Urbana

In this episode of the Urbana podcast, host Mark Matlock sits down with Olivia Benda and Ehud Lee, recent Biola University graduates and co-directors of the 2024 Biola Student Missionary Union (SMU) Conference. As leaders of the nation's longest-running student-led missions conference, Olivia and Ehud share their personal journeys into missions, discussing how their unique backgrounds and perspectives shaped the theme and programming for the event. The 2024 conference theme, “Unhindered,” draws from Acts and Psalm 73, emphasizing living out the gospel free from constraints—not by personal strength, but by relying on God.

They delve into the challenges and opportunities of student leadership, highlighting the intentional effort to make missions accessible and relatable to their diverse student body. Both Olivia and Ehud note that today’s students are especially mindful and nuanced in their approach to missions, desiring to integrate their individual skills and vocations—like nursing—into God’s global call, rather than viewing missions narrowly as cross-cultural or overseas work.

The episode also covers the value of vocational assessment tools, like the True Center assessment offered at Urbana, in helping students discern their motivations, gifts, and roles in the Great Commission. Olivia and Ehud reflect on the legacy of Biola’s SMU conference, attributing its longevity to institutional support and a Christ-centered campus culture that encourages student-led initiatives. They close by sharing powerful memories and lessons learned from their experience, reminding listeners of God’s faithfulness through the process of preparing and executing the conference. Tune in!

(00:00) Introduction

(05:41) Finding Unlikely Connections in Scripture

(09:10) Staying Focused on the Theme of Missions

(12:51) Thoughtful Approach to Modern Missions

(15:06) Embracing the Calling of Missions

(19:41) Unique and Personal True Center Assessment

(20:40) Aligning Missions with Personal Impact

(23:43) Assessing Life Choices in College

(27:34) SMU’s Christ-Centered Education Appeal

(34:43) Closing Thoughts