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2023 Missions Conference

Sharing the Gospel in an Increasingly Secular Society
February 25 – March 5, 2023

Each year we set aside time to focus on God’s call to make disciples of all nations. This year’s Global Missions Conference, “Sharing the Gospel in an Increasingly Secular Society,” focuses on the work that God is doing in this world even as the West largely moves away from God. The first weekend of the conference will highlight local missions efforts, and the second weekend will focus on national and international efforts.

Missions Offering

This year’s conference offering will focus on Campus Outreach expansion efforts. More details will be announced soon.

Missions Prayer Guide

We encourage you to use the online prayer guide to pray for our missionaries throughout the year. You may also join a missionary’s group to become part of their team to receive ongoing updates.

Short Term Mission Trips

Short term mission trips serve two important purposes. They allow us to minister to the world, and they minister to the people serving by expanding their worldview and using their God-given gifts.  We have seen over and over in the life of this church how God develops the character and gifts of his people through these short but intensive opportunities. Learn about the trips planned for Summer 2023.

Missions Conference Schedule

Local Emphasis Weekend:
Engaging Our Community

Saturday, February 25

10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Seminar: Engaging Our Community Through the Church
First Pres’s downtown presence provides us with many opportunities to reach the city of Augusta. During this interactive seminar, we will look at how our history and our present can provide insight for our future ministry. Local historian Corey Rogers will discuss the history of black churches in our city and the impact they have had. Reverend Mike Aitcheson will share about how his church plant in Orlando reached across racial lines and led to a gospel movement in that community. We will end the day with table discussions where we reflect on what we’ve heard and discuss how God could use our location and our current local ministries to advance the gospel in Augusta.  Lunch is provided. Register here.

Sunday, February 26

8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., & 6 p.m. | Worship
Guest Pastor: Rev. Mike Aitcheson

10 a.m. | Sunday School
Local missionaries will speak in Sunday School classes.

7 p.m. | Dessert and Local Ministry Fair | The Commons
Learn about opportunities to get involved with local missions.

National/International Emphasis:
Engaging Our World

Wednesday, March 1

12 p.m. | Women’s Luncheon
This is an opportunity to hear from several of the missionary women First Pres supports. They will share stories about what God is doing in and through them to impact the areas where they serve. Guests include Robin Alward, Clair Inoue, Erin Pervis, Hope Grinnell, and several “In Harm’s Way” missionaries. Register here.

Thursday, March 2

6:00 p.m. | Bridges to Missions Dinner
Being a missionary may look different than you think. We will cast a vision for the bridges that are being used to reach communities around the world for the gospel and break into groups for deeper discussion related to specific vocations. Please select a breakout group when you register for dinner. Childcare is available.

Breakout Groups

  • Medical (Open to all Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Allied Health, and medical students)
  • Engineers/Architects
  • Disaster Relief
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Campus Outreach
  • Business

Friday, March 3

6:30 p.m.

Key Note Event and Dessert
Reverend Giotis Kantartzis, pastor of the First Greek Evangelical Church, Athens, Greece is our guest speaker. The service will begin with stories from missionaries in harm’s way. Therefore, the first 30 minutes of this service will be offline to protect these missionaries. The remainder of the service will be livestreamed and there will be dessert afterwards in St. Andrew’s Hall.

Children’s GLOW Conference (Go Light Our World)
Children in Pre-K through 5th grade will begin the evening in the sanctuary with their parents. They will be dismissed from the service and will hear from a speaker, sample food, and participate in crafts and games. Registration will open soon.

Saturday, March 4

6:30 p.m. | Parish Events with Missionaries
The parish gatherings will allow our missionaries to share their stories in a more personal setting and provide an opportunity for you to get to know some of those that we support. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Click on your parish below and register.

Sunday, March 5

8:30 & 11 a.m., 6 p.m. | Worship
Guest Pastor: Rev. Giotis Kantartzis, Pastor of the First Greek Evangelical Church, Athens, Greece

6 p.m. | Children’s GLOW Conference (Go Light Our World)
Children in Pre-K through 5th grade meet in St. Andrew’s Hall for the GLOW Conference Finale! Wear neon or brightly colored clothing for this special GLOW event. We will have a time of worship and hear from a missionary in St. Andrew’s Hall. Kids will then move to their classrooms for more activities. Registration will open soon.

10 a.m. | Sunday School
National and international missionaries will speak in Sunday School classes.

Conference Speakers

Rev. Mike Aitcheson

Michael Aitcheson is the co-host of the pocast As In Heaven and is the senior pastor and planter of Christ United Fellowship (PCA). He grew up in Miami, did his undergrad at University of Kentucky, and received his MDiv from Reformed Theological Seminary. Mike and his wife, Lucy, are Family Life Weekend to Remember retreat speakers. They live in Orlando with their four daughters.

Rev. Giotis Kantartzis

For the past 20 years Giotis Kantartzis has been serving as pastor of the First Greek Evangelical Church of Athens. Giotis studied Sociology (BA, Panteion University) and Theology (Diploma in Theology, Greek Bible School) in Athens before moving to the United States for further studies (MSt, Boston University School of Theology, and MDiv, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary). He also holds a PhD awarded by the theological faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Giotis is married to Nopi, and they have three sons, George (25), Theofilos (23), and Jason (20).