Cross Cultural Opportunities

World Christian Action Conference

The WCAC is Bethel’s annual student mission’s conference. It is held in January and most of the campus is mobilized for the event.

Missionaries from about 20 different mission organizations arrive at the beginning of the week. They are housed either on the campus with students or in the homes of various faculty, staff, and/or friends of the college.

Activities

A special “missions’ speaker” is enlisted to speak about issues of cross-cultural vision and ministry. Five different chapel services are held over a 3-day period of time. Nationally known mission communicators such as George Verber, Marilyn Laszlo, David Polluck, Sammy Tipit and John Perkins have served as the main speakers for the conference. Missionaries-in-Residence, Bill and Debbie Jones, have had the privilege of talking with many Bethel students who have received their call to service during one of these chapel services.

Classes are cancelled for part of Wednesday and Thursday so that students may attend various workshops and seminars led by mission representatives and others who are knowledgeable on a specific topic. Students may choose in advance from 40 different seminars and workshops, such as:

  1. Candidating with a Mission’s Agency – What You Need to Know
  2. Understanding Islam in the Middle East
  3. How to be a Youth Pastor with a World Vision
  4. Making Fund Raising a Ministry
  5. Using “Teaching English” as an Evangelistic Tool

Impact

One of the greatest parts of the WCAC is the collection of mission displays and booths that are set up in the Dining Commons. Many Bethel students have found opportunities for summer internships and jobs, as well as long term missionary service at these booths. Mission agency representatives man the display booths during meals for 3 days of the conference. Students are able to interact with the representatives regarding their personal questions and concerns. One way we facilitate these discussions is through student “day hosts”.

Day Hosts

“Day hosts” are members of Kingdom Mobilizers (Bethel’s student mission fellowship) and serve as a host to mission representatives and see that they are not only introduced to other students but also that a dialog between them is started.