The last time I wrote, I mentioned something called CGA. This stands for “Center of Global Action”, not “Core of Grandiose Activation”, although I do like that name. It is a discipleship/training program that I am now a part of. After the World Race, I wanted to get on the field right away as a long term missionary. I didn’t exactly know in which direction to go however, since there are so many organizations and ways to go about doing that. I also didn’t have any idea what ministry or country I was called to.
While I was at a week-long event called Project Searchlight in Gainesville, Georgia (AIM offices), I heard more about CGA and started thinking about doing it. Even if I didn’t end up being a long term missionary with Adventures in Missions (AIM), I knew that God would use CGA to better equip me to make disciples in the nations and to help activate my calling as a long term missionary. If I did decide to work as a long term missionary with AIM, I would need to be trained through CGA first. God gave me the choice as to whether I wanted to do it or not. I decided that CGA is a win/win situation, since I would gain so much from it.
After only two weeks, I am satisfied with the decision I made. I am living in a CGA house with 7 other girls, and with a married couple as house mentors. We have had so much fun together already!
Three mornings a week I am part of the missions track. There are five other ladies doing this track to bounce ideas off of and to build community with. We have three leaders who have had long term missions experience and are teaching us how to do it well. They know what it looks like to do long term missions successfully and how not to do it. Last week discussed our redemptive gifts and I am already learning a great deal about myself that will help me on the field.
Every Wednesday morning I take a class called ‘Activate Your Calling’ and a class called ‘Dangerous Jesus’. ‘Activate your calling’ will help me to start walking out my calling (In my next blog I’ll share about the ministry I am called to). I can see that I’m getting much further along having a community and resources, than I would have by myself.
‘Dangerous Jesus’ is a class taught by a long term missionary from South Africa. It is based on a book of the same name written by the man who founded the World Race, Seth Barnes. We are talking about what it means to be dangerous for Jesus and how to take risks for the Kingdom. We are applying what we learn in class in the Gainesville community. The Holy Spirit is already using me to take risks and I am learning that when I obey Him so many blessings come!
In the afternoons, I work as an apprentice to the Short Term Missions department. I am helping the guys who communicate with individuals going on these trips. This apprenticeship really helps them out in so many ways and I get to gain more professional experience while I am here. It is really awesome to work in an environment that is so focused on intimacy with the Lord and in building community. Once a week, the STM department comes together for encouragement, teaching, and prayer.
Every Monday for an hour, we participate in all staff worship. It is a great way to start the week with the Lord as an organization and to praise God for what He is doing! CGA then has the rest of the day receiving teaching from AIM staff and spending time in CGA community. We spend time in prayer for one another and processing/discussing what the Lord has been teaching us.
I have really loved CGA and the community that comes along with it. God is challenging me in new ways and helping me develop spiritually, communally, and professionally. I know that this time will be so beneficial to making disciples on the field in the future.
If you would like to partner with God, through me, in preparing me for the mission field, please let me know. I need prayer warriors who are willing to pray for me continually as I am learning and stepping out in faith. I also need financial partners to raise support so that I can continue in CGA. Furthermore, I need monthly supporters who are willing to support me now, but who are also willing to continue supporting me on the field. If you are interested, please contact me at [email protected]. Thank you so much.
