The Office of University Ministries held their GO Trip team reveal on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Students who had applied to go on a GO Trip gathered in the Bowld gym, where flags hung around the room, representing countries and states where Union GO Trips have gone before.
GO Trips at Union University provide students, faculty and staff with the opportunity to partner with missionaries, both in the United States and internationally, during spring break and throughout the summer.
The night began with an atmosphere of both anticipation and peace. Julie Bradfield, senior director for University Ministries and director for student mobilization, began by reminding students that this was a night of celebration, of the gospel and of the work that has already been done and will continue.
Following this introduction, a few student leaders in the Office of University Ministries shared parts of their own experiences with GO Trips.
Ash Cioto, a sophomore social work major, encouraged students that no calling to go is insignificant.
“No matter where you go, the gospel is needed,” Cioto said.
Before teams were revealed, Stephen Neu, coordinator for service and mobilization, led students in a time of prayer and commissioning.
“Realize that you aren’t going alone,” Neu said.
Students are being sent out on GO Trips with a team from the Union community, but more importantly, they are being sent out from the Church.
Anticipation was rising as Todd Brady, vice president for university ministries, offered some final exhortations before revealing each team.
“Focus not so much on where you’re going, but on the God who is sending you,” Brady said.
Brady revealed each team by naming all of the team members and then announcing the location of the trip. Each team then met with their team leaders under the flag representing the trip that was announced. Many students and team leaders met with hugs of excitement.
Callie Teague, a sophomore public relations major, found out at the reveal that she would be going on the Vancouver GO Trip during spring break.
“I didn’t think I was going to get Vancouver,” Teague said. “It was the best surprise.”
Teague is especially excited to get to know the people on her team who she did not know before and to work with Persian Muslims in Vancouver.
“I’ve never gotten to share the gospel with people of another faith,” Teague said.
Coming into the reveal event, Teague did not think that she would be going to a location that she had put on her preference list.
“It was really scary, but I think I learned more about trusting the Lord through that than if I knew I was going to Vancouver,” Teague said.
In preparation for the reveal event, Teague prayed for an open mind and heart for wherever she was sent. The Lord gave her a heart for the work rather than for a particular location.
“He gave me a heart for all the trips,” Teague said.
For more information about GO Trips at Union, visit www.uu.edu/oum/mobilization/go-trips.cfm.
Photo by Tamara Friesen
