GO (Global Outreach) Teams are short-term summer mission immersion projects for college students from across the state. Sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and Baptist Collegiate Ministries, these international mission teams also develop leadership skills and build community through an intensive five-month training process.
The 2008 GO Teams were involved in mission experiences in Germany; London, England; Macau; and South Africa.
GO Team members lead an English class for restaurant workers in Macau.
The Germany GO Team attended the Baptist World Youth Conference in Leipzig and then worked with the International Baptist Church in Cologne. They travelled to several universities in Cologne and to the downtown area, publicizing the church and interacting with residents. They also held Bible studies in the homes of church members.
In an email, Kingsley Edosomwan, a member of International Baptist Church, wrote, “Thank God for sending you guys to strengthen our faith in such a time like this.”
For the second consecutive year, a Virginia Baptist GO Team partnered with several other organizations in a project that seeks to share Christ with the more than 1.5 million people from an unreached people group who vacation in London each summer.
Many of these people of this unreached group come from countries where it is illegal to practice or convert to Christianity.
The London GO Team handed out 2,685 Arabic-language Bibles and Jesus films, 117 Jesus films in other languages, and 99 English Bibles.
The Macau GO Team worked alongside Larry and Sarah Ballew, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missionaries who use English-language instruction to reach the large population of low-income restaurant workers in Macau. Team members assembled and distributed about 1,600 gift packets containing a pen, candy, salvation tract and other items.
Restaurant workers were also invited to six free conversational English classes, which were taught by the team and drew a total of 45 people.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia provided a $500 scholarship for each of the Macau GO Team members.
In South Africa, a GO Team preached in various churches and led numerous primary-school classes in music, drama, and discussion. They also visited two children's homes and a Baptist daycare center, assisted in a soup kitchen, and met with staff at the Central University of Technology to compare and contrast campus ministry efforts in South Africa and America.
Various GO Team members expressed surprise and gratitude for the way God worked through them — and within them — during this mission experience.
Nina Spengler plays with children at a daycare ministry in South Africa.
“I saw and felt God working through me and the rest of our group in ways I never could have imagined,” said Macau GO Team member Robbie Yancey.
Whitney Stiltner departed for South Africa wondering, “Am I spiritually mature enough for this [mission]?” But during the trip “everything seemed to fall in place, and I realized I was supposed to be in South Africa.”
“God is truly amazing,” said Ashley Hurst. “He worked in the lives of Muslims in London, and used me in a way I never expected. He took my weaknesses and used them for his glory by giving me the opportunity to share why Jesus is so important in my life.”
Germany GO Team Members:
• Erin Anthony, Senior, Christopher Newport University
• David Hodge, Northern Virginia Community College
• Jenny Hodge, Junior, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Sandra Hodge
• Robbie Hott, Alumnus, College of William & Mary
• Kimberlee Gibson, Baptist Collegiate Minister, Christopher Newport University
London GO Team Members:
• Becky Brittain, Alum, Virginia Tech
• Ashley Hurst, Sophomore, Virginia Tech
• Kristen Seely, Junior, Virginia Tech
• Melissa Cheliras, Baptist Collegiate Ministry Intern, Virginia Tech
Macau GO Team Members:
• Beth Babcock, Sophomore, University of Mary Washington
• Matt Beach, Senior, Longwood University
• Emily Caviness, Freshman, Longwood University
• Andrew Tunnell, Freshman, Virginia Military Institute
• Robbie Yancey, Freshman, Longwood University
• Dan Stanley, Volunteer Collegiate Minister, Virginia Military Institute
• Cheri Wise, Baptist Collegiate Minister, Longwood University
South Africa GO Team Members:
• Kelly Hunter, Junior, University of Virginia-Wise
• Nina Spengler, Junior, University of Mary Washington
• Kevin Spurlock, Sophomore, Wytheville Community College
• Whitney Stiltner, Senior, University of Virginia-Wise
• Jim Collie, Collegiate Minister, University of Virginia-Wise
• Rhonda Nash, Baptist Collegiate Minister, University of Mary Washington