When I began to seriously think about doing the World Race, my parents were on board in a heartbeat. They have even offered to pay for the entire race in support of my step of faith. So I knew the financial part of the World Race wouldn’t be a problem for me.
But I realized something recently: I’m really bad at needing people.
I like to be independent. I like to do things on my own. I want it to be MY adventure.
I wanted this to be my race.
But that doesn’t leave much room for God to move, I guess.
I realized that I am going to need a lot of people on this journey to and through the World Race. Honestly, this will be the hardest part for me: constantly needing other people and relying on other people.
One of the most tangible ways I can do that is by inviting people to financially support my race. I know that I don’t necessarily need the financial support, but I feel strongly that God is calling me to fundraise and is asking me to take a step out of my comfort zone – independence in every form – and allow myself to need other people.
For me, the World Race is partially about giving it away to other people. I don’t want this World Race to become just some crazy story I tell people in the future. I want this to be part of your story too. I want to give you part of my race.
So I began to pray (as we all really should do more often). I said, “Who should I ask, God? And how many people?”
As I prayerfully brainstormed, I heard it clearly:
7
times
10.
70.
…70?
Why 70?
So I did what any modern Christian would do: Googled it.
I came upon a site which listed the places where the number 70 occurred in the Bible, which brought me to this verse:
“This is what the Lord says: ‘You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
(Jeremiah 29:10-14)
This absolutely blew my mind.
Jeremiah 29:13 (highlighted above in red) is my most favorite verse in the Bible. It has been a theme of my life since I became a Christian in 2010. That God would lead me back to this passage to affirm His faithfulness and remind me of His promises is absolutely incredible.
So now I respond. I am doing my part and promising to prayerfully and faithfully ask seventy people to be part of my financial support team. However, I know not every person I ask will be able or willing to give financially; so I am trusting God will faithfully bring a team of seventy people to support me financially on my race.
Each person on my team will own a piece of my race. As I allow others to invest in my race financially, I am remembering that this isn’t my race. This is the Lord’s race, and He wants me to be on mission with His whole kingdom.
If you are reading this and are thinking, I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SEVENTY! — I promise it’s not an exclusive club. I want anyone and everyone to be part of my team, financially or otherwise. The more people involved in my race, the more humbly I’m reminded that this is not my race.
So come; take a piece of my race. I’m honored to let you have it.
If you want to know more about how I decided to go on the World Race, check out my other blog post!
