Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
The 95th annual Cook Missions Conference is upon us! In this episode we sit down with the two conference directors—Isaac Owen, a senior biology major, and Abraham Chu, a senior intercultural studies major. They tell us about the work involved in putting on the conference and why they chose this year’s theme: Called. For the list of speakers and conference schedule visit their website.
For more details about this week's headlines: Chimes merger and awards, Education Department, NASA mission to ISS, Ukraine ceasefire proposal, Trump's trade war, S&P 500 correction, worm moon lunar eclipse, Cook Missions Conference
Creators and Guests
Host
Izah DeFigh
Producer
Thomas Rahkola
Producer of The Chimes Weekly podcast
What is The Chimes Weekly?
Bite-sized podcast episodes with your top news stories from The Chimes, Los Angeles County, the nation and the world, with an interview with a Chimes writer to close out your week.
By Biola University students, for Biola University students. Previously known as Chimes Rundown and KBR Daily News Updates by KBR The Torch.
From The Torch Podcasting Network, this is The Chimes Weekly. I’m Izah DeFigh, reporting from Biola University. It’s Monday, March 17th.
[CLIP FROM INTERVIEW PLAYS]
Abraham Chu: So we wanted to make sure that we included everything in those four sessions so it kind of has a completeness to it and people can really have that call and that surrender and that obedience. And then after it's the follow up of how we're going to obey that more.
Isaac Owen: That said, don't leave. Stay for the later sessions because they're going to be really really good.
[CLIP FROM INTERVIEW ENDS]
It’s officially Missions Conference week here at Biola! Later this episode, my colleague Thomas Rahkola speaks with the conference director Isaac Owen about what students can expect this week, and how it’s all come together over the last several months. But first, let me catch you up on this week’s headlines.
In an effort to enhance collaboration and multimedia reporting, Biola’s student media outlets will be merging next year under a single organization! Read more about the merger between The Chimes, The Point Magazine and The Torch in the show notes.
At a recent conference for the Associated Collegiate Press, Patrica Yang, our Editor-in-Chief and Hope Li, our Executive Producer, shared about the process of combining media outlets.
From the ACP awards, The Point Magazine won 10th place in Best of Show for overall design … for its fall magazine publication and second place in the Best of Show category for news magazines. The Chimes team also came away from the conference with a few first place awards from the California College Media Association, including best website design, best newspaper column, and best online advertisement!
Last Tuesday, the Department of Education announced it was firing over 1,300 (13-hundred) of its workers, nearly a 50% reduction in its total workforce. The department’s current responsibilities include ensuring equal access to education (especially to those with disabilities), distributing congressionally approved financial aid like Pell grants and student loans, and collecting and maintaining data on colleges and universities. The department, which makes up 3% of the U.S. government's total spending, does not control the curriculum taught in K-12 schools or state colleges. Since the Department of Education was signed into law by Congress in 1980, the cuts cannot directly affect any congressionally determined initiatives or flow of federal funds to student aid programs.
A NASA and SpaceX mission to the International Space Station docked successfully Friday night after a delay due to issues with the launchpad’s ground system. The mission brought four new astronauts to replace Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after their unexpectedly long stay at the ISS. Originally scheduled for a week, the current astronauts have been stranded in the station since last June, after issues including helium leaks and propulsion malfunctions led NASA to deem the Starliner craft too risky to return with astronauts on board.
After a meeting last week with U.S. officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine has agreed to the terms of a 30-day ceasefire agreement. The negotiations were followed by an announcement that Washington will resume the intelligence sharing and security assistance operations to Ukraine that were suspended after a dramatic quarrel between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump is expected to speak with President Vladimir Putin later this week to discuss the details of the ceasefire
President Trump’s trade war continues to heat up, with an expanded 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports going into effect last Wednesday. The EU responded with retaliatory tariffs on metals, textiles, and agricultural goods, to which Trump threatened a 200% tariff on European wine and Champagne.
Economic uncertainties caused by the flurry of tariffs placed by and on the United States have sent ripples through the stock market. Last week the S&P 500 hit the market correction 10% drop from its record in February. Daily adjustments continue to be erratic as new trade threats continue to surface.
A full worm moon marked a new sign of spring on Thursday night. The lunar eclipse was visible from Wednesday evening through Saturday morning, according to NASA. Totality occurred late Thursday night into Friday morning. This full moon is referred to as a blood moon because it reflects wavelengths of sunlight, giving it a reddish-brown hue. It is also known as a “Worm Moon” dating back to the 1930s, as it was named by the Old Farmer’s Almanac because earthworms began to appear as the ground thaws nearing the end of winter.
That’s all for this week’s headlines. Next up is Thomas’s conversation with this year’s Missions Conference directors Isaac Owen and Abraham Chu.
Thomas Rahkola: So I'm here outside the sub with Isaac Owen and Abraham Chu, who are this year's Cook Missions Conference directors as you and your team are in the middle of prepping for this week's conference Thanks for giving me a bit of your time guys! I wanted to start out-- something special about this conference is that it's all student led. I was wondering if you too could tell me a little bit about what that looks like and what you and your team are responsible for for making this whole thing happen.
