"What Story Will You Tell?": Urbana Conference Draws Thousands of College Students

The 24th 'Urbana' Conference launched on Sunday night and saw some 16,000 college students in attendance at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. Urbana is InterVarsity's missions conference hosted once every three years since 1946.

Dr. Patrick Fung, director of OMF International, started the conference themed, "What Story Will You Tell?" as the main speaker for Sunday's main plenary session speaker.

Fung zeroed in on a few figures who appear in the first few chapters of the book of Matthew, and their responses to Jesus' birth: the Magi, King Herod, and Joseph.

The Magi were "overjoyed at the coming of the King," Fung said, quoting another translation which says they were "deliriously happy," and brought lavish gifts to Jesus in worship. King Herod, on the other hand, felt threatened by the birth of Jesus and ordered all of the boys in Bethlehem two years old or younger to be killed, Fung noted. And he added that Joseph, who was met with confusing circumstances when Mary was pregnant with Jesus and King Herod ordered children to be killed, demonstrated "exemplary obedience" in each of those circumstances as the angel of the Lord appeared to him numerous times to guide him.

These responses of the different men ultimately point to "one grand story "” the story of our King, the Lord Jesus Christ," Fung said.

"God's story is always bigger than ours," he continued in concluding remarks. "Man's ambition, man's plot can never circumvent his plan "¦ Our best gift to Jesus in our lives is to tell the world God's wonderful, surprising, story of Jesus Christ. Immanuel, God with us. Amen."

The conference will continue to explore passages in the book of Matthew through the sessions as well as in Bible studies. Fung will also continue to preach.

"Brothers and sisters, you and I are called to tell God's beautiful story not just on our comfortable campuses, not just in our neighborhoods, but also to the ends of the earth," said Tom Lin, the director of the Urbana Conference, in welcoming remarks. "One billion in China and 3,000 people groups around the world have never heard the gospel story."

"Will you go and bring the light of our gospel story?" he said, as he mentioned current issues including refugee crisis, religious persecution, and racial tensions. "Ask the Lord, "What is my role in your mission?' And then obey his answer."