Community
(1): ATL
The
community
factor (living with six other people 24/7, or 52/SEVEN, sharing
possessions, showers, devotions, and laughter) is the essence of the world race. One thing we must remember when living
in community is that OUR needs must
be third; God’s are first, our teammates are second. But how do you know what
God’s needs are?
When
Jesus sends out the 72, He explains. Take
a look.
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. ASK THE
LORD of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field. GO!
I am sending you out like lamb among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or
sandals, and do not greet anyone on the road.” Luke 10: 2-4
When
deciding to come on the world race, we didn’t get much of an option on where we
would go. Nine of eleven countries were
chosen for us. However, the administrators of Adventures In Missions are not
the only ones who devote hours to prayer, listening
to where the harvest is. We, as a team, must also ask the Lord of the harvest,
what city we will go to, what contact we will meet, and at two points in the
race, even the country of our choice. Err… of God’s choice. This is called ATL or ask the LORD and comes from Luke
10.
At
training camp we had the opportunity to practice this strategy in Gainesville,
GA and ended up praying in a graveyard, singing
Amazing Grace under an unknown canopy. In that case we obeyed the call
of the LORD but didn’t necessarily see the fruit
of it (good thing that’s not the point).
On
the field, we also use this strategy, especially to help our team leader decide on our next location. Courtney, Victoria,
Amanda, Jed, Chris and I took it upon ourselves to take time to listen for this
answer. God’s answer provided confirmation
to Liz on where we will be in Australia,
yet the answer wasn’t revealed to us quite yet. Somehow, I don’t want to know
yet. God needs
us here. Tomorrow will come when tomorrow comes.
Do
you need to know where to go next? Ask
the Lord to reveal it to you.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone you
asks receives; he who seeks, finds; and he who knocks, the door will be
opened” Matt 7: 7-8
“If you believe,
you will receive whatever you ask for
in prayer” Matt 21:22