Isaac Owen: Um, yeah. So we are a department under the Student Missionary Union, which means everything we do is run and led by students, for students. And so that means we get to basically bring in leadership who are students: So us, directors, and our director's assistants. Then we have twelve coordinators, all students, and then over a hundred staff and volunteers who are students as well. And so that's really cool because it just means everything from choosing the speakers to organizing the missionary fair, even to making all of the signs around campus and reserving the rooms. That all happens by students. And so it's just a cool opportunity for students to get to participate in a bunch of different departments on campus. They all work together to make this happen.
Abraham Chu: Yeah, I think it's also cool that it's just like by students and for students. So students are in the mind of students, and they're doing things intentionally for the students. And like we're students as well. So we kind of know what our campus needs and what we need to hear. Um, so I think it's really cool that we're intentional in that way as well. That we're like, we're in that kind of culture in that background. So I think it makes it more effective, in like just the way the structures run and everything else.
Thomas Rahkola: Am I also correct that this is currently the largest student led missions conference in the world?
Isaac Owen: I think so. As far as we know. It may also be the only student led missionary missions conference in the world. Yeah, in the U.S. and, I think, probably the world.
Abraham Chu: Probably.
Thomas Rahkola: It seems like this would be a lot to manage while also being full time students, you know, leading this up. So I'm curious what motivated you both to apply for this position? Could you describe the thought process that went into that and how that decision was made for you both?
Abraham Chu: Yeah, sure, yeah. Um, I think from my side, I have a huge heart for missions, like, ever since middle school and high school, and I think God's really been growing my heart for the Great Commission. I think something that's been on my heart has been, like, just making our lives worth it and investing our lives into things that are truly worth it. And in my eyes, I see that as souls and people. Like, that's the only thing you can take from this world to eternity. So I think from a young age I was just struck by just spending a life that really matters. Um, and then learning about missions and coming to Biola and learning about unreached people groups and all that and how much need there is, like 3 billion people who don't have access to the gospel or churches or Bibles or anything like that. And like, why is that not talked about enough in our campus and in the world and our churches? And I think that should be the forefront of what the church should be and what Christians should be striving for, because it's literally Jesus' last command and the last mission he gives us and his last call. So I think that's really, really important in my life and I think should be in everyone's life. And I think the biggest part of that is when in John it says, um, when all have known, then the end will come. So the sooner we reach all these people, the sooner he will come back and, like, it'll be end of sin... all that stuff, and the new creation will start. So that's like a big motivation, I think, just for me.
Isaac Owen: Um, yeah, I think for me, I got to grow up as a missionary kid. And so my whole life have just gotten to see the beauty and purpose of living a life for missions, both as an overseas missionary but also getting to be a part of communities here that are serving the Lord not just in their words, but also in their deeds. Um, and so actually intentionally living on at the Great Commission in whatever that looks like. And so I think that's just a really cool opportunity for missions conference-- to meet students where they're at and be like, okay, we have this conference here on this campus, not just for what we're doing after we graduate, but what we're doing here, and really just empower students now, like, you can fulfill the Great Commission, and it's such an important thing. It's the best thing you could do... whatever that looks like. So I think that's a big part of it for me. Also just the mentorship and discipleship that happens in Missions Conference. I just think it's cool because not only are we inviting people to go and make disciples, but we are also seeing that happen within our staff as we lead the coordinators and the coordinators lead the staff. And then with the turnover rate of us graduating this year and the next year as the new directors, we get to raise up the next generation of people who are passionate about missions and leading that on this campus. And so that's just been a huge joy of mine. Why I wanted to do this is just to get to pour into the people who eventually take over our jobs.
Thomas Rahkola: I want to look ahead a little bit at what students on campus are going to experience this week. Could one of you to explain this year's theme?
Abraham Chu: Yeah, I think we could both explain it. This year's theme is called "Called." It's "Called." But, um, I think every year for me, there was a clear opportunity to hear from the Lord at Missions Conference. And I think that's what we kind of wanted to focus on. On just surrendering everything that we have at the foot of the cross and just really obeying what Jesus wants us to do and hearing from him clearly, in whatever vocation and whatever field that is. Like God has created us all in unique ways, and we're all gifted in ways, but he just didn't do that just because, but because he wanted us to use our gifts for his glory to represent Him. So that's like the focal point, I think, of our conference-- that everyone could hear that and be obedient to that and surrendered.
Isaac Owen: But yeah, I think a big part of our theme this year, Timothy talks about he has saved us and called us to a holy life. And so we just love that idea of we were saved. Like those of us who are believers here were rescued, um, from slavery to sin, slavery to death. And now we are being called to this higher thing, this holy life. And so that looks like being set apart wherever you are. Like Abe was saying, um, whatever vocation or field, he has a role for you to play in that place. Um, yeah, our big heart for the conference has just been that every student is called in some specific or unique way, that they realize that God has a plan in the Great Commission for them.
Thomas Rahkola: So I don't know if this is... this might be jumping the gun a little bit. But as we head into conference week, I'm curious what has leading the operation this year taught you, either of you, that you didn't expect to learn or experience?
