"All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you." (Psalm 22:27)
Join us for Citylight’s 2024 missions conference, June 2–8!
1. Worship with us on June 2nd
On Sunday morning June 2nd, our worship gatherings will be especially focused on God’s heart for the nations.
2. Join us in prayer on June 4th
Gather with us for a prayer and praise night focused on God’s work among the nations—starting with our own city and going to the ends of the earth! The event will start at 7:00pm with childcare provided.
3. Register for the seminar on June 8th
Let’s gather to gain a vision for cultivating a heart that aligns with His promises! Come and hear from two inspiring speakers who will help us cultivate our own hearts for missions and evaluate whether God would have us join him in His work among the unreached. We’ll also have a choice of breakout sessions on the spiritual state of Philly, tent-making ministry, and Citylight’s process for sending workers. Over lunch we’ll also have a Q&A panel on life on the field. We hope you will join in!
The seminar will run from 9AM–1PM on Saturday, June 8 at Pilgrim Church (3815 Terrace Street, Philadelphia, PA 19128). Childcare provided!
Seminar details are below, or download speaker bios. Registration is required by 8am on Friday, June 7th.
Seminar Details
Itinerary:
8:30am: Doors open and coffee served
9:00am: Prayer and welcome; keynote speakers
11:00am: Breakout sessions
12:00 noon: Lunch and Q&A panel with missionaries
1:00pm: Program closes
Breakouts:
Tentmaking 101: Marketplace Ministry in Missions
Did you wonder how the Lord takes his people into restricted nations for missions? Dan Obenschain of Interserve USA will explore the role of marketplace ministry in missions, especially as it grants access to limited and closed countries. We will look at how marketplace ministries work, why they are a viable option for workers today, and how to best prepare for such ministry.
Reaching the Nations on our Doorstep
Have you ever been in a place of loneliness, isolation, identity crisis, or job uncertainty? Carol Thomson will provide the Biblical foundation for loving the foreigner and understanding the needs of displaced people right here in Philadelphia… from some of the most unreached places! Join us as we explore the task of the local church to meet the needs of immigrants and refugees–especially through the ministry of ESL.
How Does Citylight “Send” its Workers?
One Citylight family has just landed in the Middle East, one worker is about to be commissioned, another family is planning their vision trip… how did they get there and how did Citylight “send” them? Discover Citylight’s heart for the nations with Pastor Mark as he discusses Citylight’s theology of missions and the process of discerning a call. If you’ve ever wondered whether God might be calling you to go to the nations, or even if you’re just curious, this would be a great session to attend!
Speakers:
Rev. Eric Huber (keynote) is currently the senior pastor of Christ the King, PCA in Conshohocken. Before 2010, the Hubers served for twelve years as missionaries in Ukraine, including church planting, leadership training, and as the Ukraine team country director. He and his wife Lauren met in high school, came to know the Lord a few days apart from one another, and have absolutely loved being married since 1987. The Hubers have three adult children and four grandchildren.
Brandon P (keynote) is an Alliance International Worker serving on a church planting team in Central Asia. His primary focus is EthnoArts–using local arts and music to meet local needs, such as addressing societal issues or sharing the Gospel. He and his wife, Elsie, have 3 kids: Aeberle (6), Luna (5), and Finnick (2 weeks).
Daniel Obenschain is the Northeast Area Coordinator for Interserve USA, an international organization ministering to the Unseen ¼ of Asia and the Arab World. Dan served with Interserve in Central Asia for 19 years with his wife and four children, working in economic and community development including managing a microfinance business for 7 years.
Carol Thomson is GROW’s Development and Relationship Director and has been teaching ESL for ministry purposes since 2019. Carol has also been a chaplain with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team since 2014, and an ordained chaplain with International Fellowship of Chaplains since 2020. Previously, Carol worked as a CPA for over 35 years.
Our own Pastor Mark Giacobbe has been the Missions and Teaching Pastor at Citylight Church for the past 7 years. Prior to earning his PhD in New Testament from Westminster Theological Seminary and MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Mark served for four years in Central Asia, focusing on indigenous worship music among the unreached while serving on a church planting team.