Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you know, I have an adventurous and extremely free spirit. I enjoy change, the unknown, to be challenged, and living a very simple lifestyle. A number of years ago I had an opportunity to serve in Mexico on a high school missions trip and from that point on, I knew that was the start of a journey I would be on. That journey has taken me through Bible School programs and colleges across Canada, the US, Guatemala, and even locally. Throughout these past few years God has blessed me with doing the things I love. These include: working with youth, so I worked as a youth pastor; the love for the outdoors, so I went to an outdoor pursuits college as well as worked as an outdoor education director at a summer camp for 4 summers; the passion for travel, so I went to school across Canada as well as go to Central America; and finally the hunger for something more, so I write you this letter now……..
Even though I have been truly grateful for what God has blessed me with and enjoyed serving Him with all of my heart, I feel that I have become still. Sitting still is not what I do very often so I am looking for a place to run once again. I’m at a point in my life like most 20-somethings, where I’m trying to understand who I am, where I need to go and what I need to do. As I have become still I have felt that I have not given my 100% in my relationship with God. I am bored with the “ordinary” lifestyle I have become accustomed to, and have a drive to get out of my comfort zone. My prayer has been for something life changing.
Well a few months ago, my prayer was answered!! As I randomly sorted through my junk mail, I replied to an organization that I had looked at about 3 years ago. A few weeks later, my application was accepted and now I am currently enrolled into a program that’s known as The World Race. This program has all of the elements that I have been so earnestly seeking. The idea is to take a year of your life and to live like Jesus lived while travelling around the world. You may be asking, “How does that work?”
Well, simplicity and servant hood are the keys. When we travel, we’ll do so cheaply, and in many places we’ll sleep in tents or wherever people invite us to stay. As we go, we seek to serve partner ministries that are caring for the poorest of the poor. This journey will take us around the world serving in 11 countries in roughly 11 months. Look at it like doing 11 four-week long mission trips in a row.
I have always followed the idea to “live as Christ lived”, but now it has a whole new meaning for me. It means to actually give up everything I have grown accustomed to and live not for myself but for every single person around me. I want to take that step and live in the ultimate simplicity which is to literally live with what I have with me on my back.
I believe that by taking a year of my life and intentionally learning to live as Jesus lived, touching the poor, learning to live on little, I will become the world changer that God has intended me to be. I have one life to live and before I’ve taken on obligations, I want to commit to making it the radical life that Jesus himself modelled. I know I’ll abandon all that has made my life comfortable and will learn to depend on Him as I’ve never had to before.
A beautiful quote that has me pumped for such an adventure is the following:
“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
– Mohandas K. Ghandi
What separates this from many of the other mission trips that are offered is that this is for 20-somethings like me who are serious about committing to a lifetime of radically following Jesus. This isn’t just another experience; it’s a commitment to a transformational discovery process. And, in each country we go, we will partner with local churches to establish long-term kingdom works that will last long after we leave.
While the cost of an average college might be $2000/month, the World Race costs just half that – $1260/month. My entire one-year World Race experience is $15,000. My team of 30 is beginning to raise funds now, and we begin the trip in January 2008.
One of my greatest passions is people, and one of my desires is to learn to share the gospel with them. I’ve discovered that I have a heart for the broken and lost as well as those who are actively seeking Christ. I’m excited to minister in a place where I can meet people where they are at, experience their culture and their way of life, and to come alongside them. During this World Race, I will be discipled and trained in various areas of ministry and missions. I will have the opportunity to minister to people who need to hear of salvation through Jesus.
I truly thank God for this opportunity that is before me and trust that He will meet my needs. Ultimately, my prayer is that He will do that through you. I would be honoured if you could partner financially and prayerfully with me in this ministry. I am specifically asking for fifteen people who will commit to pray for me each day until I return. Prayer is a huge part of my journey as God leads and speaks through me. If being a prayer partner interests you please let me know and I can give you things to specifically pray for.
A number of you may be in a position to financially contribute to my support. I calculated that if only forty people gave $32 per month, eighty people gave $15 per month, or 125 people gave $10 per month then I would meet my goal! Will you pray about supporting me for one of these amounts? You can support me either by a one-time or monthly contributions as I’m on my travels.
I have enclosed a response card and 2 pre-addressed envelopes, which invites you to share in this ministry. Please make cheques payable to Adventures In Missions (
Donors understanding that the disbursement of financial gifts lies completely at the discretion of Adventures in Missions and that the gifts are non-refundable and non-transferable, per IRS regulations) or myself Matt Peters directly.The envelopes are addressed appropriately for the 2 options.
You can find more info about Adventures In Missions at
www.adventures.organd more info about the World race program at www.theworldrace.org.
As I am on my travels, you will be able to follow me as I post updates on my blog. The World Race website contains blogs for all of the participants so you can see photos and read our stories and thoughts. Feel free to comment and send encouragements. My personal blog address is
www.mattpeters.theworldrace.org.
I have no idea what will lay ahead of me when I am finished with the World Race. My focus right now is to take one day at a time for what it is. I am very excited about how God will use me and what He will teach me through this experience. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve across the world, but also you back home. My desire is to go as your representative of Jesus Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider being part of my ministry. Thank you so much!
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
Matthew Peters
