The keys to a good missions conference are purpose, prayer, planning, promotion, program, and follow up.
- Select the date and make sure it doesn’t conflict with anything that will compete for a large section of your congregation. Set the date well in advance, up to 1 year.
- Recruit a respected and effective leader to head up the Conference Team. Assemble a separate conference leadership team. Include lots of people in the planning and preparation.
- Plan well in advance, at least six months.
- Pray before you do anything else, while you are doing everything else, and after everything is done. Prayer is perhaps the single most important part of the Conference.
- Develop a purpose for the conference. What do you hope to accomplish?
- Find the best keynote speaker you can get. The missions speaker sets the tone.
- Develop a solid program with elements of creativity, drama, storytelling, and lots of participation. Do at least one new thing you haven’t done before.
- Do a special education effort for church leaders.
- Run a children’s conference at the same time.
- Make your promotion as good as the best event in your church.
- Showcase your missionaries to their best advantage.
- Call people to commitment. Challenge big. Give them several alternatives for response. Provide a way for them to record their response. Provide ways to begin to implement their commitments immediately.
- Follow up the responses and help people to carry out their commitments.
Most neglected areas: Prayer and Follow-up
See also: Mission Emphasis Event - A How-to Guide
Best Resource: Missions Conference Planner, ACMC
