The Torrey Memorial Bible Conference turns 77 this year and our theme has century-old roots at Biola. Over 100 years ago, Lyman Stewart and others broke ground for the Biola Institute in downtown L.A., saying, "Let it be our hope and prayer that from this place shall radiate streams of influence, which will be a great blessing not only to the multitudes around us, but also to the darkest places of the earth." The vision of Stewart and others was ultimately to equip God's people to proclaim the good news and make disciples in a rapidly changing world. The Panama Canal was about to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific and a giant aqueduct would supply the new city with water. Crowds would be coming to the Pacific Rim city of Los Angeles, and those crowds would need the gospel. This conference has the same vision that R.A. Torrey had in 1911--to provide biblical training in heart and mind for the proclamation of the gospel. The world is still changing, but the Good News has not. Our prayer during this time is that we would grasp more deeply this Good News in our own lives, and explore how we might compassionately, creatively and courageously bless the world with it, making God known in word and deed.