Why Missions and why the World Race?
The short answer is I went 21 years of my life without the Lord and I can honestly say that from the perspective of knowing the Love of Jesus Christ, my previous life was completely dead. Now that I know His Love I see others walking around dead, though they think they are alive, they don’t know how dead they are until they receive the Love of Christ for themselves. In short, I want them to experience the indescribable love of Jesus Christ in their own lives. I want to be a zombie killer. There are two ways to kill a zombie, destroy them or bring life to them.
Let me elaborate. Zombies are the walking dead. They like to eat brains and flesh of living people. Let’s pretend they’re real for a minute. They’re standing outside your doors and windows wanting to eat your flesh. Bummer. You could grab the shotgun and blow their brains out before they eat yours. Or, you could offer them what they’re really after in the first place. Flesh. Jesus said “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51 NIV) So how do you offer the flesh of Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven, to the walking dead? You die to yourself and give your life for the walking dead through the love of Christ. What does that look like? Lots of things. All of which include giving of your time, your life, to the zombie. You let the zombie devour you because you are the hands and feet of Jesus, you are His Love in the flesh here on earth. You are His ambassador. If you are born again, living in Christ, He also lives in you and gives life through His Spirit. (Romans 8:11) He gives you this life to give life to others, through His love, all to bring Him glory. It’s an honor and a privilege to have my time, energy, and life consumed by zombies. Because eventually those zombies will live and want to bring other zombies to life too. That’s why I want to be a missionary. And thankfully living in Christ I’m a missionary wherever I go. And you are too if you’ve been born again. But wait! What about the first zombies to come to life? How did that happen? The Lord’s supper. Which we can all take part in by faith. (Matt 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-38)
So why the World Race?
I like to travel, see things, and encounter different cultures in life. When I was a zombie I had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia. It was amazing. I partied harder and smoked more pot than I ever had in the States. I got to go to New Zealand. It was amazing. I got to go bungee jumping and skydiving (for my second time). It was amazing. Roughly six months after I returned to the States I encountered the Love of Christ. It is indescribable!! Since knowing Him and growing in Him I’ve known I have been called to the nations and wasn’t sure what that looked like. Then I found out about the World Race. It lined up exactly with my heart and I prayed about it for two weeks. While I was at the Voice of the Apostles conference in Orlando, Florida I made the decision to apply when I got back to South Carolina, which I wasn’t sure how I was going to get back as I was on a faith journey. I made it back via Greyhound and had a phone interview soon after. Three days after the interview the Lord spoke to me in a way that I know that I know that I know He spoke, and He basically told me that He would take care of the finances for me. So I knew I was going. 11 days later AIM called me and said I was going! Confirmation! 🙂
So that’s the short version (yep the short version) of why missions and why the World Race. And it’s all for the glory of Jesus Christ, will you come on this adventure of a life time with me? I still need Financial Support.
Thanks for taking time to read my blog!
You are all fearfully and wonderfully made.
Love,
-Paul
