ARTICLES & INSPIRATION

,

A Note From Brown

,

PURE.

Today, TOMS Shoes is telling people to not wear shoes as a reminder to those who have none. To me this is a great excuse to run around barefoot and laugh at other’s stubby toes or hobbit feet. However, after the day is over the humor doesn’t cover the stench from a group of dirty feet or the pain from the gravel and asphalt. TOMS point is proven as we are left reflecting on the thousands of children whose feet are left naked all the time.

This got me thinking. How many needs are there around the world that go unnoticed? I went barefoot for a day to raise awareness for kids without shoes, but what about those without shelter? What about those going without food or without water? Oh wait, they can have water, it just will have a little mud in it, or maybe some bugs. As I learned more and more about these facts my heart broke! Some time ago I found out that a huge cause of death for infants in the San Blas Islands takes place when they are weaned from their mother’s milk to water. As a result, many mothers give the children coffee, because their water is just that bad! But instead this causes stunted growth and mal-nutrition. Fresh water is a prominent need, however awareness for this need isn’t present.

GO just recently hosted an event called Pure to raise awareness for the water projects we’ll be constructing this summer in Panama. Various artists from around the states created pieces highlighting water, justice, and people, which were sold to support the building of water purification systems. It was such a cool way to get the message across to Tulsa and give people an opportunity to help with what we’re doing.

Recently I’ve focused so much on planning the trip I almost forgot to be excited for it! The TOMS day and the PURE art show reminded me of what I’m going to be a part of in less than eight weeks! As I work hard at fundraising and say no to Starbucks or the cute shoes in the window, I know it will all be worth it when I’m running barefoot in the sand with all the little kids on the San Blas Islands!


-Brown

,

Go Weekend: The Love Rally

,

The Love Rally:

"All you need is love, love, love, love is all you need." The Beatles wrote these lyrics for their generation back in the mid 60's. The band members of the Beatles realized that love was an essential in life. That it was something everyone needed and longed for. Today more than ever, I believe people need to be reminded of the true message of God's love. Instead of us defining who is worthy, or what kind of lifestyle deserves the love of God, let's look at what God's word has to say about it. It says in Romans 5:6-8, "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God demonstrated his great love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Christ didn't die for people who already loved him. He died for sinners...people whose lives were bound up and dictated by sinful desires that were contrary to God's will. He came to cure the sick, not the healthy. It seems this true message of love has been forgotten and buried in the pile of political stigmas we've placed on different people, as we judge whether or not they are worthy of love.

We saw that there was a need for people to understand not just love, but the love of God. With the need now identified, the interns and staff of Go International filled a busy street corner in Kansas City and began the very first LOVE RALLY to protest for love. There were thirty-one individuals standing on one of the busiest street corners of the city, as we each held a variety signs to declare one message, the message of love! The signs read: "God loves Republicans," "God loves Democrats," "God loves Prostitutes," "God loves Addicts," "God loves Homosexuals," "God loves Obama," "God loves Bush," and "God loves People"!! As we waved these signs in the air, the energy on the street corner was contagious. Cars rushed by honking their horns, rolling down their windows, and shouting, "LOVE" as they passed! Within a few minutes of standing on the street corner, Kansas City had begun to catch onto the movement of Love.

It wasn't too long before a group of girls came up to some of our interns and asked what it was we were doing. Quickly, the interns expressed the vision of the Love Rally, explaining that we wanted to share the Love of God with Kansas City and show people that everyone, no matter who they are, what their "label" is, what they have done, or where they live, that they are loved by God and by us. The girls suddenly were no longer strangers to Go International, but our friends as they took on our vision, or rather God's vision, as their own. So there we stood on the street corner that day united as one body, all-coming together to protest for love. We all came from different backgrounds, different races, with different life goals, but we had the common desire to share love. The smiles, the cheers, the volume, and the presence of love that day was something that cannot be captured by any photo. However, I do believe that particular day in Kansas City will resonate in the hearts of the individuals that we encountered. A songwriter once wrote, "Love conquers it all, crosses all boundaries and breaks down the walls." I believe this was accomplished that day in Kansas City. Walls of bitterness, rejection, of the fear of being alone and not being loved were all torn down. For some, seeing Go International standing on the corner was the answer that they needed that day, for some it may have brought them hope which was once lost. This day was a mark in history for many people's lives- for the interns, staff members, for the girls that came along side and protested for love with us, and even for the strangers that passed by us. Jesus challenges us to be love to those that we encounter, so I ask you to accept that challenge too. That doesn't mean you need to hold signs that say, "God loves you”, and you don’t even need to be in a foreign city. All you need is a desire to share love and the will to act.

