The Urbana Missions Conference, sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, is likely the largest missions gathering in the world.  Nearly 20,000, most of them students, are expected in St. Louis, MO for Urbana09 (www.urbana09.org) December 27 – 31, 2009.  Urbana Director Dr. Jim Tebbe, longtime missionary in the Middle East, provides a very enlightening and inspirational overview of this every three-year assembly that focuses on completing the Great Commission  (Matthew 28:19, 20) of Jesus.  Many of today’s Christian leaders give glowing reports of their days at Urbana.  Through 2003 Urbana met in Champaign-Urbana, IL.  Growth demanded that InterVarsity (www.urbana.org) look for another site, and St. Louis, MO was selected for Urbana06.  Also on air is Deb Meyer, Urbana’s coordinator of community relations and volunteerism in St. Louis.  Deb extends the invitation and challenge for 2,000 volunteers to come forward and serve Christ at Urbana09.  The giving of one’s self as an Urbana09 volunteer just after Christmas would be a wonderful Christmas gift of service to Jesus Christ.  Volunteers can register on line by going to www.urbana09.org  and clicking on “volunteer.”