Welcome Letter
Chris Gough
MFS 2024 Conference Chairman
There is a phenomenal scene in Dallas Jenkins’ short 21-minute video called “The Shepherd”. If you have not seen it, please watch it! It covers a unique angle on the birth of Christ, through the shepherds’ eyes as they are overcome with awed understanding that this miraculous baby is the Messiah they had waited for so long. Toward the end of this scene, as the remarkable circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus continue to build, one particular shepherd, as he prepares to depart the manger scene, says to Mary and Joseph, “People must know!” Joseph replies with the same words. The shepherds then leave, eager to tell many about what they had seen and heard! This story, based on Luke 2:18-20, is really only the beginning of all the remarkable things we read about Jesus in the Gospels. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He ascends and commissions His followers to go and be His witnesses throughout the world. People must know! The story continues as we read snippets of the rich history of the profound transformative power of the Gospel in the lives of people across the globe and throughout time as faithful followers of Christ continue to be in awe, and go throughout the world with a conviction that “People must know”… but what about today?
Of course this same great news is available to all, but who will go to tell the anxious, the divided, the depressed, the aimless, the conflicted, the sinner, the widow, the hungry, the alien, the prisoner, the neighbor and the whole world? We are excited to host the 19th annual Missions Fest Seattle with the goal of illuminating the great work of those bearing witness to the person of Jesus, and inspiring and encouraging the body of Christ to go and tell of all He has done! It is our hope that this multi church, interdenominational mission summit, (through our keynote speakers, our expert seminar presenters, our dedicated exhibitors, and all of you!) would reignite all our hearts to respond to the calling of God in our lives, to get involved in the greatest movement in history, and to join the faithful followers of Jesus whose hope in Christ is so critical that we can only say together, “people must know!”
Keith Hook
MFS 2024 Conference Director
Welcome to Missions Fest 2024! It is likely that you’re here because someone invited you, or a church or book or a movie took seriously the words, “People Must Know.” We hear many stories about people whose lives and life directions have been profoundly influenced by attending Missions Fest Seattle. There are many ways to participate in sharing the gospel with others, both locally and throughout the world and you will be exposed to a variety of them at Missions Fest. We trust you will leave this conference encouraged, and with a better idea and commitment to how God wants to use you to build His Kingdom. Perhaps He is inviting you even now to join in helping put on next year’s conference. Please join us to hear about the opportunities and needs of the Leadership Team to plan next year’s MFS. We’ll meet in Room 296 at 3 pm on Saturday. You can do many things with your life, but you can’t do everything, so choose wisely. Find a way to invest your life with eternity in mind. May you be blessed this weekend to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2). People Must Know.