PEF Missions Conference 2009

PEF's annual missions conference was this weekend -- what a wonderful time of reflecting on how God sends out His people to bring His good news to the world! The theme this year was the Student Volunteer Movement, a missions-minded movement that actually had its genesis at Princeton in 1886. Our keynote speaker this year, Jon Hinkson '85, gave a series of talks and reflections detailing the history of the movement and exhorting students to answer the call to go out into the world, making disciples of all nations.

The watchword of the movement was "The Evangelization of the World in this Generation." As Jon noted, this was an incredibly audacious aspiration -- but one that inspired thousands of students to be zealous in going out into the world and sharing the gospel. One of the goals of the movement was to harness the natural energy and zeal of college students (both men and women!), and channeling that into Kingdom work, specifically out on the foreign missions field. And we at PEF certainly know the energy that college students have, and the zeal with which they approach everything in their lives -- our prayer is that they would strive zealously to do the Lord's work, and have hearts open to His calling, wherever that may be.

Jon Hinkson during his keynote address

In between the two keynote sessions, we had dinner discussions led by different types of missionaries, all with connections to Princeton and PEF.


Jon leading a table on ministering and witnessing to intellectuals


Woody Lewis '69 led a table on long-term missions
(he and his wife are missionaries to France)


Kay Boyer led a table on ministering to international students in a college town


Curt '04 and Christina Saxton led a table on ministry in the inner city


Erik and Andrea Granstedt (grad students in one of our small groups!) led a table on
short-term missions trips (having spent several months in Japan
with YWAM between undergrad and grad)

And I have to post this adorable photo of Elijah, Curt and Christina's 8-month-old son -- such a happy little guy!


A huge thanks to the PEF missions team -- you put together a great conference this year! And please be praying for our students, that they will prayerfully respond to the testimonies shared this weekend, and respond to the call to evangelize the world, starting here in Princeton but also radiating out, in this generation.

For the full set of photos from the missions conference, check out this SmugMug gallery.