This is why we do what we do at the World Race. Forgive me for this “christianese” statement I’m about to make, but it’s about waking up a generation of young people. Simply put, it means folks becoming aware of the need around them AND, here’s the important part – going to fill that need. Pretty simple stuff. Our desire is to see people travel to and minister in the nations for a year, come back home passionate about a call God has given them, and then go live it out.
Here is an example of someone waking up to God’s call in his life.
Meet my former teammate Eli Martorana. Eli just finished taking and passing his GMAT – an entrance exam to business school. That’s where he’s heading in the fall, but first Eli is going back out into the nations.
Eli’s vision for heading to Argentina in his own words….
My contacts are two missionaries from my hometown, Monroeville, Alabama,
who have been in Argentina for the last 20 years. They have invited me to join
them for a five month period to reach college students. However, my ministry
will not be for only a five month period. My time there serve as an investment
for a lifetime of ministry. While ministering to college students, I will also
• develop lifelong relationships with impoverished and marginalized families
• create a database of those families with their needs and wants
• improve my Spanish skills for on-going ministry purposes (by living with a
poor family or widow which in return the rent would help them economically)
When Eli returns, he’ll immediately start his next phase of education in Business. He’ll
begin his MBA program at Samford University, which will help him in
three main areas of business; negotiation, seeing market trends, and
valuing a company. An MBA will allow him to financially aid the poor
more effectively. After graduating, Eli will enter the
business world with a vision: to minister to corporate America and
also use his business skills and resources to economically advance many
poor families in Argentina. Aiding those families will definitely serve as a means to spread the gospel with not only words but actions.
begin his MBA program at Samford University, which will help him in
three main areas of business; negotiation, seeing market trends, and
valuing a company. An MBA will allow him to financially aid the poor
more effectively. After graduating, Eli will enter the
business world with a vision: to minister to corporate America and
also use his business skills and resources to economically advance many
poor families in Argentina. Aiding those families will definitely serve as a means to spread the gospel with not only words but actions.
The cool thing is, I saw firsthand the change in Eli last year. He truly grew into a confident man who is secure in His God-given identity. But he didn’t do it alone, God used guys like Robby Riggs, Matt Peters and others on our squad to push and challenge Eli.
I couldn’t be prouder of Eli and what God has done in his life. Eli is now impacting the lives of many in Argentina, because Eli’s life was changed on the World Race.
This my friends is what it’s all about – WAKING UP A GENERATION!
