GO Book 2014

GO A l igh t for t h e nat ions

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GO Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: ‘I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people,

A l ig h t for t h e nat ions to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.’

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Isaiah 42:5-7

The Lord has promised to call all nations to Himself. In Isaiah 42 He promises to send His Chosen Servant as a “light for the nations,” and we see the fulfillment of this prophecy in the person of Jesus Christ. It is for this reason that Jesus referred to Himself as the “light of the world” (John 8:12). Despite the modern sentiment that the Christian faith is intolerant, oppressive, and overbearing, we see that the ministry of Christ brings restoration and healing. He gives sight to blind and sets prisoners free. The gospel of Jesus Christ shines light into the darkness.

Those who dwelled in darkness and labored under oppression are now set free and given new life in Christ. This is the gospel of hope that Christ offers and the reason why we GO.

GO Trips model for students this missional lifestyle of service and sharing by offering ministry opportunities in one these three aspects: learning, serving, or living.

Living – GO Trips placing students in strategic ministry settings for an extended summer residence

Serving – GO Trips offering students specific hands-on experience in a range of ministries and service contexts

Learning – GO Trips highlighting unique ways that students can apply what they have gained in the classroom or more intentionally integrate study and mission

GO

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I had the great experience of worshipping with local believers and witnessing the baptism of a dear new sister.

And I had the heartbreaking experience of looking out into the night at thousands of lights twinkling from windows of apartment buildings stretching for miles, realizing how many, many people don’t know the gospel.

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Andersen, Central Asia

Central Asia* (8 weeks) • Studying

the local language in this Central Asian city and developing relationships with other students • Sharing the good news with Muslim students at a prestigious university which currently has no Christian witness • Being an integral part of a long-term, disciple-making strategy in one of the world’s largest unreached cities

East Asia* (8 weeks) • Taking

a language course and developing relationships with other students on campus • Sharing the gospel with Asian students who have never heard the truth of Christ • Modeling discipleship characterized by radical obedience and a passion for building the church

* Specific locations withheld for security reasons. More information about trips to these locations is available in the Office of University Ministries (SUB).

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We pored over multiple chapters of Matthew with our friend, and for three hours she sat on the floor by our beds, utterly entranced by the Word.

Our Father has been greatly glorified, not because of any work we have done but because of the power of His Word.

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Megan, East Asia

GO

li v ing

Go Trips

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As we visited a Buddhist temple, I remembered that many have yet to hear any truth. At best, the lost around us were bowing down before worthless images made by human hands; at worst, they were worshipping demons. Yet even there, in the midst of a stronghold of the enemy, we boldly asked for the destruction of his kingdom and the exaltation of the only begotten Son. We were weary of the dark, but there we have been called. It is the sick who need a physician, and only the blind beg to see.

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Danny, East Asia

GO living

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As excited as I was to be in the Big Easy to serve for a week, I was just as intimidated. How were we going to come and tell these loud, boisterous, proud, and broken people about a God who seems so distant from them? Then I realized, that is exactly what Jesus did for us. He left his kingdom in heaven to come to our world and tell us the good news of salvation and restoration that does not nullify our culture, but instead supersedes it.

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Melanie, New Orleans

GO S e rv i n g

Go Trips

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Church Planting

Our purpose as Christians is to live the gospel daily and be intentional by sharing it through words and actions.

Seeing how intentional the members of the church were with every action, conversation, and event was a huge priority check. It made me ask myself, ‘What am I really doing with my life?’

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Boston Assisting church plants in the greater Boston area in outreach and service to the community

New Orleans

Kate, Tampa

Coming alongside Hope Church to engage the greater New Orleans area with the gospel by serving communities, neighborhoods, local schools, and families

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New York City is such a strategic place for the gospel, with languages from all over the world spoken within the city. The movement of the Holy Spirit in a place like New York has global ramifications.

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Ben, New York City

New York city Partnering with Gallery Church in the endless ministry opportunities available in a city that is home to more than 800 language groups and cultures

Tampa Serving alongside Covenant Life Church to work with local schools, organizations, families, college students, young professionals, and the urban poor

Virgin Islands Hosting an evangelistic sports training camp to assist with the outreach efforts of Freshwater Church on St. John’s Island

GO serving

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Conducting missions in a first-world country was a challenging idea for me.

To be faced with the startling reality that we could offer these students nothing, save the gospel; that no effort of ours, separated from the work of the Holy Spirit, could do them any good. And yet I saw God work in a way I’d never seen before.

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Josh, Germany

What the Lord is calling us to may not always make sense to us or the people around us, but what a joy it is to be used by the Lord and follow in the paths He has created for us.

