It is once again time for Asbury’s Great Commission Congress Week. The Great Commission Congress is one of Asbury’s spiritual emphasis weeks, which has been going on for over 100 years.
“It was developed as a way to spend just one week emphasizing the global nature of the body of Christ,” said Ashley DeMichael, director of global programs & initiatives. “We kind of get to put the spotlight on farther away branches of the body of Christ.” DeMichael continued, stating that it is beautiful to “put the spotlight on how much bigger the world is than just Asbury or Wilmore, Kentucky.”
The Great Commission Congress centers around the call of scripture that is found in Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” As well as Acts 1:8, which states, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth.”
The theme of this year’s Great Commission Congress will focus on Acts 1:8.
“We are going to talk a little bit about each of those places, so what is your Judea, what is your Samaria and Jerusalem, what does the ends of the Earth mean for you,” said DeMichael.
Students will have the opportunity to hear from speakers from World Gospel Mission, One Mission Society and the Salvation Army.
The spiritual emphasis week will begin with a worship night FLEX event in the Luce Auditorium on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. Each of the three missions organizations will be in collaboration to host the worship night and there will be pizza provided. The event will be followed by a chapel message at 10 a.m. in Hughes Auditorium from Major Paul Cain, Salvation Army.
Tuesday, Nov. 4, will feature a workshop FLEX event in the Luce Auditorium at 7 p.m. entitled “7 Practical Steps for Discerning God’s Will for your Life. The following day, students will hear from chapel speaker Katy Beth Searls from World Gospel Mission, followed by the Great Commission Congress Fair in the Student Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The final FLEX event of the week will be Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Luce Auditorium. The event is entitled “Meet your Samaria: Testimonies from Neighboring College Campuses.”
The Great Commission Congress will conclude with a chapel message from David Schnake from One Mission Society on Friday, Nov. 7.
Asbury’s Great Commission Congress continues to remind the campus community that the mission of the Gospel extends far beyond Wilmore and that each of us plays a part in the Great Commission. Students are encouraged to come, participate and explore how God may be calling them to serve both locally and globally.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
