Southern California was host to a lineup of well-known speakers and Christian artists for the "Send' Conference which took place from February 2 to 3 in Long Beach.
The conference, which was hosted by two of the Southern Baptist Convention's mission agencies: the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board, featured speakers such as David Platt, the president of the International Mission Board; Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board; Russell Moore, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Francis Chan, author and church planter in San Francisco; D. A. Horton, author and pastor of Reach Fellowship; Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary; Mark Dever, president of 9Marks and pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church; and Trip Lee, author and hip hop artist. Phil Wickham, Austin Stone Band, and Rend Collective were among those who led worship during the conference.
The aim of the conference is to mobilize people of all ages and contexts "” the whole gamut of "students, business people, soccer moms, church planters, grandmothers, lawyers, pastors, baristas, contractors," as the conference website states "” to live with a missional purpose wherever they are, and wherever they may go. Almost 4,000 attended, according to Baptist Press.
In particular, as the conference focused on the theme, "Redefine,' attendees were challenged to reflect on what needs to be "redefined' in their lives in order for them to fully live on mission "” whether that's redefining identity, work, relationships, or other aspects of their lives.
"God is opening Southern Baptists' eyes to the reality that each of us has been sent by Him to proclaim His Gospel wherever we live right now and wherever He leads us in the future," Platt told the Baptist Press.
"I'm praying that the ripple effects of these two days will reach far and wide as God uses the men and women send out from this conference to lead people and people groups to Christ in the days ahead," Platt added.
The Long Beach conference was one of three Send Conferences that will be taking place this year. The conference will also be taking place in Dallas, TX from May 19 to 20, and in Orlando, FL from July 25 to 26.