Written by Go Intern: Lindsey Clark

,

Go Weekend: Perspective

,

Perspective:

On Friday, September 11, 2009, I arrived outside the “Go” offices ready for a road trip squeezed in with a bunch of strangers for a four and a half hour drive. Not knowing what to expect, I was a little nervous. The road trip wasn’t bad. I normally sleep on road trips, but not this one. We actually played fun, “getting-to-know-you” games, which made the time go by pretty fast. Four and half hours later, we arrived in Kansas City at our hotel. I’m thinking we’ll go in and unwind, but that wasn’t the case. We walked into our assigned rooms and had a “challenge” card waiting for us, letting us know we have 15 minutes to get our swim wear on and go to the pool. Here was the catch; we also had to wear goggles that had been painted over so we could just barely see out of them! First thoughts: I was being “hazed” for a sorority. It almost felt like a mean joke for the pure entertainment of second years, staff, and other on-lookers. Fortunately there was a method to the madness and it turned out to be a very unique and, in the end, fun, team building challenge leading to the revealing of the first core value.

We had 10 minutes to find the one key of 150 keys that were scattered at the bottom of the pool, which unlocked the chest that revealed the whole of this exercise. In the first 10 minutes, we failed to find the one key and the keys we found were thrown back into the pool to be searched through again! As one could imagine I was pretty discouraged at this point, but we really came together as a team. Great ideas were thrown out there, implemented and then the impossible came to pass… we found the key in 6 minutes that unlocked the chest revealing the first core value… perspective. It was a victorious moment that we shared as a team. Turns out we were the first group to ever perform this exercise which was pretty exciting because what seemed impossible, we deemed possible!

Written by Go Intern: Kelly Drury



Guest Speaker: Greg Fritz

"What does success mean to you?” This was one of the first things that Evangelist Greg Fritz asked the interns when he spoke this past Thursday. Following his question he gave us his definition of success saying, “Success is simply doing what God wants you to do”. He continued to explain that success means nothing without God in it. God is the only one who can fulfill you. Where we go and what we do only means something if there is purpose to it. Ask yourself, “Is it what God told me to do?

Changing gears he began to emphasize the value of following God’s direction for our lives. He started off with an interesting statement and an honest one in my opinion; “God doesn’t always fill in all the blanks for us”. How many of us feel like we can relate to that? Isn’t that the beauty of trusting in God though? The fact is, we can’t see the whole plan when we are in the middle of walking it out. We experience it one page at a time, like a good book. Like many things in our life, it comes down to a decision. If you are determined to follow God right now, God will lead you. If you learn to follow Him, He will get you to your goals. More than likely though, it won’t be the way you thought it would be. Finishing his previous statement we were directed towards Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. After reading the passage he proclaimed, “If you are going to follow God, you are going to have to learn to make your heart overrule your head.” Wow, how prevalent that was for me! Honestly, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring and we can only go so far when we are leading ourselves.

Wrapping up with what his definition of success was, he gave us two keys to achieve it. The first was following the Holy Spirit and the second was being honest with yourself- both of which are crucial. After he had left I felt like I was looking at things with a fresh perspective. God ALLOWS us to have a part in something much bigger than ourselves. God gives us the OPPORTUNITY to be in His plan for our lives. Loving people and leading them to Jesus is a blessing.

He ended the discussion with this statement and challenge; “I want to lay my head down at night and know that this is where God wants me to be”. This may seem like a simple goal at face value, but I believe it is one that is worth our time. Remember, success means nothing without God in it.





