While at training camp this week I gained a team, which I prefer to call a family. These people will be who I live, work, and experience life with for the 11 months of the World Race. From the 60+ racers, 10 teams were formed by the World Race staff, but ultimately by God. Through prayer, observations, and feedback, the staff decided those who would work well together and grow alongside one another through this experience. Meet my team . . my family.
Do we look ridiculous? Maybe, but do we care? No. I love this picture because it truly displays the nature of our team. We love God, people, having fun, and each other. I must be honest though, I was a nervous wreck about this whole team assignment thing at the beginning of the week. That was before I truly trusted the Lord with this decision though. When I gave it up, He was so faithful and totally provided. This “family” was formed by God Himself and it is obvious. These five people are pretty amazing and I am so honored to have the opportunity to embark on this journey with them. They loved me regardless of being the sick mess I was throughout camp, so that is saying something. Already we have proven to work well together and have made priceless memories. From Seattle to Baltimore and all in between, we have come together to be sent out into the nations.
[Rooted 19:30] is the name we chose for our team. The reference is to 2 Kings 19:30. This particular chapter is a prophecy made by Isaiah over the fall of Sennacherib, king of Assyria. The king believed his kingdom had grown because of his own efforts and strength. King Sennacherib had blasphemed the very name of God and doubted His ability to deliver Jerusalem from the overtaking of his Assyrian army. Hezekiah, king of Jerusalem and all of Judah was however a follower of God. He trusted in God and His ability to to deliver His followers from all circumstances. His leadership was truly God-centered- (2 Kings 18:5-7) “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before of after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commands the Lord had given to Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.” Hezekiah approached God boldly with a prayer about his concerns in this overtaking and Isaiah responded with a message from God Himself. That the reign of Sennacherib would fall and the nation which had been built would be no more. They would be treated as they had treated others. To Hezekiah, God said He would protect the city of Jerusalem and save it from the Assyrian reign as a result of their great faithfulness to Him.
(2 Kings 19:30)- “Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.”
No tree with weak roots is fruitful. The same is true for our lives. No person can lead a fruitful life apart from being rooted in God. God can take a small remnant of faith and turn it into something great. We chose this name because we wanted to remind ourselves of this truth from here on out. We want to love, follow, and trust God to the great measures King Hezekiah did. Nothing that happens in our lives is a result of our efforts alone, because apart from God we are nothing. (vs 31) says, “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” We couldn’t be more excited to see what the zeal of the Lord is going to accomplish this next year.
In our eyes, we have already begun this race. It starts in America now and will end in India, August 2011. Won’t you follow our journey?
