Visual artist Lara Hanson paints her rendition of the Antiphony conference experience during worship Saturday.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After two days of discussing God’s call and the world’s cry, Antiphony participants grappled with their response to God and the world Saturday during the third full day of the collegiate conference at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.

Knowing God’s call and the world’s cry necessitates action, according to speaker Julie Pennington-Russell. While each student’s call would vary, Pennington-Russell told students to aim beyond their expectations. “Jesus’ mission involved setting people free from a life too small. Whatever shape your answer takes, let it have some greatness in it,” she said.

Tom Graves, president of conference co-sponsor Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, echoed the challenge to greatness. “Your life needs to count for much. Dream for more, hope for more, expect more,” Graves said during worship Sunday. “Your life can really make a big, miraculous difference.”

The process of determining an answer to God’s call begins with self-discovery, said Sam Harrell, one of CBF’s Global Missions field personnel, who telephoned in from Kenya. “It’s in understanding who we are that we understand what we should do,” he said.

Julie Pennington-Russell listens as Colleen Burroughs speaks about answering God’s call and the world’s cry during the final full day of Antiphony.

Many chat room discussions concentrated on the intersection of God’s call and world needs.  Students could learn about being full-time missionaries or meet people already practically transforming communities in need. Panelists in a chat room about vocational church ministry shared how students can meet local church needs. “Churches want healthy people to live in the midst of them and shape their health spiritually,” said Dennis Foust, pastor of Shades Crest Baptist Church in Birmingham. 

Ministry options aren’t limited to the local church and neither were the chat room topics.  Although hospital chaplain Paul Byrd’s calling is outside church walls, he said his profession is still very much ministry. “My church doesn’t have a sign that says, ‘Church.’ It says ‘Hospital,’” he explained. 

Byrd told students that determining God’s call might require courage. “I’ve found that where I’m most afraid that’s where I need to go. If you see fear, take a step,” he said.

Approximately 250 students and leaders participated in Antiphony, a five-day collegiate conference co-sponsored by CBF Global Missions, BTSR and Passport Inc.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.

Photos by Carla Wynn, CBF Communications