“Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but

an old commandment that you had from the beginning.

The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am

writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because

the darkness is passing away and the true light is

already shining.” 1 John 2:7-8

Here, the Apostle John encourages all Christians to trust that the victory of God has already occurred. The light of Christ is already shining and as a result we are no longer slaves to sin, but we are able to follow Christ’s commands and genuinely love our brothers and sisters. Through the power of the gospel, the darkness in our world and in our hearts is passing away!

How can we trust that victory is on the way?

John tells us that we see it wherever the gospel of Jesus Christ is held high and the love of God flourishes among His people. And God is doing this victorious and redemptive work all over the world—throughout nations, in cities, and in our own backyard. The light is already shining all around us. With this simple yet profound promise, John gives us hope that both the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) can be fulfilled in and through our commitment to love one another and to share the love of Christ with others.

At Union University, we believe that loving service and care for our neighbors is the best avenue for sharing the gospel of God’s love. And telling others this good news is the most loving thing we can do for them. In all that we do, we are seeking to balance Great Commandment service and Great Commission love.

The Global Opportunities (GO) Trips provide members of the Union University community the chance to practice the transformational love of Christ through service to our neighbors and in sharing the gospel of God’s love. GO Trips model for students this missional lifestyle of service and sharing by offering ministry opportunities in one these three aspects: living, serving, or learning.

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 students can apply what they have gained in the classroom or more intentionally integrate study and mission.

GO 3

BOtswana• Connecting with university students in

Botswana, leading them towards life-changing conversations, and partnering with them to reach the nations

• Beginning and fostering new discipleship groups of university age youth throughout the capital city

• Partnering with a local church to plant new churches through discipleship of both youth and vulnerable children

Central asia* • Studying 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

east asia* • 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 Spiritual Life (SUB).

Please see special application instructions for Living GO Trips.

“And as our time together was coming to a close, the eight men got

together and we spent time in prayer; however, our time in prayer was

spent simply praising God for who He has proven Himself to be. As I

sat there, I was struck with the magnitude of the reality that God has

invited me into His global purpose here in Botswana, and that because

of who God is, He will bring this purpose to fruition. - BOtswana

”

“After spending the summer with

these friends, I’ve found their hearts

becoming mine, and I’ve begun to

weep for them. There is so much

darkness here. Yet there is so much

light. And the darkness cannot

overcome it. - Central asia

”

“Our hearts were encouraged to cling to the Father and

trust in His Word so that His Word might overflow

into our friends’ lives. - Central asia

”

GO livinG 5

“We witnessed firsthand the church’s boldness and

intentionality with their neighbors and saw the love

Christ flow through them to their community. We were

encouraged by their faith and boldness to be diligent to

share Christ here in Jackson. - nashville

”

“We need to remember that we have to live

missionally in our everyday life, whether that

means going out and working in your own

community or simply being intentional in showing

the love of Christ in everything you do. - tampa

”

“Prayer and scripture are integral for the

daily life of any believer—we are lost on our

own without them and without other believers.

God fills us with the strength we need when we

need it, as we trust and obey. - nashville

”

“I learned that there is a lot of spiritual pride bound up in

the way I think about worship. I like having a certain aesthetic in

worship and don’t want to look foolish. This experience made me

realize that those things aren’t really that important when

held in comparison to glorifying God. - BOstOn

”

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

nashvillePartnering with Redeemer Church (Hendersonville) in affluent neighborhoods and on a local campus to address spiritual needs in a context of Christian nominalism

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

new YOrk CitYPartnering with Gallery Church in the endless ministry opportunities available in a city that is home to over 800 language groups and cultures

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

GO servinG 7

“It was enlightening to hear the redemptive story of the Lord’s work

in the lives of students who were raised in atheist backgrounds.

The complete change of thinking and lifestyle in these students

encouraged our team to be more intentional with sharing the

gospel and in our relationships with others. - GermanY

”

“God was gracious to bring into

our lives people who needed

to hear the gospel as well as

people who encouraged us in

our faith. - BOtswana

” “The week was a clear

illustration of how the different

talents and passions of people

in the church are used by God

for one purpose, the furthering

of His kingdom. - sOs memphis

”

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

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

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

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

Community DevelopmentBdC 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

lOuisvilleServing 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 memphisWorking 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

GO servinG 9

“God used the children and staff at Emmanuel to show me

that the gospel is more powerful than I ever realized. It can

heal broken hearts, fill emptiness and longing, create life

out of death, and bring light to even the darkest places.

- hOnduras

”

IsraelExperiencing 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 (esF)Using the practical application of technology to meet physical needs and provide an avenue to begin life-changing conversations with local people

“I’m so grateful for Union’s desire to educate us,

as well as simultaneously disciple us to be wider and

more action-minded believers. - israel

”

“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 in darkness forever. Once light has come to

a place, darkness cannot overcome it. We already know

the victory is ours. - nOrth aFriCa esF

”

“I couldn’t help but think of

the global scope of Christ’s

redemptive plan… Christ

is truly reconciling and

building up one people

for Himself. Even in a

complicated, sinful world,

He is making all things

new. - israel

”

Why GO• Gain 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

How to GO• Participate in GO Week, September 17–21• Pick 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

What to know• Wednesday, August 29

GO Trip Info Available• Monday–Friday, September 17–21

GO Week• Wednesday, September 19

Early Bird GO Trip Application Deadline • Monday, September 24

GO Trip Application Deadline• Monday, October 8

GO Trip Kick-Off• Wednesday, October 17

GO Trip Deposit Due

Where to GO

winter Germany

Israel

sprinG Break BDC Memphis Boston Honduras Illinois Louisville Nashville New Orleans New York City North Africa (ESF)* Providence SOS Memphis Tampa

summer (8 weeks)

Botswana East Asia* Central Asia*

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

Please see special application instructions for Summer/Living GO Trips.

Find out more about GO trips at union university uu.edu/events/go

E x c E l l E n c E - d r i v E n c h r i s t- c E n t E r E d P E o P l E - f o c u s E d f u t u r E - d i r E c t E d

Office of Spiritual Life UU Box # 1812

1050 Union University Dr. Jackson, TN 38305

731.661.5062 uu.edu/spirituallife

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 Assistant Director of Student Mobilization

731.661.5571 | dcarothers@uu.edu

Aaron Beasley Student Mobilization Graduate Assistant

731.661.5161 | abeasley@uu.edu

Elizabeth Ward Office Coordinator

731.661.5062 | eward@uu.edu

Keely Hart Director of Discipleship

731.661.6598 | khart@uu.edu

Lee Wilson Director of Discipleship

731.661.5165 | lwilson@uu.edu