Here I sit on the last day of ministry of the World Race. It seems a little unreal that this amazing year of my life is almost over. I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. And it seems like everyone’s got the same question for me. “Evan, after this crazy year you’ve just had, what are you gonna do next?” Which is a very good question. But no good question is answered without a bit of explanation. So here we go.
When I came out on the race I thought “Alright, this could go one of two ways. Either I’ll spend a year as a missionary and get back home and keep going on with regular life, get a job, another tiny apartment, and live my life talking about my time spent on the mission field. OR, I’ll get hooked by Jesus and pulled into the mission field forever and end up living somewhere in an african cave or something.” Neither situation was extremely appealing to me at the time, and the far that i had to make that decision soon kinda freaked me out.
I thought about it a little bit on the race, but never dwelled on it too much. I figured God would let me know what to do by the end of the race. So month 2, when we were in Swaziland,
God started putting this idea in my head, that i was gonna squad lead. It was real the way it happened, i kinda just started assuming in my head that i was gonna squad lead after the race. I would start off a thought with “Yeah so after the race when I squad lead…wait…what?“
So i thought and prayed about it a whole bunch, and i just kept getting this feeling like it was a good idea, and that this is what God wanted from my life. So i said okay, i’ll roll with that. I get to spend time at home, and then just go out on the field again. Not a bad plan…right?
One day I was in a Starbucks in the Philippines on our off day, with some of my teammates. We decided to make a list of 5 things we want to do to change the world. A fun little exercise in dreaming big, and a way to find out more about each other’s passions. But what came out of this little game we played was the realization that, all of the things on our lists, were actually doable. They were all things we could achieve and make happen that could have a serious impact of people’s lives. I wrote down that i want to Squad Lead a World Race Squad. I wrote that I want to start a band called Starbreather with all the songs i’ve been writing on this trip. I wrote that i want to work with kids the hardcore scene as a part of my ministry with this band. I wrote that I want to make a way to mix my ministry with activism, and fight for change in the world while serving God. And i realized that God had put all of these things on my list, not only because He knows i can do it, but because He wants me to do it. What’s the point of sitting around dreaming and wishing about changing the world, if you never go out and try to make it happen?
What if it doesn’t work out?
Then you’ll be no worse off than you are now, and at least you can say you tried.
But no one can change the world, why should I even bother trying?
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. So go out and do something instead of sitting on your couch wishing the world was a better place, and not acting on it.
But I’m scared…
yeah…you should be.
Is it worth it?
Oh yeah…
So with that out of the way, here’s where I am right now. To be able to squad lead, I have to take this training course at the Adventures In Missions headquarters in Gainesville, GA. This program is called CGA (the Center for Global Action) and i’ll be there for 3 semesters (about a year). Each semester i will be a part of a different “track” learning about a specific topic. I’m gonna be doing Worship, Activation (running non-profits), and Field Leadership. Half of my time will be spent in labs learning about the different track topics, and the other half will be spent doing an internship at the AIM main office. After my time there I plan on leading a World Race Squad out on the field. I see this upcoming season of my life as preparation for what God has called me to do with my life. The race was the door, and this is the path to where God is calling me. And yeah this means a long life of living with less, and support-raising, and all that.
But you know what?
I’ll be home for about 2 and a half weeks, before i have to move down to Georgia. We have an event for recent alumni World Racers called Project Searchlight on the 21st of August, and move the move-in date for CGA is the 12th of September, so i’m just gonna stick around the south after Project Searchlight, waiting to move in to my new home in Gainesville, GA. Kinda crazy huh?
This is God’s plan for my life, and I’m ready and excited to be doing what He wants me to do. My life is different now, and its gonna start getting crazier and crazier from now on. I want to follow God wherever He leads me, no matter how crazy it may seem.
And if you’re still wondering why I’ve chosen this life…here’s the best explanation…
