CMS Summer School 2012

From the 7-13th January I was in Katoomba for the annual CMS Summer School. I went with a group of 5-9 people (numbers fluctuated during the week) and I had a great time. I thought I'd post some of my personal thoughts of this conference.

CMS Summer School is a unique conference for a number of reasons. Here are the two big reasons that I think make Summer School unique:

1. It caters for people from aged 0 to very elderly. A full children's/teen's program is run whilst the adults hear the talks. This is a huge undertaking and they do it very well. The kids don't miss out on learning about God which I think is very cool. Often at these large Christian conferences, people remark that "this is what heaven will be like." Well I can say with joy that CMS provides that experience to the next level by having people of all nations, races and ages all together at the same time.
2. Every year, around 30 missionaries (plus their kids) come along and give seminars on the realities of mission work. Some of the seminars are specific to their mission location and others are more general like: how to speak to muslims, marriage, social action, etc. Over the 7 days there around 40 seminars and you have to pick only 7 to go to. The benefit of going with a group of people is that you can split up and then tell each other later what you have learned. What I love most about the missionary sessions is that the missionaries are often very honest and real about things they are going through. Not only does this better inform your prayers for them, it also reminded me that they are real people (not super-Christians) who need to rely on and trust in God for everything. 

^{1 Corinthians 1:26} For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, tobring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification andredemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

They also have great Bible teaching. I'm going to be a bit lazy and direct you to the following articles that speak about the content of the talks:
http://sydneyanglicans.net/news/stories/a-cracking-inspiration
http://sydneyanglicans.net/news/stories/liberating-integration

Now I'm sure you're wondering, "I don't want to be an overseas missionary, so why should I go to a conference run by a mission society?"
Here is my response:
1) It may be true that you are not suited to overseas mission work or may be unable to do it for various reasons, but Summer School is still worth going to. It is a great encouragement to see how God uses his people to spread his word around the world.
2) Being able to meet missionaries face to face and hear from them personally not only encourages you to pray for them but it also helps better inform your prayers for them. We have fellowship in Christ so it is important that we are praying for these people.
3) What things are stopping you from going overseas? Are they possibly ungodly reasons for not going? We are all called to mission wherever we are and whatever situation we're in. It's important to be challenged on our attitude towards cross-cultural mission and to think about what is possible for you to do.

In conclusion: everyone should come to CMS Summer School next year! 5-11 January 2013. Write it in your diary.