Atlanta Highercalling Conference

More Detail and registration info at

highercallingconference.org

Higher Calling is a missions conference, hosted by SOON Movement Global, where we desire to mobilize college students and engage them in the harvest field both locally on their campuses and globally abroad. We desire to see a generation of Christ-centered laborers that will rise to answer God’s call of making disciples in this generation. As we look at the heart-breaking news today, stories after stories of brokenness, shame, and powerlessness, we are asking the Lord to reveal his love and truth, and help us turn our eyes to Jesus, who is worthy of our lives. Likewise, we pray that Higher Calling, through the worship, plenary sessions, elective seminars, and fellowship, will be a platform to engage and equip college students in living out missional lives, worthy of the cross of Jesus Christ.

SPEAKERS

David Yoontae Oh is currently the National Executive Director of SOON Movement. He has graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is also currently serving at the Crossbridge Fellowship Church in Los Angeles, CA.

Fun Fact about him: He was part of the 1st Class for SOON Movement Staff Training in America (many years ago haha). He is married to the most beautiful woman in the world and has 5 children.

Josh Olivero is the founding & lead pastor of Kingdom City Church, a one-year-old church plant currently located in Rochelle Park, NJ. Prior to planting Kingdom City Church, he served as the Singles pastor of Metro Community Church under the leadership of Pastor Peter Ahn. Born and raised in Far Rockaway, Queens, Josh experienced a typical inner-city childhood/early adulthood. From his crime-riddled past to his pursuit of a career in the hip-hop industry, Josh's testimony, while dark, highlights the power of God's redemptive love.
Converted by the grace of God in 2009 at the age of 29, Josh is devoted to seeing the lost come to Christ and helping believers fall more in love with Jesus. Josh Olivero is a married father of four. He is a husband to Dely Olivero, his wife of 21 years, father to 4 beautiful children and 1 precious grandson.

Michael Ferris is a potter, an ordained minister, and has served as an adjunct professor at The Alliance Theological Seminary and Graduate School of Counseling. For 12 years he maintained a private consulting practice and then left his practice to pursue a full-time calling as a missionary/evangelist.
Michael's passion is to use the message of "A Journey to the Potter's House" to help bring people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to help people find hope and healing from the emotional pain in their life.
Michael demonstrates, through the shaping of clay, God's awesome plans for us. He weaves the lessons learned through his own brokenness, and shares how the Potter uses pressure and pain to transform us, the clay, into vessels of honor, beauty, worth, and purpose. Michael lives in Connecticut with his wife and four children.

Joseph Ryu currently serves as the college pastor of Promise International Fellowship, the international ministry of Promise Church in New York. He is currently studying at Southern Seminary (MDiv) and received his education in Political Science at Rutgers University (BA). During college, the freedoms found through adulthood led him to reject the Gospel he grew up with which ultimately led him to deep depression and despair. It was through some faithful friends from Soon Movement (formerly KCCC) that God restored Joseph’s faith at this very conference exactly 14 years ago. Through the ministry, he fell in love with being a part of God’s redemptive plan through missions and evangelism and before graduating, took a gap year to go on STINT to the Far East as a confirmation to his calling into pastoral ministry. With every opportunity God gives, he has made it his life's mission to direct hearts towards humility and honesty in the pursuit of developing real and intimate relationships with Jesus Christ. He is married to his lovely wife, Mirim, and they are expecting their first child this April! It’s a girl! In his spare time, Joseph is an avid listener of NPR and loves to listen to podcasts, preferably while drinking a grande iced americano with extra ice in a venti cup.

ELECTIVE SEMINARS

Attendees can select from a number of different topics to hear from leaders in an intimate setting.
Be on the lookout for upcoming elective seminars for this year!

Won Jae Hudson Yu

A true Bergener at heart WJH grew up in Leonia NJ. He is a huge sports fan, especially for his Yankees, Giants and the Knicks. If you want to cheer him up take him out to a buffet and call him Hudson. Hudson's ministry passions are Global Missions, raising future leaders and bringing people together to encounter the Joy of God's Kingdom. Married to Lisa since 1999 and has four wonderful kids. He is a graduate of Boston College, Gordon Conwell, and Princeton Theological Seminary.

