World Race Lingo
Adventures in Missions (AIM)- The “parent organization” of The World Race. They are an interdenominational missions organization based out of Gainesville, GA. They focus on discipleship and offer a wide variety of mission trips for families, high school students, college students, and adults. Trips range from a few days to 11 months (or more). Trips are abroad as well as state-side. Check them out! Adventures.org
World Race (WR) or Race- “A journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve ‘the least of these’ while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering into the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith.”*
*Taken directly from theworldrace.org.
Squad- A group of 35+ young adults, ages 21-35, who travel together to the same 11 countries together. Once a Squad reaches its country for the month, it divides into teams and disperses throughout the country. Sometimes more than one team will be working with the same ministry, depending on the need.
Team- A group of 6-7 people from the Squad who live together 24/7. They do EVERYTHING together….eat, minister, pray, study, laugh, cry, etc. together. They build each other up but also hold each other accountable. They get real and raw with each other in an effort to stretch, change and grow.
Racer- An individual on the Race aka me.
Route- The 11 countries in which a Racer is projected to serve in 11 months. This can change at a moment’s notice and for many reasons. Rest assured the Leadership of AIM stays abreast of current events in each country. Safety is paramount. If needed, AIM will remove Racers from a country or withhold them from entering a country to maintain as much safety as possible.
Ministry- A Racer’s assignment for the month. This will vary from country to country and can even vary day to day while in country. Ex: working in orphanages, mentoring street kids, befriending those trapped in human trafficking, door-to-door outreach, manual labor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, whatever there is a need.
Fundraising/Support Raising- The act of finding financial partners to join a Racer’s journey. This is accomplished in a number of ways i.e. support letters, garage sales, bake sales, 50/50 raffles, selling T-shirts, etc. This is an on-going process which continues until the Racer’s support account has met or exceeded the cost of the trip. Although not required, many Racers continue their fundraising efforts until the entire Squad has met the cost of the trip.
“Fully funded”- The two words EVERY Racer LONGS to say. This is the moment at which a Racer has raised enough money to cover the cost of his/her mission trip.
Financial Deadline- The words most Racers loathe. Each Racer must have a certain amount of money in his/her support account by a certain date. If a Racer does not meet his/her financial deadline prior to leaving on the Race, he/she will delay to a later route. If a Racer fails to meet a financial deadline while on the Race, he/she will be sent home. Do not pass go; do not collect $200. His/her race is officially over. Needless to say, these deadlines are extremely important to hit.
Training Camp (TC)- A week-long period of instruction used to prepare Racers for the Race. This is the first opportunity for Racers to meet his/her new family for the year. This week stretches Racers physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I can’t say too much in order to preserve the experience of future Racers. If you have any questions regarding TC, use the link on the left to “Contact Me”.
Launch- The few days preceding a Racer’s departure from the States. The Squad reunites in a select city (Atlanta, Georgia for the October 2016 routes). They spend time catching up, worshipping, studying, and preparing for the Race. Each Squad departs the States at the end of these few days. Team leaders, team treasurers, and squad logistic coordinators arrive early to receive further, specialized training in their role of leadership.
Feedback- What each team lives and breathes. A sometimes joyful, sometimes grueling process in which each team gathers at the end of a day. During this time, the team recaps the day’s events. What worked? What didn’t? What caused our disagreement? Could we have avoided the situation? What can I work on personally? What can we work on as a team? Etc. This can be painful at times, but leads to Racers being raw and real with each other. This forces each individual to stretch beyond preconceived notions and can lead to tremendous growth in the end. Walls will be torn down, and more importantly rebuilt. Every Racer needs to be open to get the most out of this experience.
Debrief- A time in which the Squad will recap events over a certain period of time. This usually occurs at the end of a month every few months. Debriefs are usually 4-5 days. This is also a time in which the Squad can relax, recharge and encourage each other.
Squad Coaches- aka “Squad Parents”. This couple serves as Mom and Dad while the Racers are away from home. Who doesn’t enjoy a warm hug from Mom and a “pep talk” from Dad? This couple spends months preparing to accept this responsibility and countless hours praying for their Squad before they meet at TC. This couple periodically travels to the field to check on the Racers. I am so blessed to have Keith and Karen Christianson as my Squad Coaches.
Squad Leaders- Alumni Racers who travel with the Squad for the first few months (5) of the 11 month journey. They assist the Squad in transitioning from life in America to life in the field. After much prayer, they raise up current Racers to lead the Squad for the remaining months. I was incredibly blessed with Haley Sewell, Bethany Witte and Emily Richardson as my initial Squad Leaders.
Squad Mentor- This is a behind-the-scenes person, based at AIM headquarters, who works to ensure all Squad needs are met. He/She checks in with squad leads weekly, and sends out check in questions to each person so they can know how each Racer is doing on the field. My Squad Mentor is Jeremy Cearbaugh. He’s completely amazing and if you are blessed with having him as your squad mentor you’re in good hands.
Team Leaders- A fellow Squad mate who has been chosen to lead 5-6 peers. He/She assumes great responsibilities when agreeing to lead a team. Although each Racer maintains an equal voice, the team leader is ultimately responsible. Squad Leadership uses Training Camp and tons of prayer to determine Team Leaders and their teams. When the squad leaders return to the States, some Team Leaders are chosen to continue their Race as Squad Leaders.
Team Treasurers- This person is in charge of all the money and expenses for the team; making sure they are living within budget, keeping track of all travel and living expenses, etc. Shout out to Emily Doherty and Meagan Dooney, my two treasurers for my Race. They were awesome and did a fantastic job as treasurer.
Squad Logistics Coordinators- Two people from our squad were asked to serve as logistics coordinators for the entire squad (shout out to Nathan Gage, Ashlynn Aycock and Elise Swepston). These people will work with the Squad Coordinator back in the States to ensure all the logistics are taken care of (getting buses for travel days, etc.). This is an incredibly taxing job, but they do it with the best attitudes and a servants heart.
Raised Ups- Raised ups are three squad mates who during month 4 of the Race have been chosen to take the place of the Alumni Squad Leads. My Raised ups are Erinn Hampton, Joshua Owen, and Rebekah Davidson. They are incredible people who truly reflect Christ’s character.
11n11– A hashtag the World Race has created to shorten the World Race. 11 countries in 11 months.
5 Year Memories- This is used for those moments where you just look at your teammates and squadmates and realize that it’s going to be a moment you look back on for years to come. It’s a defining moment, or just an incredible experience. These are something to shoot for for your race.
Home- Home changes each month. It’s weird how easy it is to move in to a new place and immediately start referring to it as home. Sometimes this is easier than others, but each month I have referred to my ministry locations as home.
There are many other phrases and words that my squad mates and I say, but unfortunately there is just no way to explain it. They are words and motions that we’ve picked up from each other or from the countries we’ve been in that eventually became some inside team/squad joke. I’m sure if you catch myself or someone else saying something odd, you can ask them about it and they’ll make an attempt to explain it.
Till Next Time,
Kara Faber
