Urbana (conference)

Urbana refers to a series of student missions conferences organized by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. Held approximately every three years, these conferences are designed to challenge college students and recent graduates to consider their role in global missions and cross-cultural ministry.

The first Urbana Student Missions Convention was held in Toronto, Canada, in 1946. In 1948, the conference relocated to Urbana, Illinois, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, giving the event its name. Urbana has remained the primary location for the conference ever since, although occasionally it has been held in other cities.

Urbana conferences typically feature a variety of speakers, workshops, seminars, and exhibits focusing on diverse aspects of global missions. These include biblical foundations for missions, cultural sensitivity, social justice issues, specific ministry opportunities, and practical aspects of serving in different cultural contexts. The conferences attract thousands of students from diverse ethnic and denominational backgrounds, and they have played a significant role in inspiring generations of Christians to pursue careers in missions and related fields. InterVarsity partners with numerous mission agencies and organizations to provide information and networking opportunities for attendees.

A key component of Urbana is the Exhibit Hall, where attendees can connect with representatives from mission organizations and explore potential ministry opportunities. The conferences also feature large worship gatherings and smaller group sessions designed to foster community and encourage personal reflection. Urbana is widely recognized as one of the largest and most influential student missions conferences in the world.