Around the World in 80 Minutes: Global Expo Comes to Global Gathering
By Bryan Hughes
Imagine being able to see the beautiful Eiffel Tower, the beaches of Bermuda, and the Serengeti all in one day! In 1873, Jules Verne wrote the adventure novel Around the World in 80 Days. During the 2013 Global Gathering, a visit to the Global Expo will take you around the world in just minutes!
The good news is that you don’t have to call a travel agent for this trip. You just have to be at the Global Gathering.
The Global Expo, hosted by Global Missions, will be presented in O. C. Lewis Gymnasium and is open daily during the Global Gathering. The Global Expo is your chance to visit Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and North America all right here in Anderson, Indiana.
“The Global Expo is going to be something that the whole family will not want to miss,” says Bob Edwards, director of Global Ministries Group. “It will be colorful, interactive, and informative. Learn more about the regions of the world where the Church of God has a presence.”
In addition to the dynamic worship and preaching offered at the Global Gathering, the Global Expo offers a rich international experience for those who attend. Explore the world as you enter an African grass hut, see a wooden replica of Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue, walk on the beach, or visit an Asian pagoda. The Expo is the perfect place to fellowship with our international guests or enjoy songs performed by musicians featured on our world stage as you travel the globe with your family.
In the prayer garden, you can leave a message of praise or encouragement, take time to pray for concerns from our brothers and sisters serving Christ around the world, or simply pause for peaceful reflection.
Watch exciting firsthand accounts about how God is changing lives all over the globe in our G-MAX theater. Missionaries and nationals will be on the big screen, sharing stories from their ministries and introducing you to the people whose lives are being transformed by Christ through missions. You can see the fruits of your support as you meet those who are the hands and feet of Christ in global ministry.
In the center of it all will be the marketplace. Items from around the world will be available for you to see and purchase. Take a piece of your favorite part of the world home with you. What a great way to remember your experience at the Global Gathering!
The Global Expo is also an extension of Kid’s Place. Your children will receive a Kid’s Place passport when they first arrive. As they visit each part of the world at the Global Expo, they will receive a stamp from that region. Once they’ve completed their trip around the world, they will receive a special surprise! The greatest prize, which is available to guests of all ages, is this experience—the opportunity to connect, grow, and learn together at this year’s Global Expo and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Don’t miss being a part of the Global Expo! The Global Gathering takes place in Anderson, Indiana, June 22–25. Register today at www.chog.org/globalgathering or by calling 800-848-2464, ext. 2130.
