“For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died....Therefore, we are all ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’”
--2 Corinthians 5:14 & 20

These theme verses resonated in the hearts of college students from all over Texas as they gathered the second weekend in February gaining a better understanding of what exactly it means to be compelled to take true love to a real world. Go Now Missions sends hundreds of college students on mission trips all over the world every year. As part of the interview process, students participate in what is called Discovery Weekend. The weekend serves not only as a group and individual interview for potential student missionaries, but also as a time of worship and learning what it means to be a missionary in everyday life. It is a time of listening to God to discern where each student can best serve according to his or her gifts. This year, 121 had the opportunity to host these students for this important weekend.

“The weekend was amazing. God gave me a passion for missions not only abroad, but on my campus. He also taught me many things about Him,” West Texas A&M junior Becca Walker said.

The weekend began with the registration process on Friday. 121 members were asked to grab a corner to help things run smoothly during this time. With all the details that go into getting hundreds of students in the right place with the right stuff at the right time, these volunteers served an important role.

“I went as a Go Now semester missionary in 2004. Go Now and Brenda [Sanders] have made such an impact in my life that it was great to volunteer at my church, helping students be a part of the Great Commission. It was also exciting to talk to students at the mission fair who might be serving with some of our missionaries from 121 in South Asia this summer,” Donna Gleason said.

Other 121 members were able to serve by opening up their homes for the weekend. Over 25 host homes provided a place for a small group of students and their leaders to learn from each other, eat, and sleep over the weekend. Melissa Perez talks about the opportunity of hosting students.

“I loved having those students at our home. It was so awesome to be a part of this season of their lives. There was an excitement with them here, because they're about to answer the call and go,” Perez said.

Leaders of each group have the role of learning as much as they can about each student during the weekend. Many group leaders have served as student missionaries in the past and enjoy being a part of sending current students to the nations.

“It was incredible to know a group of five students for less than 48 hours, yet in that time to see the enormity of God's work in their hearts, His call on their lives, and their desire for radical obedience to follow Him to the very ends of the earth,” group leader and former Go Now missionary Kate Reding said.

Group leader Mark Nelson gives one more way that 121 members can serve as the summer approaches.

“It was really a great experience to see how God was working in the college students to prepare them for the summer. I realized, again, how important prayer is to the outcome and placement of students, and how God can really answer the prayers of those who seek His face,” Nelson said.

As Christ’s love compels you, pray for each student as they are compelled to go.

::Jeanna Wright