Our team is in just that: new seasons. Over the last 3 & 1/2 weeks, the team formerly known as Team Ignite has faced many changes and challenges and it's about time I let you all in on what's been happening.
First, I'm sorry to say that one of our teammates, Cory Merman, left the Race and went back to the states on Tuesday of our last week in Cape Town. I don't think it's really my place to disclose exactly why it was that he went home, but just know that what was done was prayed about extensively and was what the AIM staff felt was needed. We miss Cory as a teammate and value him as a brother, but the action that was taken was best for him, for our teammates, and for the team as a whole. The good news is that since returning to Florida, Cory has gotten into an excellent discipleship program and is doing very well.
Next, because of a changed team dynamic, as we are now a 6-person team, and because we wanted to walk in complete newness after a rough first couple months, we have changed our name (hence the "team formerly known as Team Ignite" at the top)! We are now Team EQV, an acronym for the Latin saying, "Esse quam videri", which means "to be not to seem". For us, it means whole-heartedly loving, fully serving, truly choosing to die to ourselves, and radically following Christ, instead of just seeming to do all of the above.
Finally, our leadership has also come into a new season, with Alex having humbly stepped down as team leader and Johnny moving into that role. Rest assured this was not as a result of anything Alex did or didn't do–we all felt that he was an excellent leader and had full trust in him–but after a difficult first couple months, Alex really needed time to focus on himself and his own relationship with Jesus, but could not do that with his position. The transition has been extremely easy for us and we have total confidence that Johnny will lead us with humility and an attitude like that of Christ.
Thus far, God has been gracious and faithful in making our movement into these new seasons smooth, but please keep praying for us. Pray that Cory continues to adjust to life back home with joy, that we live up to our team name and all its meanings, and that we empower Johnny to lead our team with boldness and grace. Pray that we walk with authority in the name of Jesus and that even through new seasons, we cling to the only One who never changes.
