Concordia Students to Attend Beautiful Feet Mission Conference
Concordia students at the 2016 Beautiful Feet conference in Portland, Oregon.
Photo courtesy of Krista Stanford
By Jayme Lowe
Fifteen Concordia Nebraska students are heading to Concordia University Texas for this year’s Beautiful Feet Mission Conference. The theme is “Live Him,” with a theme verse of Colossians 2:6-7. The conference is taking place in Austin, Texas from Thursday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Nov. 4.
This annual conference takes place at a different Concordia University each year, bringing together students from all over the country to learn more about mission opportunities in the United States and around the world. “The Beautiful Feet Mission Conference is planned by college students, for college students,” according to the “Live Him” registration site. Various mission entities are represented, such as Alaska Mission for Christ, Global Lutheran Outreach, Lutheran Bible Translators, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Lutheran Young Adult Corps, and Mission of Christ Network.
“It’s a great chance to meet up with other mission-minded students but also missionaries that are out in the field,” Director of Global Opportunities Julie Johnston-Hermann said.
For junior Cami Bolte, “Live Him” will be her third Beautiful Feet Conference, and there’s a reason she keeps coming back. “I think it’s really cool to see the ways that I can support people in the international ways, but I’m feeling more called to a domestic side of things,” Bolte said. Through the conference, she learned more about the Lutheran Young Adult Corps, which she served through last summer in St. Louis, and she is hoping to someday serve as a missionary in the United States.
In addition to interacting with missional entities, speakers are a large part of the Beautiful Feet Conference. Matt Wasmund, a missionary in Asia, is leading a breakout session about service opportunities there. He will also be visiting the Concordia University, Nebraska campus on Nov. 6. One of the keynote speakers this year is Rev. Dr. John Reinke, head of World Lutheran Deaf Outreach. Faculty of Concordia University Texas will also play a big role, with the head of the pre-seminary and DCE programs both speaking. The president of the Texas District of the LCMS is also scheduled to present.
“It opens opportunities that you would never see otherwise, you get to meet people in a different setting than you normally would and you get to experience another Concordia and people from other Concordias,” Bolte said. “It’s cool to see all of the ways that people are unique and different, which I think is such a good picture of Christianity as a whole.”
If you would like to learn more about the Beautiful Feet conference or mission opportunities at Concordia, contact Julie Johnston-Hermann or visit the Global Opportunities Center.
