The Urbana Student Missions Conference is underway in Saint Louis with about16,000 registered to attend the event, Conference Director Tom Lin said.

"Intercessors have been praying for you around the clock since before you left home. You will not be the same after tonight," Urbana Student Missions Conference organizers said.

Attendees will learn about opportunities for missionary work around the world. Lin said those opportunities can involve preaching the Gospel in a foreign country or ministering to the poor closer to home.

The conference is sponsored once every three years by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.     

This year's gathering will wrap up with a worship service ending at midnight on New Year's Eve.