,

Go Weekend: Self-Discipline

,

Self- Discipline:

The warm wind blew softly past my face. I heard the sound of grass crunching beneath my feet. It had only been a few minutes since they had let us out of the car; the hand gripped tighter pulling me further into the unknown… I was blindfolded. No one spoke, I only heard soft breathing from the others around me. Where were they leading us? We came to a stop; no one talked, but I heard the thousands of questions racing through everyone’s mind because they were the same as my own. A voice spoke, he told us remove our blindfolds and remain silent out of respect for the dead. My hands began to untie the orange bandana that was blinding my eyes. I blinked once or twice and found myself surrounded by tombstones. They had brought us to a cemetery. They directed us to a very large grave in the middle. I saw the city lights from a distance and the half covered moon as I took my seat on the soft, wet grass. We sat there, waiting, wondering and even with our sight returned we still had no idea why we were brought to this place of forgotten dreams. Our leaders began to speak telling us about how short life is and how any second it can end. They spoke of the people now marked with a tombstone; about how their story was over and how they had already had their chance to live, to make an impact… or not.

Still listening, my eyes gazed over the many graves surrounding me. Questions still raced through my mind, but questions of a different sort, questions about these people buried so deep in the ground- were their dreams buried with them? Who were these people, what were their joys, what made them smile, who made them smile? How did they shape their world and how did they make it better. How many never got the chance? What stopped them? Fear, discouragement, doubt; what stopped them from doing what their heart desired? Are there doctors lying here, musicians, storytellers or perhaps housewives, fathers or good husbands? How many became that doctor, storyteller or husband and how many ran with full speed ahead? What dreams lay in the darkness because fear crept in and stole what they held so dear? I stared once again toward the city lights and now wondered about those people… Are they going to live out their dreams or shall they be buried with all that they could have been beneath the ground? I wept inside for those whose story had been written and wept for those who were afraid to start writing it. The night came to a close as we rose back up and made our way to the cars. I took one last look at the tombstones sitting there, unmoving, unfeeling, just there. I didn’t just want to be there, just something to take up space, I wanted more, more than a half-written story, more than a tombstone, more than just hoping my dreams and desires would someday come to pass. I wanted more than a field of forgotten dreams.

Written by Go Intern: Caleb Hutton

Go Weekend: Overview

Overview:
Each year the Go Internship kicks off with the Go Weekend. This is a 3-day event where the 1st year interns take an adventurous trip to experience unique challenges and overcome obstacles that represent the core values of the Go Internship. As each core value is revealed, the interns learn how to work together effectively while their personal leadership abilities are being stretched. Through various opportunities they learn how to tap into their creativity, to push their limits, and seek fresh ideas and new perspectives. A common statement made throughout the weekend is, “Never say I can’t, but ask yourself how can I?" During this time they quickly learn how to put 100% into everything they do as they pursue excellence. With that being said, this trip is also a great opportunity for the second year interns to put the creativity they’ve discovered from their past year into practice, as they custom make and create new ideas and challenges each year. Because of this, we are able to constantly better the experience, as we never settle to become comfortable with the previous year's layout. All in all, this exciting weekend is meant to show the vision of Go International and encourage the interns to actively pursue the direction that God has for them, 1st year and 2nd year interns alike.

Check back for more posts from the weekend.

,

Guest Speaker: Johnie Hampton

,

This week we were honored to have Mr. Johnie Hampton share with us about his life and his business, Hampton Creative. With many things to voice and many life lessons to portray he focused on one thing- overcoming fear. Simplistic and straight to the point, he created 6 points about conquering our fears that left the interns revitalized and encouraged.

He started with:

1. Don’t be afraid of preparation. Many people go through times of pain and trial and no one ever sees it. What they see is the “you” that has come out of that and entered into the “limelight”.  Preparation produces character.

2. Don’t be afraid to show passion about what you want to do. He began to explain that we are individuals and if we are going to live out our dreams we have to do it unlike any other. Later he reinstated this point with a candid statement, “If you are passionate about it, you will make it happen.”

3. Don’t be afraid of opposition. All too often people will tell you what you can’t do instead of what you can. Opposition is an opportunity to learn.