Chris Lee

Chris is the Director of Justice Initiatives and Global Missions at Cornerstone Church of Boston, serving bi-vocationally. He received his education at Fordham University and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. A New York native, he and his wife Esther currently live in Boston. When he’s not working, Chris is probably reading or napping.

Vivian Mabuni

Vivian is a national speaker and author with a passion to disciple leaders who will love God and influence families, communities, and the world to help spread the flourishing of God's kingdom in every place. With 30 years serving on staff with Cru, she loves teaching about the Bible and practical application to ministry and life. Vivian is currently working on her MA in Bible Exposition at Talbot Seminary. Author of "Warrior In Pink" and "Open Hands, Willing Heart," and host of the brand new podcast "Someday Is Here" for Asian American women on ethnic journey and leadership. Viv loves drinking coffee with her husband of 28 years, Darrin, and marveling at their three young adult kids. She also loves post-its, washi tape, sushi and shoes. Connect with her on Instagram/Twitter @vivmabuni or on her website www.vivianmabuni.com

Byron Straughn

Byron Straughn serves with Cru's Theological Development Team. He is married to Amy and they have 3 teenage children: Graeme, Elinore and Jane. Byron studied at Virginia Tech (BS) and Southern Seminary (MDiv). He also serves as an elder in their church in Pennsylvania. Byron traveled and lived in several countries as a third culture kid and Cru staff member, including a recent stint to North Africa. He enjoys making new friends and learning about different perspectives over coffee and tea.

Overall Schedule

TUESDAY (1/7)

3-4:30PM
Registration | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace
5-6PM
Small Group
6:30-9:30PM
Evening Plenary I | 3rd Floor, Garden State Ballroom
10-11:30PM
Small Group

WEDNESDAY (1/8)

7-8AM
SJ Meeting | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace
8-9AMCorporate Fasting Devotional & Prayer | 3rd Floor, Garden State Ballroom
9-10AM
Breakfast | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace10AM-12PM
SUPER SEMINARS
Surrender & Identity: Discovering the Joy of Saying ‘Yes’ to God [Vivian Mabuni] | 3rd Floor, Garden State BallroomGetting Past Your Past: the Key to Walking in Freedom [Michael Ferris] | 1st Floor, Essex Ballroom12-1PM
Lunch | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace1:30-3PM
ELECTIVE SEMINARS
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly; Power of Families [Won Jae Hudson Yu] | 1st Floor, MonmouthYELLOW: Figuring Out How Asian-Americans, Racism, and the Bible Connect [Chris Lee] | 3rd Floor, Mercer/Salem
Asian American Women: Born to Perform [Vivian Mabuni] | 3rd Floor, Atlantic/Burlington/Hunterdon
The Bible: Reliable Witness or Religious Relic? [Byron Straughn] | 1st Floor, Essex3:30-5PM
CLASS TIME
Freshmen | 3rd Floor, Atlantic/Burlington/Hunterdon
Sophomores | 3rd Floor, Morris/Passaic
Juniors | 1st Floor, Monmouth
Seniors | 1st Floor, Essex
5:30-6:30PM
Dinner | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace6:30-9:30PM
Evening Plenary II | 3rd Floor, Garden State Ballroom10-11:30PM
Small Group

THURSDAY (1/9)

7-8AM
SJ Meeting | 3rd Floor, Bergen8-9AM
Breakfast & Morning Devotional | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace 9-11AM
Morning Plenary II | 3rd Floor, Garden State Ballroom 11-12PM
SOON Missions Spotlight | 3rd Floor, Garden State BallroomMission Booths | 3rd Floor, Atlantic/Burlington/Hunterdon & Mercer/Salem12-1PM
Lunch | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace1:30-3PM
DISCIPLESHIP WORKSHOPS
Win | 3rd Floor, Morris
Build 1 | 3rd Floor, Passaic
Build 2 | 3rd Floor, Bergen
Send | 1st Floor, Esse3:30-5PM
Processing Time5:30-6:30PM
Dinner | 3rd Floor, Upper Terrace6:30-10PM
Evening Plenary III | 3rd Floor, Garden State Ballroom10:20-11:30PM
Small Group

FRIDAY (1/10)