Jonathan Sanders

Biblical Studies/Languages Major, Germantown, Tenn.

鈥淟ord, if you want me to do this, open the door. If not, I鈥檒l keep looking; I鈥檒l keep trusting.鈥�

This was the prayer on Jonathan Sanders鈥� mind as he heard the news that the GO Trip he鈥檇 hoped to join was full.

After listening to a message from Timothy O鈥橠ay, a Utah missionary and Union graduate, about the work being done in Utah, Sanders began searching for mission opportunities. This search led him to sign up for a GO Trip.

Soon, his prayers for an open door were answered: the Utah GO Trip team needed one more student.

After the spring semester ended, Sanders, a Germantown, Tenn., native, returned to Union for several days of training, which helped his team not only get to know each other but also learn more about what they would encounter in Utah, which is less than 1 percent evangelical Christian.

While, in Utah, the team spent time prayer-walking, 鈥渄oor-knocking鈥� to invite people to church, engaging with local university students and encouraging the ministry leaders.

鈥淚t can feel lonely out there,鈥� Sanders said, but 鈥渢hey were encouraging to us, even more so.鈥�

Sanders returned to West Tennessee in late July. He came back with a heightened desire for the church to pursue a deeper understanding of its beliefs and doctrine.

The biggest impact of GO Trips is that they 鈥渂ring you out of your own cultural bubble,鈥� he said. He noted that the experience often pushed him out of his comfort zone.

Sanders said GO Trips are 鈥渟omething to pray over and to think about, and if the Lord doesn鈥檛 lead you, that doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檙e not serving God well.鈥�

鈥淵ou can serve God well in your community,鈥� Sanders said.

When he graduates with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biblical studies/languages, Sanders hopes to serve a local church while attending seminary.