4. Don’t be afraid if it doesn’t work out the way you planned. Just because things don’t work out the way we planned, it doesn’t mean they won’t work at all. Twists and turns are a part of life; it’s what proves who is determined and who is not.

5. Don’t allow yourself to be offended. This step, in my opinion, is vital. Offense only holds you back from learning and growing. Forgiveness is for the one who gets offended more so than the offender itself.

6. Know your season. Mr. Hampton started off this crucial point with Gal. 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Persistence is key for success. How bad do you desire to fulfill your dreams?

Once he was finished I was left thinking about how I had let fear creep into my own life and determine what I was capable of doing or being. A few moments passed and I realized that I had allowed fear to become an excuse, an excuse for settling for less. The truth is, we determine what we are capable of. Fear is only a circumstance and just like any other circumstance it is subject to us and how we look at it. I’ll finish with reiterating a statement made earlier by Mr. Hampton, “If you are passionate about it, you will make it happen.”

,

A Note From Brown

,

Hello!

My name is Anna Brown, but for years everyone has called me Brown. This is my first year at Go International and I’m enjoying it! I’ll be making a weekly blog of things going on at Go in my department, so be sure and check back!

Here's a little of my story:

When I graduated high school I wanted to go to college, get a boyfriend, and become a successful business person; not just successful for a girl, successful period. However, God began a trend of surprising me.

In the past I had been turned off by the general idea of missions. Every year I had the opportunity to do missions, and many of my friends would go, but after ninth grade I decided it wasn’t how I wanted to spend my time. Although I believed the heart and intentions were good, I had just written missions off as "Not my thing".

So the first surprise hit when God told me Go International was where I was supposed to spend my first year out of high school. I had explained, to more than one person, that "Sure it was a missions organization, but I'll probably be placed somewhere doing something really important, like, you know... business stuff." So surprise number two definitely made me eat my words when I was placed in the missions department!

As usual, God knows better than I do, and I ended up loving my department and what I was doing. The first month we learned all about the San Blas Islands and the Kunas (the people who reside there) and I couldn’t believe I was actually excited about going on a mission trip! More than that, I began to see the importance in missions and the difference it truly makes.

In the past it’s been easy to complain about how trips aren’t what they should be because of this or that, but this year I actually have the opportunity to make a trip exactly what I think it should be. So join me as I update about our efforts here at Go to make this the best summer trip ever!

-Brown

Guest Speakers: Susi Taylor and Barbara Arbo

“The spirit of God gives us direction in our life,” Barbara Arbo declared confidently.

“Seeking and waiting on God is wonderful, but nothing in life will come about unless you act on it; action is key,” stated Susi Taylor.

Reading these two statements next to each other might not seem consistent, but hearing their messages one after the other proved otherwise. This past Thursday we were fortunate to have these two women of God speak back to back. Each of them brought unique insights into the meaning of what it is to live for God. Even though they are from different parts of the country with two different messages in mind, they somehow wove together beautifully.

To start us off Mrs. Arbo expressed the importance of relying on God and his direction for our lives, which is made known through His spirit and His word. She often exclaimed that even with all of our knowledge and insight we still often don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Lets be honest, following God’s purpose for our lives isn’t the most obvious route to take. I believe that is the very reason God’s word repeatedly tells us to trust in Him. That is the beauty of a relationship with God… we don’t have all the answers, He does. We rely on Him solely and continually.

Waiting and relying on God is wonderful, but there is much more depth than that when it comes to God. A key part of trust is action. How can you truly trust in God if you don’t DO what He asks of you? Just as it says in James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” The direction of God is essential and the faith to act on it is indispensable as well.

I want to take one last turn and finish with a statement made by Susi Taylor, “What you look at the longest, becomes the strongest… keep looking at those dreams and most of all keep chasing them."

Written by Go Apprentice: David Solomon

For more information on these speakers visit: www.arboministries.org/ www.susitaylor.com/

Barbara with husband Stephen

Susi after speaking at Go

Guest Speaker: Tom Newman

Last week we were fortunate to have Tom Newman, the director of Impact Productions, speak with us. His insights into life and the impact our lives make in others were priceless.

