JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 21, 2007 — Andy Pettigrew, director of Campus Ministries at 51社区, and his wife Laura were commissioned by the Southern Baptist Convention鈥檚 International Mission Board Nov. 7 to serve as career missionaries in Botswana, Africa.
The Pettigrews were among 82 other people who were commissioned in a service in Springfield, Ill.
鈥淢y life story has never really been a matter of if, but when,鈥� Andy said about his interest in missions. 鈥淕od called me to missions at a young age, and I鈥檝e been watching his hand in my life as he鈥檚 taken me various places.鈥�
While in Botswana, the Pettigrews will be working with university students, partnering with local churches, planting churches, training student leaders and providing HIV/AIDS education.
鈥淲e鈥檙e primarily working with university students,鈥� Andy said. 鈥淲e are going to go to proclaim a message of hope to people in Botswana by ultimately pointing them to the gospel of Christ.鈥�
In 2005, Andy took a group of Union students on a Global Opportunities trip to Botswana. In 2007, he said he was able to go again with his wife and another group of students on a GO trip.
鈥淭he first time I went to Botswana, I thought God was saying 鈥業 want you to work here,鈥欌�� Andy said. 鈥淪o, I started praying through that.鈥�
The Pettigrews are going as career missionaries with the goal of planting their lives among the people and proclaiming the gospel among them.
Before coming to Union in 2004 to be director of Campus Ministries, Andy and Laura worked as semester missionaries for the North American Mission Board with students at the University of Washington.
鈥淏eing out of the Bible Belt and working in Seattle with 40,000 college students was a great experience for us,鈥� Laura said. 鈥淚t also reaffirmed God鈥檚 call in our lives that he eventually wanted us to go overseas.鈥�
Andy said he is thankful for all the encouragement, prayers and support from people at Union, and that his time working at Union has allowed him to be incredibly blessed.
鈥淚 desire to be a blessing to others,鈥� Andy said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to take what God has taught me here and apply it to life in Botswana.鈥�
Laura said she is also thankful for Union, because it has been great to have support from everyone at the university, as well as from Cornerstone Community Church 鈥� where the Pettigrews are members.
The Pettigrews will go to Richmond, Va., for training from Feb. 3- April 3. Shortly thereafter, they will head to Botswana.
They have two children 鈥� Lili, 4, and Elliot, 1.
鈥淐ross cultural experiences give you the idea that the world is different and so diverse,鈥� Laura said. 鈥淏ut, at the same time, the common denominator is that we all need Christ. Everyone, no matter what their culture or life circumstance, is in need of the gospel.鈥