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Rachel, Honduras

Collegiate Ministry

Orphan Care

Germany

Honduras

Working with a university ministry to participate in outreach events and build relationships with students in order to point them to Christ

Continuing work on construction projects at Orphanage Emmanuel as well as loving, playing with, and ministering to children

UConn Partnering with Bridge Church to build relationships and share Christ with college students on the campus of the University of Connecticut

Community Development Louisville Serving the homeless and hurting of Louisville by partnering with Jefferson Street Baptist Center in a variety of service projects with an emphasis on building relationships

GO

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I was so convicted because I am not involved enough in my own city.

I want to know Christ more, as Paul would say, and this is done not only through studying God’s Word, but also through acting out God’s Word by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

S e rv i n g

Go Trips

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Brennan, Louisville

GO serving

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God wanted me to realize that there is no place I can go that His Spirit is not at work. As I stood in the tomb of our Savior Jesus Christ, I remembered that God keeps His promises and Israel will be saved. The King of the Jews has risen from the dead, and in this fact I place my hope.

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Joshua, Israel

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learning

Israel Christian Studies Experiencing Middle Eastern culture by building relationships with Jewish and Arab people in Israel and studying the history and geography of biblically significant sites in Israel

North Africa* Engineering, Science, and French Using the practical application of technology to meet physical needs and provide an avenue to begin life-changing conversations with local people

South Africa Social Work and Christian Studies Exploring ways that the church can address extreme poverty and inequality and facilitate reconciliation between groups divided by race and social class Learning GO Trips may be eligible for course credit.

Go Trips

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Our trip reminded me of the reality that we are at war with the powers of darkness. Satan’s primary goal is to keep the lost lost forever. The fact that he tried so hard to prevent us from getting there only proves the reality that once light has come to a place, darkness cannot overcome it. We already know the victory is ours.

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Erika, North Africa

WHY Go insight into God’s desire to be praised by all peoples • Begin to see your unique role in taking the gospel to all nations • Discover new cultures and see how God is continually at work around the world • Further develop your Christian worldview • Receive training and instruction that will benefit you far beyond your GO Trip • Minister and spend time with fellow students and Union faculty, staff, and alumni

Where to Go

• Gain

HOW to Go • Participate

in GO Week, September 16–20 up Fact Sheets about each GO Trip • Read the GO Trip FAQs at www.uu.edu/events/go/faq.cfm • Prayerfully consider each opportunity • Complete online GO Trip Application at www.uu.edu/events/go/forms/ • Attend the GO Trip Kickoff, training sessions, and team meetings • Be flexible, available, and teachable • Maintain a 2.0 GPA • Pick

Winter Germany Israel

Spring Break Boston Honduras Louisville New Orleans New York City North Africa* Tampa UConn Virgin Islands

Summer South Africa Central Asia* (8 weeks) East Asia* (8 weeks) * Specific locations withheld for security reasons. More information about trips to these locations is available in the Office of University Ministries (SUB).

WHAT to know • Wednesday,

August 28 GO Trip Info Available • Monday–Friday, September 16–20 GO Week • Wednesday, September 18 Early Bird GO Trip Application Deadline • Monday, September 23 GO Trip Application Deadline • Monday, October 7 GO Trip Kick-Off • Wednesday, October 16 GO Trip Deposit Due

ind out more F about GO Trips at Union University

uu.edu/events/go

Office of University Ministries UU 1812 | 1050 Union University Dr. | Jackson, TN 38305 731.661.5062 | uu.edu/oum

Todd Brady Vice President for University Ministries 731.661.6566 | tbrady@uu.edu

Taylor Worley Assistant Vice President for University Ministries 731.661.5971 | tworley@uu.edu

Julie Bradfield Director of Student Mobilization 731.661.5242 | jbradfield@uu.edu

David Carothers Assistant Director of Student Mobilization 731.661.5571 | dcarothers@uu.edu

Aaron Beasley Student Mobilization Graduate Assistant abeasley@uu.edu

Elizabeth Ward Office Coordinator 731.661.5062 | eward@uu.edu

Keely Beasley Director of Discipleship 731.661.6598 | kbeasley@uu.edu

Lee Wilson Director of Discipleship 731.661.5165 | lwilson@uu.edu

Josh Moore Director of Church Relations 731.661.6528 | jtmoore@uu.edu

Kathy Southall Director of Intercessory Prayer and Encouragement 731.661.5678 | ksouthall@uu.edu

Excellence-driven

C h r i s t- c e n t e r e d

People-focused

Future-directed