Missionfest to connect individuals with local, global mission opportunities

This fall an event featuring a number of faith-based mission opportunities will be held in Cape Girardeau.

Missionfest, organized over the past year by a local group representing several churches and denominations, will be held Oct. 27 at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. Exhibits are from 1 to 4 p.m. with a worship service from 4 to 5 p.m. There is no cost to attend.

Cheryl Mothes is one of the event's organizers. She said anyone attending can expect to learn about local and international mission opportunities, share their own missions with others in the community and come together in a time of praise.

Mothes said the main objective for Missionfest is to help anyone who has the desire to help in missions learn and get plugged in. Aside from helping individuals, Missionfest will give them opportunity for organizations to facilitate their networking.

Any Christian faith-based churches or organizations are invited to have their exhibits free. Mothes said the most important objective for Missionfest is the fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations.

Missionfest will consist of an exhibition and worship service. The exhibition will provide live music by local worship teams and hands on opportunities to get involved while attending. Attendees will be able to package seeds and dental kits that will be sent to help children in impoverished countries.

There will also be presentations from local churches and agencies that work abroad and domestically, such as Team Jesus, a group that works in the Philippines and China, and the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

One of the featured organizations is WorldVision. WorldVision is a relief agency that delivers aid to impoverished nations and develops sponsorships for children in need.

"Any time WorldVision is affiliated, it's positive," Mothes said.

As attendees enter the service, they will be given a card of a country with statistics and prayer requests. The worship service will consist of praise, prayer time and keynote speaker John Volinsky, senior director of church relations for WorldVision.

Mothes said they wanted a good keynote speaker with a strong background in mission work. Volinsky worked in ministry for more than 20 years before joining WorldVision.

Mothes and other organizers got the idea for Missionfest over a year ago. She pitched the idea to friends at other churches who also got behind it.

Nancy Jernigan, director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, is also one of the Missionfest organizers.

"A lot of people want to get involved, and this is an opportunity to explore options," Jernigan said. "This is a great opportunity for young people. They have opportunities to experience how they can be involved and help people."

She said she is looking forward to getting a lot of Christians in one place and worshipping God.

Mothes said she hopes Missionfest becomes an annual event.

"Our true desire is for individuals to take that first step, whether they want to serve in Fruitland, Mo., or Mozambique," Mothes said.

For more information about the event or to register an exhibit, contact Mothes by phone at 450-6269, by email at cmot5902@gmail.com or online at missionfestcape.org.

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