Isaac Owen: I think honestly, like one of the biggest things that I learned while planning this conference, which I knew mentally but got to just experience, is the importance and beauty of giving and receiving grace in community. Because it's just like such a massive task that like there's so many things we didn't even think of. Yeah, just different things that we dropped the ball on and just realizing that the Lord brought us together into a community for a reason and he has this body for a reason. Um, so getting to rely on other people and rely on my co-director, rely on our staff and then receive wisdom and input from other people, has just become really, really tangible as we're trying to put on something that we couldn't do by ourselves. Um, so I think that's one of the big things. And then also just realizing we actually couldn't do this by ourselves. We need the Lord's grace and help every day. Um, and just seeing the ways that He's showed up again and again.
Abraham Chu: Yeah, I think something I've been pondering a lot and just more recently is how broken we are and how messed up we are. But even so, God still chooses to use us and He uses us powerfully. And that's just been something I've been meditating on recently. It's just like, wow. Like there's so many shortcomings of my strengths and my own understanding. But God is just covering that, you know, in the way that that our weakness is made perfect in his love. Um, so I think that's something I've been learning, um, a lot of just how, how much of it is not us and it is ultimately God. So I think that's been really cool.
Thomas Rahkola: To my understanding, the "Cook" part of missions Conference is a new thing this year. I was wondering if you could tell us about that or where that came from.
Isaac Owen: So last year our previous directors, along with some leadership of the Student Missionary Union were approached and decided to honor the Cook legacy, by naming missions conference after them. And so missions conference officially became the Clyde and Annabelle Cook Missions Conference, which is super cool because they were people who really served Biola in so many ways for many years. Um, Clyde Cook was president for many years before we had Dr. Corey or DBC. And both of them were just really powerful in just creating a culture of missions. They were super involved with that. I think one thing we've just been learning a lot this year is how much of the legacy of missions, not just at Biola but around the world, is powerful and we get to step into that. Um, and so it just feels like a really cool reminder, in the name of conference, that we are stepping on not just what all these people have done, but what Christ did first and pass on to them and we've now received.
Thomas Rahkola: Are there any final thoughts you want to share with students, um, as they head into conference, uh, later this week?
Abraham Chu: Yeah, there's a ton of things. I think there's a ton of cool experiences which you can find on our website and whatnot. Um, a lot of things that we're doing differently this year. Um, and I feel like this has been the most ambitious year in terms of things that we're shooting for since I've been a part of conference three years ago. So I think that's really exciting. And just some stuff is like the Jesus mural, like we're covering it up and it's gonna say "What if you never heard." I think that's gonna be really powerful. Just things like that are just like really cool. But in terms of like speaking, yeah, I think a long time ago we purposely structured the sessions in this way of like condensing the conference into kind of like a mini conference because we know that students are only required to go for the first four sessions. So we wanted to make sure that we included everything that was needed to be said in those four sessions. So it kind of has a completeness to it and people can really have that call and that surrender and that obedience in those four sessions. And then after that, it's like the follow up of like how we're going to obey that more specifically. So I think just for students to know like just intentionally like how we've been thinking about just a thought process of um, just the sessions and how those topics align, how they're all intertwined, and how important they are. So we're really excited for that.
Isaac Owen: Yeah, that said, don't leave! Stay for the later sessions because they're going to be really, really good! And that's like some of the most important stuff, like now that you've been called, what does that look like and living that out. Um, yeah. And one thing I would just say is keep an eye out because all over campus there's stuff happening. There's going to be an interactive board outside Bardwell patio, there's an orchestra at one of the sessions. Um, and so just whatever your interests and passions are, whether it's creative or more intellectual, there will be ways for you to be able to respond and engage. So, yeah, for students to look around, be curious, see what's happening.
Abraham Chu: One more thing. Sorry. I think just, like, something that's been on my heart lately is just how little missions is like emphasized at Biola. And I think we have this three day conference, that's amazing. But what does it look like to have a year long thing? You know. And I think that's been really powerful. Like a thought that I've been thinking about a lot, and what that looks like, and how we can do that with SMU or with Biola as an institution and just really trying to strive for that because it is important. Um, so I think that's one of my prayers for this year is that missions conferences here wouldn't just be a three day thing, but a whole year thing that kicks off with missions conference and then people will continue to obey and surrender and strive for missions throughout the whole entire year.
Thomas Rahkola: Yeah, again, super grateful to get a few moments with you both today. It sounds like you're pretty busy, so I'm going to be praying for you and your team as the conference gets started later this week. And I think the whole student body is super excited for what's going to happen. So thank you Abraham and Isaac.
Isaac Owen: Thank you.
Izah DeFigh: Thanks for listening! And as always, if you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review and share it with a friend or roommate.
For more stories from The Chimes, head over to our website at chimesnewspaper.com.
This episode was produced and hosted by Izah DeFigh and co-produced by Thomas Rahkola. It was engineered by Jason Lee; with music from Warner Chappell Productions. Hope Li is our executive producer.
I’m Izah DeFigh, happy Saint Patrick’s Day and we’ll see you next week.