On Thursday night, Nov. 7, Union University students gathered in the Bowld gym to hear where they would be sent on GO Trips in 2020.
GO Trips are trips that give Union students and faculty the opportunity to spend some time devoted to missions each year, and these trips go to many different places both in the U.S. and around the world.
Junior marketing major, Rachel Aristorenas, has been through this experience previously and loves how GO Trips encourage students to live out the Great Commission by reaching those outside of Union’s Christian environment.
“I went on the Tampa GO Trip last year, and the way I see the mission field will never be the same,” said Aristorenas. “There are so many broken people around us. People who have never heard of Jesus, people who aren’t surrounded with fellow believers like we have the privilege.”
Students filled the Bowld, taking their “passports” (check lists for all of their payments and paperwork) around the room to tables manned by the Student MOB Squad members, getting all their paperwork finalized to go on their upcoming trip.
Stephen Neu and Julie Bradfield, leaders in the office of university ministries (OUM), both spoke to the group about praying for the places Union students are going and remembering why they were going. The trips are not about the place but about service to the Lord and his Kingdom in these places.
OUM interns Callie Teague and Riley Boggs both read scriptures and gave an encouraging word to remind students of the Lord’s sovereign plan, no matter what trip they go on.
Neu conducted a time of prayer for preparation in student’s hearts, places and partners. Students then spread out and specifically prayed for the places students would be traveling to share the Gospel.
Each speaker emphasized that wherever students end up going is exactly where the Lord wants them. It may look different than they expected, but the Lord has a reason that they are going there. Each trip and team member had been covered in prayer leading up to reveal night.
Senior GO Leadership Team (GLT) member and senior business marketing major, Eli Parker, is going on a GO Trip this year for the first time and is grateful for this position and how it will push him further in his walk with Christ.
“GO Leadership Team has 100 percent been foundational for my spiritual growth,” said Parker. “I have been genuinely equipped to not only share the Gospel with the nations but to be intentional with the people around me in my everyday life.“
Excitement filled the room as the teams were announced, and each team began to gather with their leader under the flag of the place they will be traveling to.
Union provides this unique opportunity and experience for their students, but not everyone is called to the same kind of mission.
“I know not everyone is called to ‘go,’ but please consider praying for and giving to your friends who are called to go,” said Aristorenas.
Photo courtesy of Union University