedicated on the occasion of their 100th anniversary as a State, in 1967. A highlight  was over 500 from the community coming out to run a Benefit 5K race called "Run for Relief" to raise funds and awareness for those suffering in Burma. Doug Hazen of World Vision, Tim Stevenson of Frontiers, and I led workshops and it looked like over 30 missionary exhibits lined both the downstairs and upstairs booth spaces.
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Never a Dull Moment in the Ministry of Mission ConneXion |
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 There isn’t a dull moment in the ministry of Mission ConneXion, and I praise the Lord, that we are along for the ride of our lives!
Last month, at our third annual Care ConneXion Conference, we broke attendance records! Perry Bradford, the director of Barnabus International, a ConneXion Event partner, came to participate and to explore how we can replicate Care ConneXion in other cities. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Care ConneXion, it is a conference on missionary care held at, and led by, a talented team at Village Baptist Church.
The weekend before, speaking at our second annual Vision Banquet, Dr. Bob Blincoe, U.S. director of Frontiers, expressed his desire to help champion a Mission ConneXion event in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. Since then, he has arranged a meeting with key local ministry leaders, and he has asked me to join this meeting and to lead this pursuit.
Then, following a story that ran in Christian News Northwest, I received a call from a producer of a national broadcasting company, wanting to interview me about the possibility of Mission ConneXion going nationally.
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Lord, This is Yours…How Can I follow Your Lead? |
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I t is hard to believe that almost a month has gone by since our 2012 Mission ConneXion Northwest! Thank you for your support (financial, prayer and volunteer) that makes this event—the largest of its kind in the Northwest—so successful. I am humbled and honored that God has placed me in this role, and I continually give Him all the glory and praise!
Normally, the Monday after the event, I can take a breath and pause for a moment to reflect…but not this year. This year, I am still running strong, as life circumstances, and work, are propelling me forward.
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"What led you to start Mission ConneXion?" |
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This is a question I am asked from time to time, and it is one that’s especially on the forefront on my mind, when the “heat” of event preparation is at its peak!
About 13 years ago, I attended Missions Fest in Vancouver, B.C. in my role as a mission’s Pastor for a Portland area church. Although I attended the event as mission resource for my church, I could sense the Lord imparting something bigger on my heart—it was as if He was asking me if an event like this should take place in Portland.
I began to share this vision with other pastors and Christian leaders in our city…and slowly, over time, we began to build a consensus—yes, we were to bring together mission agencies and churches for an outsourced mission conference in the Portland area. As the vision solidified, a team of pastors and mission-minded individuals and myself, began preparing for a luncheon—to be hosted by Luis Palau set for November of 2001. In the midst of our preparation, the unexpected took place—the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. We began to question our vision—were we going in the wrong direction and at the wrong time? Who would be interested in missions when it seemed like the future of our country was at stake? But we continued the way we had started…on our knees before our Lord asking and listening for His guidance and wisdom.
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How to Excite Your Congregation About Missions |
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By Ann Staatz
Missions is a mindset, not a trip somewhere, Mitch Lamotte tells the congregation at Southwest Hills Baptist Church where he is pastor of evangelism and missions. Last year, between 10 to15 percent of his church's congregation attended the Mission Connexion conference in Portland, Ore.
Five hundred members of Solid Rock church will go on missions trips outside the United States this year, according to Mike McDonald, outreach pastor.
For churches to have this level of missions involvement, the leadership must keep missions at the forefront of their ministries. Here are ways these missions pastors promote missions in their congregations.
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