GO Week to Challenge Students to Get Uncomfortable

It feels good to be comfortable. To be perfectly at peace in any situation is, obviously, a great feeling. However, at OBU, students will be encouraged to "get uncomfortable for Christ" throughout this academic year, learning to break out of comfort zones in acts of discipleship and service.

The "uncomfortable" feeling will start with Global Outreach Week, which kicks off Sunday, Sept. 13, and runs through Friday, Sept. 18. During Global Outreach -- or "GO" -- Week, students on campus are encouraged to be involved in a greater global commission task: To be involved in reaching out to others, and to follow Jesus Christ to the nations.

Each year, a key Scripture is chosen that parallels the goals and theme for GO Week. This year, the Book of Amos is the theme Scripture.

"It goes well with the idea of getting uncomfortable," said OBU director of the Avery T. Willis Center for Global Outreach (name has been omitted for security purposes). "Amos speaks to us because often we become complacent, neglecting the needs of others. As followers of Christ, we need to be uncomfortable with how the world operates and bring about his kingdom."

GO Week will offer activities to create awareness for the many opportunities available to college-age students in the world of missions. Kicking off GO Week is the presentation of a mission-themed movie, "Journey to Everest," which will be shown Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9 p.m. in OBU's Bailey Business Center.

"The movie will feature a group of American businessmen who travel to Nepal to climb to an Everest base camp," OBU global outreach coordinator said. "Through the events, God uses the trip to give them a heart for Nepalis and Bhutanese in their own community."

Students will also hear from missionaries in chapel services during the week. On Monday, Sept. 14, a panel of returning journeymen will speak in chapel. Journeymen are mission personnel who serve two- to three-year terms following college graduation. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, a representative of the International Mission Board will speak. Winterberg will speak in the last service of the week on Friday, Sept. 18. All chapel services begin at 10 a.m.

The GO Fair, which will take place in the Geiger Center throughout the week, will feature several representatives from the International Mission Board, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Gospel for Asia and other mission-related organizations. Students also can get involved through a local service project in Shawnee on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8 a.m.

"One of the best ways the OBU community can be involved is through prayer," OBU global outreach coordinator said. "God does work through our prayers and should be the foundation of everything we do. God is our only true motivation and strength to do what he has asked us to do. If we do not rely on him, then ultimately we will burn out."