God’s presence infused the 2026 Santa Barbara Mission Conference, our 24th annual. The organizers sent the conference in a new direction this year, guided by a group of bright, motivated Westmont graduates in their mid-20s. Sensing that it was time for God's church to lament, we invited Soong-Chan Rah to be our keynote speaker. Using small group discussions around tables instead of our traditional breakout sessions, we began the day with lament and ended with hope. Some facts:
Attendance of 162, virtually the same as last year's
Wider range of churches attending
Wider range of ages
Focus on the city of Santa Barbara and the needs of her people
Relationships formed
Holy Spirit-filled
Evening vespers service to conclude the day
Chuck Curtis, Director
