Now that the World Race is over, the big question is, what’s next?
And after much prayer, deliberation, weighing of options, seeking wise counsel, and submitting to God’s design, I have an answer. My mission trip may have ended, but my time with Adventures in Missions has not: I’ll be spending the next six months at Adventures headquarters with a program called The Fellowship!
The Fellowship is a six month discipleship program for racers who have recently returned from the field. It’s designed “to allow emerging leaders to uncover their aptitude for partnering biblical principles with innovative thought processes.” As a fellow, I’ll be placed in a department at Adventures and challenged to take on a project of significant magnitude. I’ll receive spiritual mentorship and professional development from senior staff at Adventures, and I’ll live in community with other fellows.
The Fellowship will help me take everything I learned, experienced and grew in on the Race to the next level as it gives me the opportunity to practice Kingdom living in the workplace. I’ve spent the past year wearing the job title “missionary”; this program will help me learn to live out my faith in the workplace as I transition from the mission field into the professional world. What does that look like in practical terms? You can read about the current cohort of fellows and the projects they’re undertaking at Adventures in Missions here.
I’ll move to Gainesville, Georgia, the location of the Adventures in Missions office, on September 25th, where I’ll meet the other ten fellows (three of whom are my squadmates!). We’ll be working nine to five at the Adventures office in our various departments, and will live together in community houses. I’ll be working with the Marketing Department and will get to use my skills as a writer and editor as they develop new writing initiatives. I’ll complete the six month long program in March, and then I’ll once again be looking to God to see “what’s next?”
Joining The Fellowship, like choosing to go on the World Race, is a huge step of faith for me for a number of reasons–not the least of which being that it’s support raised. I need to raise $9,950 in order to complete the program. That will cover a monthly stipend, housing, and all program costs, including curriculum materials, a Fellowship retreat, and monthly cohort activities. This past year, I watched God provide every penny I needed for the World Race. I’m excited to rely on His provision again, depend on Him and witness His faithfulness to provide for His children throughout my time with The Fellowship.
I hope you will continue to join me in this journey of faith. Here’s how:
1. I’ll continue to update this blog and my monthly supporter newsletter so you can read about what God’s doing throughout the next few months. Of course, I’d love to hear from you too! Feel free to keep in touch–blog comments, emails, phone calls, Skype dates, etc. are always welcome.
2. I hope you’ll join with me in prayer! I am trusting my life into God’s hands with no safety net or plan B and putting myself in positions where He has to come through for me or I’ll fall. Your prayers are vital! Pray that God would guide me through the next couple months of travel and transitions to get to The Fellowship. Pray that He would design my Fellowship experience Himself to make it the most beneficial for both Adventures and me. And please pray that God would provide financially for The Fellowship! My first financial deadline is to have $3,000 by September 1st: please pray with me that I will meet it.
3. If you feel led to give a financial donation towards my time at The Fellowship, you can do so by clicking the “Support Me!” button on the left. If you’d prefer to give by check rather than online, or if you’d like more information, email me and we can chat.
It has been a wild, crazy ride ever since I graduated from college in 2014, and it’s not slowing down yet. To everyone who’s come with me this far along this journey, thank you so very much. Your support has meant the world to me–literally! I hope you’ll join me once again as I trust in Jesus and follow His lead to The Fellowship and everything that will come next.
