Nearly 2,000 young people, students and professionals from throughout Colombia, Peru and Argentina took part in an Adventist Missions International Congress coined as “I will go too.”

The congress sought to motivate professionals and university students to serve in the mission field. Organized by Colombia Adventist University in Medellin, July 13 to August 2, the initiative is the third such event to promote mission work around the world.

Holding the event on campus was key to confirming the commission God has given to His church to spread the gospel in every tongue, tribe and nation, said Abraham Acosta, president of Colombia Adventist University and main organizer of the event. It is the first such event ever organized in Colombia, organizers said.

“We wanted to inspire our young people who study different careers just as they grow academically, they can grow with a commitment and growing passion for the mission of the church,” Acosta said. “Our goal and challenge after this congress is to work with the global mission of training and motivating our young people to go beyond the borders of Colombia.”

Speakers from the Institute of World Missions and Global Mission at the General Conference and Andrews University, Adventist-Muslim Relations at the North American Division, Middle East Union and North Africa among others lectured the hundreds of participants on the importance of serving outside of their countries to spread the gospel.

“Our great challenge is reaching persons who are not Christians,” said Cheryl Doss, director of the Institute of World Missions at the General Conference. “To reach them we must be willing to change our current methodology of evangelism as the challenge goes much faster than the growth of the Adventist Church.”

One of the most basic aspects of serving in the mission field is to be willing to learn and adapt, said Wagner Kuhn associate director of the Global Mission Institute at Andrews University. “Look to understanding the native tongue to be able to speak to the hearts of the people, be servants and look to others with empathy,” Kuhn said.

More than 100 signed up for the school of missions at the university. Among the signees Jenny Paola Muñoz, who studies accounting. “I think God is touching the hearts of students thanks to this congress, because many of us are really motivated to preach the gospel to finish the work on earth,” Muñoz said.

Nathalia Andrea Lopez, a fourth-year student, was also excited to participate in the congress because “there are so many places still out there to serve the Lord around the world.”

Already, the university has embarked on an initiative where 18 municipal districts in Medellin have been targeted as areas to be evangelized. Students are participating with church leaders to establish centers of influence there. In addition, students are involved in community outreach activities in hospitals and nursing homes.

For more information about the congress, visit unac.edu.co.