If you were to imagine your life as a book what would it look like and what chapter would you be in today? Maybe each chapter would have certain significant events that took place in your life. When you take a look at those chapters do you begin to notice God’s presence in it, however subtle? The fact is we are all born with a mission or a sense of purpose, but we determine how or if we are going to live it out. Still think that it’s a little strange to look at our lives as a story?

Let’s take a look at Jesus’ ministry in Mark 4:1-13. In this passage Jesus told the people a parable about the kingdom of God. Now if you have looked at Jesus’ ministry much in the Bible you notice this reoccurring theme of telling stories. Why did Jesus do this? He knew people would relate to stories and in turn learn from them. I believe that is true with our lives. Our lives and our stories are valuable to others. The fact is we don’t know how many are reading the “story” of our lives whether it is through everyday interaction or through a passing greeting. Nevertheless they are there. Please take a moment to ask yourself what story God is telling through your life?

Let me leave you with a statement made by Tom Newman…

“God has given us a front row seat to the story He is unwinding and that story is our lives.”

Written by Go Apprentice: David Solomon

,

The Open House. March 29, 2010

,

If you've ever considered joining the Go Internship or interested in finding out what we're all about, join us at our next Open House Event. During Open House you can have a look around our Offices, meet the founders, Greg and Christa Baca, the Staff, and this year's current Interns. This is the perfect time to have your questions about the program answered.

Open house begins at 4:00PM from 4:00-4:15pm tour the offices and take a look around. From 4:15-5:00PM Greg & Christa will be sharing about the program. Hear from current interns about the direct impact the program has made on their lives. Feel free to bring a friend or two, grab a starbucks on the way over, and come chill and hang out.

The offices are located:
12814 S. Memorial
Suite 121 & 122
Bixby, OK 74008

,

Pure

,

Go International is hosting its first Charity Art exhibit; entitled: Pure. This exhibit is benefiting Go Internationals summer humanitarian project for the Kuna Yala Tribe in the San Blas Islands. Right now, 1.1 billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water.  That’s one in six of us.  Can you imagine living your whole life without ever drinking a glass of clean water?  For the Kunas, unclean water isn’t just a statistic, but a daily reality.  The San Blas community has a plentiful supply of water, but no way to get it clean.  As a result, early infant death and widespread disease among the Kunas is rampant. Last summer, Go International installed a fresh water purification system which provided clean water for three islands, home to about 3,000 of the Kuna people. This summer, Go International will return to the islands and install additional fresh water systems in the islands with the greatest need.

You have an opportunity to help make a lasting change in the lives of the Kuna Tribe. All proceeds from the “Pure” exhibit will go directly towards the cause. Come out and show your support and join us for a night devoted to art and justice.

Cover charge: Donation. Loose Leaf Co. 328 East 1st St Tulsa, Ok 74120

Read more about Project Panama 2010 at: www.gomissions.tv

Keith Wheeler Speaks at Go Internship.tv

What is ministry to you? That was the first question that was presented to us by Keith Wheeler today. As we’ve grown up we all have shaped our own idea of what ministry is, and for that matter, what life is. All to often it is easy to get caught up in what you are doing in your life and what you are doing in “your ministry”. The work, the numbers, and the “mask” we display when others are around us. With this thought in mind Keith then directed us to this scripture: Hebrews 12:2 – “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”

If we claim that the ministry we do is our own, are we not taking attention away from Jesus? Keith made a bold statement and, in my opinion, an honest one. No man leads people to Jesus; it is in fact, Jesus who draws all men unto the Father.

In my life I have often complicated some of the simplest things. One of those things is the idea of ministry. Ministry is not a profession or even an overseas trip you take once a year. Ministry is the overflow of a life lived in love with Jesus. In other words, ministry is a lifestyle, and one we are privileged to live.

I would like to leave you with some of the questions that he asked us. As you read these please take time to ask yourself what they mean to you.

- What is ministry?

- Is ministry something you do or is it something you are?

- When does ministry become entertainment or vice versa?

- Is Jesus your goal and your pursuit?

Written by Apprentice David Solomon     Visit Keith's Site at: www.kw.org