Why the World Race? When asked this question, immediately I want to respond with: "Why not the World Race?" After dying to my feisty flesh and giving the question some thought, I have concluded the following…
I am an adventure seeker. I love the feeling I get deep down in my heart when I participate in new activities. I am also in a perfect time of transition in my life–I just graduated college in May, so why not travel the world?
To go a bit deeper, I have recently been in a season where I have been seeking the Lord. I still attend church, but have not been serving in ministry for a few months now. It's been God and me. During my times of seeking the Lord, He re-broke my heart for the poor and lost and reminded me of my passion for missions.
I read a book–Adoniram Judson by John Piper–that highlights the reasons for international missions. Adoniram Judson was America's first missionary to preach in Burma. In the book, Piper has a few points as to why we, as Christians, have to live out the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20. God rocked my world with the first point: God purposes the Gospel to be spread to all nations. Piper analyzes Judson's life in light of Scripture and emphasizes the overwhelming need for the nations to hear about the hope found in Christ Jesus.
I've had my fair share of mission trips, but it seems like God used this book to remind me of the children I once served, the poor I once loved, and the oppressed I once prayed for. In this season, God reminded me that I have the most important and beautiful treasure I could ever ask for–Himself. How could I deny the world of such a treasure? I knew I needed to obey. I had no idea what I was going to do. After a few weeks of asking the infamous question "God what do you want me to do for the rest of my life?" The Lord spoke. He didn't give me the whole plan, but, rather, gave me the next step through a conversation with a friend. This person said she had been praying for me and thought of the World Race as she was praying for me. I didn't think much of it and didn't even want to look at the World Race website until I was sure this was what God wanted me to do. Soon after, He confirmed. I had so much peace in my heart to apply, so I did. After the interview process, I received a phone call notifying me of my acceptance to the World Race.
I chose to apply to the World Race because of my natural inclination towards adventure, my desire for deeper and genuine communion with Jesus, to share the love of Christ with the world, and to be obedient to the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.
