2012 GO Book

Behold, I am making

all things new

W

ith this short phrase, Jesus indicates the marvelous reach of his saving mission. Hear him carefully. He doesn’t say ‘some things’ or ‘most things’; nor does he promise to make all new things.

Jesus announces from his throne in glory that he is making all things new.

“ all things new Behold, I am making

(Rev. 21:5)

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Because of this promise, we have become ambassadors of Christ’s mission, representatives of what Paul calls “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:16-21). In other words, every aspect of our lives, every vocation of service, should point to God’s reconciliation of all things in Christ.

Global Opportunities (GO Trips) provide members of the Union University community with a chance to pursue Christ’s ministry of reconciliation to the world in several focused ways. The 2012 GO Trips will offer unique ministry opportunities and emphasize one of these three aspects: learning, serving or living.

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

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

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

GO

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One of the main things I learned on the trip was that our lives should focus on using our educational and career skills to open doors for sharing the gospel. - North Africa ESF

Israel 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

Nursing Dominican Republic Providing patient services in a clinic setting and teaching basic health care in local villages as an avenue for sharing the gospel

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

Intercultural Studies (ICS) East Asia Using academic research to explore university life in order to more effectively build relationships and share the gospel with those who have never heard the truth of Jesus Christ

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We prayed God would use our very short time there to further the work of believers and workers who are there all the time… The things we learned are still causing our hearts to turn to our Father… We had the opportunity to spend time with a group of believers and we were so encouraged and challenged by their perseverance and devotion to the gospel in such tumultuous circumstances. - Israel

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GO learning

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Church Planting Boston 1 Assisting church plants in the greater Boston area in outreach and service to the community by volunteering in various social service agencies throughout the city

Boston 2 Assisting a Russian church plant and a ministry to international students in the greater Boston community

Nashville Partnering with a church plant in Hendersonville to develop relationships in neighborhoods and on college campuses to address spiritual needs in the context of affluence and Christian nominalism

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

Romania Partnering with local believers and IMB missionaries in discipleship training and evangelism in Roma village communities

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GO Trips give students a chance to interact with, watch, listen to, and work alongside those on the mission field. I consider this one of the highlights of GO Trips... the front row seat to ministry in a different city and/or country. This close interaction can help students form a realistic picture of day-to-day ministry and can help students know how to better pray for and serve kingdom workers. - Boston

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Covenant Life Church is passionate about the Word of God and about walking alongside each other... Their love for one another truly reflects Christ’s love. We were reminded of the joy that is found in being committed to a local church.

God does not call us to live the Christian life alone or to live it silently. Let us be like the Covenant Life members in Tampa – living boldly and joyfully in the city in which God has placed us, leaning fully on the power of the Holy Spirit in us. - Tampa

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In Nashville the Lord opened our eyes to the lostness and the brokenness of people who looked like us, talked like us, and who lived in similar neighborhoods as us.

The Lord broke us for the people of Nashville, showing us the great need to live like missionaries right where we are. The Lord grew each one of us in boldness to share the gospel. - Nashville

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GO serving

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Collegiate Ministry Botswana Connecting with university students in Botswana, leading them towards life-changing conversations, and partnering with them to reach the nations

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

Illinois Partnering with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries and a local church in outreach efforts on the campus of Southern Illinois University (SIU) and the city of Carbondale

Providence Partnering with Grace Harbor Community Church to build relationships and share Christ with college students on campuses without an evangelical witness

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My GO Trip is in my “top five memories’” at Union so far. It was a phenomenal trip, a phenomenal team, and a phenomenal country full of people in need of the love of Christ. I learned more about ministry and the gospel from my two-week GO Trip than I did in all of my other mission trips combined. My GO Trip changed my life. - Germany

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

Community Development BDC Memphis Working on an urban farm and serving alongside a holistic Christian community development partnership that is serving its neighborhood through education, job training, housing, and health care

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

SOS Memphis Working with Service over Self (SOS) Memphis, a local inner-city ministry that exists to glorify God in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ by renovating homes of the economically disadvantaged

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I had a false illusion about a mission trip in the United States. There are so many individuals here who don’t know Christ. I discovered that I could use the resources and time I have to really impact individuals here. - SOS Memphis

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I went on this trip in hopes of spreading the gospel to a group of orphans in Honduras. I never would have thought God was going to show me so much about the gospel while I was there.

I see God is using this trip to continue his sanctification process within me. - Honduras

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GO serving

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The best part of the trip for me was the realization of how deeply I came to love our city and the friends we made. This [trip] has made me realize that I cannot do anything apart from Him. Unless He opens the door and works in hearts, my labor is in vain. - Central Asia

” Living Central Asia* • Studying

the local language as a summer school student 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

Middle East* • Working

alongside university students of a local church in reaching their campuses with the gospel • Making passionate, committed disciples of Christ to catalyze a movement of disciple-making—on campus and in local communities • Modeling discipleship characterized by radical, costly obedience, and a passion for building the church * Please see special application instructions for Central Asia & Middle East trips

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The Father has been faithful in filling our time with meeting great friends and sharing truth. One night we went to watch a documentary and then share truth with our friend which resulted in being able to plan a time to get into the Word together. We were able to sit with our Bibles in hand sharing truth with our friend late into the night. We are learning what it means to live life intentionally and walk in the Spirit. - Middle East

How to GO

Where to GO

• Prayerfully

consider each opportunity up Fact Sheets about each GO Trip • Read the GO Trip FAQs at • Pick

uu.edu/events/go/faq.cfm • Complete

a GO Trip Application online at

uu.edu/events/go/forms • Participate

in GO Week, September 19-23 the GO Trip Kickoff, training sessions, and team meetings • Be flexible, available, and teachable • Maintain a 2.0 GPA • Attend

What to know • September

19-23

GO Week • Friday,

September 23

GO Trip Applications due to the Office of Spiritual Life (SUB) *See special instructions for Central Asia and Middle East applications • Monday,

Winter Botswana Dominican Republic (Nursing) Germany Israel

Spring Break BDC Memphis Boston 1 Boston 2 Honduras Illinois Louisville Nashville North Africa (ESF) * Providence Romania SOS Memphis Tampa

October 10

GO Trip Kick-Off (required of all GO Trip participants) • Wednesday,

October 19

GO Trip deposit due to the Office of Spiritual Life

Summer East Asia (ICS) * Central Asia* Middle East* *Specific locations withheld for security reasons. More information about trips to these locations is available in the Office of Spiritual Life (SUB).

Find out more information about GO Trips at Union University by visiting

uu.edu/events/go

Office of Spiritual Life UU Box # 1812 1050 Union University Dr. Jackson, TN 38305 731.661.5062 uu.edu/campusministries

Gregory Thornbury Vice President for Spiritual Life 731.661.5082 | gthornbury@uu.edu

Taylor Worley Associate Dean for Spiritual Life 731.661.5971 | tworley@uu.edu

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

David Carothers

Behold, I am making

all things new

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

Rachel Ware Director of Discipleship 731.661.6598 | rware@uu.edu

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

Elizabeth Ward Office Coordinator 731.661.5062 | eward@uu.edu

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