Bethel hosts Converge “170 Days of Prayer” simulcast leading up to denomination’s 170th anniversary
By Monique Kleinhuizen '08, GS'16, content specialist
May 22, 2026 | 9:15 a.m.
Bethel University welcomed members of the Bethel community and local Converge churches to campus on May 3 for “SEND: Commissioning the Next Generation for Global Mission,” a live concert of prayer and simulcast held as part of Converge’s global 170 Days of Prayer initiative. It was part of a series of live events and guided, communal prayer leading up to the denomination’s 170th anniversary and Together 2026 national conference.
Hosted in Benson Great Hall, the evening gathered students, pastors, church leaders, and community members for worship, prayer, and reflection centered on the church’s shared mission to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders. Attendees heard from Converge leadership, Bethel President Ross Allen, and students discerning God’s call to ministry and mission around the world.
Dozens gathered in person, with live streaming happening at locations across the Converge movement. According to Matt Runion, Bethel’s campus pastor for partnerships, the atmosphere throughout the evening was deeply encouraging.
“The overall feel of the event was upbeat, praise-oriented, and hopeful,” Runion says. “There was a sense of excitement in the air. It was a unique experience.”
— Campus Pastor Matt Runion
The event highlighted the longstanding relationship between Bethel University and Converge—formerly the Baptist General Conference—the denomination from which Bethel was founded more than 150 years ago. For organizers and participants alike, the gathering served as a reminder that Bethel’s mission has always been deeply connected to the wider work of the church.
“Bethel University did not emerge in isolation and doesn't exist in isolation,” Runion says. “Bethel was born out of the same gospel movement that gave rise to Converge—a movement shaped by deep love for Scripture, a passion for evangelism and mission, and a commitment to forming faithful leaders for Christ’s work in the world.”
That shared mission continues today through the partnership between Bethel and Converge churches across the country and around the world. While Converge remains committed to church planting, discipleship, and global missions, Bethel continues equipping students to serve in ministry, healthcare, education, business, nonprofits, and communities worldwide.
— Campus Pastor Matt Runion
Hosting an event focused on commissioning the next generation for global mission was a natural fit for Bethel, Runion says, because the university has long understood education as preparation not only for careers, but for lives of calling and kingdom impact.
“Bethel has always understood education as something larger than career preparation,” Runion says. “From its earliest days, the university has existed to form whole and holy people—individuals prepared to answer God’s call wherever God leads.”
Throughout the evening, participants reflected on the continuity of mission across generations and the increasingly global nature of the church. Students worshiped and prayed alongside pastors, missionaries, and leaders who have spent decades serving through Converge ministries and congregations. For many, it was a powerful picture of a living legacy being passed from one generation to the next.
That global vision was also reflected in the voices and stories represented throughout the night. Among the students participating in prayer was psychological sciences major Emmanuella Gatera ’28, who comes from an immigrant Burundian family by way of Kenya—a reminder of how both Bethel and Converge have grown far beyond their Swedish Baptist roots into a diverse and global movement of believers united in Christ.
Runion says gatherings like this not only celebrate the past, but also point toward the future.
“Our common founders sacrificed greatly to create institutions that would form future generations,” he says. “That legacy invites continued courage, generosity, and innovation today.”
As Converge continues its 170 Days of Prayer initiative and looks ahead to its national conference this summer, the evening at Bethel served as both a celebration of shared history and a hopeful reminder of the church’s ongoing mission—to faithfully prepare and send the next generation wherever God calls.
Join Bethel in prayer
Prayer is a vital part of Bethel’s community and spiritual life, and you’ll find numerous opportunities on campus for students, parents, staff, and alumni to pray—and to have others pray for them. Join the Pray First or National Prayer Initiative ministries, visit the Prayer Chapel near Benson Great Hall, or take a guided virtual prayer walk through campus.