Obedient to the Heavenly Vision | Africa
February 22 – March 2, 2025
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Each year we set aside time to focus on God’s call to make disciples of all nations. This year’s Global Missions Conference, Obedient to the Heavenly Vision, focuses on the work that God is doing specifically in Africa. The first weekend of the conference will highlight local missions efforts, and the second weekend will focus on national and international efforts.
Missions Offering | The Acts Project
In Acts 1:8, just before Jesus’ ascension, he tells the disciples “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This year’s conference offering will help fund several different organizations, ministries, and missionaries who are taking the gospel to Africa. There are more than 1.5 billion souls in Africa with thousands of people groups and more than two-thousand languages. The church is growing and hopeful, but they face tremendous challenges. There are 900 unreached people groups, which means 300 million people with little to no access to the gospel. Christians face persecution from militant Islamic groups, and the local preachers and teachers need training to help them remain grounded in the truth in a culture that values tribal traditions.
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 2025.
Missions Conference Schedule
Local Emphasis Weekend: Engaging Our Community
Saturday, February 22
10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Seminar & Luncheon: Engaging Our Community
First Pres’s downtown presence provides many opportunities for us to reach the city of Augusta, and it is our hope that every citizen of our great city comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. To accomplish such a lofty goal, we desire to see every member living on mission. This seminar will help train you in “pre-evangelism,” preparing you for personal evangelism and helping you become more comfortable with sharing the gospel where you live, work, and play. Our speakers will be Charles McKnight, Mission to North America African American Ministries Coordinator, and Luke Niday, First Pres Local Outreach Pastor.
We will end the seminar with table discussions and the opportunity to 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 will follow the seminar.
Register here for the seminar and lunch. Register for child care here.
Sunday, February 23
8:30 & 11 a.m., 6 p.m. | Worship
Guest Pastor: Charles McKnight, Director of African American Ministries, MNA
10 a.m. | Sunday School
Local missionaries will speak in Sunday School classes.
7 p.m. | Local Missionary Cafe | The Commons
Stay after evening worship and get to know some our local missionaries and learn about opportunities to get involved with local missions.
NEW THIS YEAR: LOCAL MISSIONARY CAFE SCAVENGER HUNT
Attend the Missionary Cafe to participate in a Trivia Scavenger Hunt to benefit the local ministry partner of your choice. Three winners will receive a gift card and they each get to select a ministry partner to receive a cash donation.
National/International Emphasis: Engaging Our World
Thursday, February 27
12 p.m. | Women’s Luncheon | St. Andrew’s Hall
Several of the missionary women First Pres supports will paticpate in this event. They will share their experiences of being women serving in ministry and the struggles and joys it brings. We will also have time to pray for and with these women.
Register for the lunch here and child care is here.
Friday, February 28
6:30 a.m. | Men’s Breakfast | St. Andrew’s Hall
This is an opportunity to hear from several of the missionary men First Pres supports. They will share some of the challenges of ministry and how God meets them and equips them in their point of need. Register here.
6:30 p.m. | Keynote Event and Global Missionary Cafe
Guest Speaker: Dr. Conrad Mbewe, Kabwata Baptist Church
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. Afterwards, get to know some of our national and international missionaries at the Missionary Cafe in the Commons and enjoy dessert in St. Andrew’s Hall.
NEW THIS YEAR: GREAT COMMISSION CAKE DECORATING CONTEST
Calling all bakers, cake decorators, and anyone who wants to get creative and have some fun! Select one of the missionaries attending the conference and decorate a cake to represent the missionary, their country, and/or their ministry. Three winners will be selected with donations to the missionaries’ ministries and prizes for the bakers. See details and sign up by February 16. (All skill levels are welcome!)
6:30 p.m. | Kids Passport Night | Harmony Hall
Children Pre-K through 5th grade will start the evening with their parents in the sanctuary, but will be dismissed for the first Passport Night of the year. Children will receive their 2025 passport and learn some interesting facst about Africa, receive a sticker for their passport, and watch a movie aobut a missionary to Africa.
Saturday, March 1
6:30 p.m. | Parish Events with Missionaries
The parish gatherings 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.
- Columbia County East (Savannah Rapids, Lakeside, Stevens Creek)
- Columbia County West (Evans, Belair, Grovetown)
- Downtown
- Lake Forest
- National and Masters
- Palmetto and Martintown
- River
- Westminster, Brynwood, and Pleasant Home
- Wheeler
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Sunday, March 2
8:30 & 11 a.m., 6 p.m. | Worship
Guest Pastor: Dr. Conrad Mbewe, Kabwata Baptist Church
10 a.m. | Sunday School & Adult Sunday Morning Communities
National and International Missionaries will speak in adult, youth, and children’s classes.
6 p.m. | Children’s GLOW Conference (Go Light Our World) & Passport Night
Children in Pre-K through 5th grade meet in St. Andrew’s Hall for the GLOW Conference! The focus country is Kenya, and kids will receive their second passport sticker. We will have a time of worship, hear from a guest speaker, sample food, and participate in crafts and games. Wear neon or brightly colored clothing for this special GLOW event.
Conference Speakers
Rev. Charles McKnight
Charles McKnight has a Master of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary Charlotte and degrees in English and African American Diaspora Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Charles has 18 years of ministry and pastoral leadership. He co-founded West Charlotte Church (PCA) in the historic African American west Charlotte community. He is the PCA Mission to North America African American Ministries Coordinator and the Executive Director for Kindred Hope Church (PCA) in Atlanta, GA. He serves on the advisory board of Covenant Seminary, the PCA Unity Fund, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Ministries LINK, and as an assessor for the MNA Church Planting Assessment Center. He is the editor of the book The Bible Explained: A College Student’s Guide to Understanding Their Faith. He is a former public school teacher and basketball coach and taught Cultural Apologetics at Gordon-Conwell Seminary.
Charles is married to Charlotte, and they have four children: McKenzie Grace, Corinne Justice, Kendall Joy, and Charles “CAM” IV.
Dr. Conrad Mbewe
Conrad Mbewe has served as pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church since 1987. He is a graduate of the University of Zambia, the Cape Town Baptist Seminary, and the University of Pretoria in SouthAfrica. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Missions.
Dr. Mbewe is the founding Chancellor of the African Christian University, a blogger, and an author. His latest book is God’s Design for the Church (Crossway, 2020). He is also the editor of the Reformation Zambia magazine.
Dr. Mbewe is married to Felistas ,and they have five adult children and nine grandchildren.