Since I’ve been home, I’ve been asked two questions repeatedly. They are as follows:
Q: What was your favorite country?
A: That’s impossible to answer. (seriously, though…it’s impossible)
Q: So, what are you doing now?
A: Right now I’m weeding my mom’s gardens and cleaning my dad’s pilot boats. But on September 25th, I’m moving down to Georgia…
…and then I make a sloppy attempt at trying to explain exactly what I’ll be doing in 30 seconds or less.
This post is for those of you who have asked that question and for those of you who are interested at all in what I’m doing with the next 6 months of my life.
During our debrief at the end of month 8, my squad mentor handed me and a few other people on my squad a letter. In it, I was invited to join a leadership and discipleship program following the World Race called The Fellowship. We were told that we’d receive an email in the next few days explaining more about it. I was intrigued.
After getting the information, a Skype call with Kristina Smith, the director of The Fellowship, some prayer, and a few failed attempts at finalizing other plans after the Race, I decided to say yes to The Fellowship.
You may be asking, “But Hannah, what exactly IS The Fellwoship?” Well, friend, I’m glad you asked!
The Fellowship a 6 month program that aims to develop leadership and professional skills, emphasize discipleship, and model how to bring the Kingdom in a professional setting. Fellows are placed in different departments throughout the Adventures in Missions office depending on their skill sets, interests, and past work experience, and are provided mentorship and discipleship throughout the process.
Why The Fellowship? Well, that takes a little longer to explain.
The World Race is designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Each month was different, each ministry came with its own set of challenges, and learning to live in intense community is a huge part of what each Racer experiences. On my Race, I grew immensely in my relationship with God and what it looks like to love and trust Him.
But here’s the kicker. It was so much more easy to be bold in talking about Christ on the Race than it is back at home. It doesn’t feel weird there, because we’re in a foreign culture and sharing the gospel is what we’re there to do. Everything is weird and new. Being pegged as the weird missionary isn’t an intimidating thing. That’s what we signed up for.
But here? No one wants to be labeled the as weird one. The uptight, narrow minded, inexperienced, and uncultured Christian who wants to shove Jesus down the throat of everyone they meet.
Now I am none of those things. But sharing the gospel with a coworker who hates Christians because they’re “anti-gay” can have me labeled as those things pretty quickly.
But, isn’t my identity supposed to be wrapped up in Christ? Aren’t I supposed to be free in Him and not care if I’m rejected? I mean, really, who cares?
Me. I care. A whole lot.
And I care more than I want to admit. This is one of the reasons I’m so excited to do The Fellowship. Kristina wrote this in one of her blogs:
If Jesus got a job today, He wouldn’t merely be a Christian at work; He would redefine “missions work” for all of us.
Think about that for a second. And then think about what it would look like if every Christian you knew started to live like that. Think about the impact we would make. Think about the lives that would be changed.
I don’t just want to look at the Race as trip where learned how to preach on the spot in Africa. I want to take the things I learned and implement them in life back in the States. I want to be in an environment that encourages me to be bold in every situation, not just when it’s deemed normal.
Now for the fun part.
The Fellowship costs $9,950, in which housing and a monthly stipend are included. I need your help in raising this amount in order to participate. Am I excited about the idea of needing to support raise again? Not exactly. But I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is calling me to The Fellowship and that He will provide.
If you would like to help support me, click on the support link in the sidebar, or send a check to Adventures in Missions to the address below with my name in the memo line. Regardless of whether you’re able to give, thank you so much for your support this past year and all the love you’ve shown since I’ve been home!
Adventures in Missions
PO BOX 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
