Along with my support letter, I decided to invest in some refrigerator magnets with my picture, website and prayer requests. I made them at
www.vistaprint.com
A couple of years ago I heard a speaker say, “No one ever gets to the end of their life and says, ‘I wish I’d played it safer.’” Everyone always wishes they’d taken more risks. I’ve decided to listen to my elders and do just that – play this game of life a little risky. I have to be proactive to do that. Many people my age are trying to find themselves. They have launched out into the real world and gotten a real job. I am not a person that can settle for the ordinary – I want to change the world. And I’ve wondered how to begin doing that for a while now.
It seems like such an overwhelming vision. I’ve prayed and asked God for something that would help launch me that would take my heart for making a difference with my life, for living a life that is truly extraordinary.
And this past month, it happened! I came across the most amazing program. It’s called The World Race. The idea is to take a year of your life and to live like Jesus lived while traveling around the world. I can hear you asking, “How does that work?”
Well, simplicity and servanthood are the keys. When we travel, we’ll do so cheaply, and in many places, we’ll stay 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.
Playing it risky also means not living my life for myself. I want to be a part of something greater than myself. 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 intended me to be. I’ve got one life to live and before I’ve taken on obligations, I want to commit to making it the radical life that Jesus himself modeled. I know I’ll learn to abandon all that has made my life comfortable and will learn to depend on Him as I’ve never had to.
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 that we go to, 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 – $1090/month. My team of 30 is beginning to raise the funds now and we begin the trip on January 7, 2007.
My greatest desire is to learn to share the gospel with people my own age. I’ve discovered that I have a real heart for the poor and a love for those desiring to grow in Christ. I have longed to minister in a place where people are aching with hunger for the gospel. 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 thank God for this opportunity that is before me and trust He will meet my needs. Ultimately, my prayer is that He will do that through you. I would be honored 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.
A number of you may be in a position to financially contribute to my support. I calculated that if only five people committed to giving $68 each month, seven people committed to giving $45 each month, fifteen gave $23, and twenty gave $5, then I would meet my goal! Will you and your family please pray about supporting me for one of these amounts?
I have enclosed a response card and pre-addressed envelope, which invites you to share in this ministry. Please make checks payable to
Adventures In Missions. You may write “appealed by” and my name in the memo section of the check if you wish. Including the enclosed card will provide AIM with all necessary information. In turn, they will send you a receipt. All gifts are tax-deductible.
You can find more info about Adventures In Missions at http://www.adventures.org/ and more info about the World Race at http://www.theworldrace.org/. You can also keep in touch with me through my personal email, [email protected]. I will be posting a log on the web throughout my trip and you’ll be able to read about and see photos of our adventure during the trip.
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, but also to you. 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 Him,
