Chase Glantz, of our January 2012 D Squad, understands rejection. He has been there, done that. He's opened hundreds of dreaded letters and had plenty of doors slammed in his face. And he's got the paper cuts and whiplash to prove it. Who knows what kept him applying, but with fervor he trekked on. He finally got his "yes" when he was accepted to go on the World Race. So he went. On the field, that "yes" that was supposed to make him feel noble and look appealing to the ladies, instead, left him with the total understanding of how little he can do on his own.
Adventures In Missions ruined my life.
The World Race killed my dreams.
I thought I wanted some job, put in the hours to pay for a lady’s drink tab and earn myself a steady girlfriend. Then I'd at least appear secure enough that a woman would want to be my wife. (And come to find out, “Hey baby, wanna come over to my place? My treasure is in heaven…” is the worst pick up line ever.)
So I applied to over 700 jobs (many of them ministry gigs) and received the same line girls would say to me, “Um… it’s not you, it’s me…”
Frustrated and wanting to kick the tar out of every Valentine’s Day ad, I applied to go on the World Race, half to impress some girl, half to get another application rejection and to tell God that ministry was the LAST place for me.
So after receiving my acceptance letter and making it through training camp, I left for the Race knowing I was in over my head. On the inside I screamed, "HOLY…GOD HELP!"
Fueled with Bible knowledge and a new resolve to solve the world’s problems, the first few months yielded warm feelings and band-aids to huge problems. Then after awhile, the warm feelings wore off. I got sick of my team. I felt like the work I was doing was like a squirt gun to a wildfire. My strength was gone, and God was the only thing propping me up to keep going.
Eventually, I ran out of tricks up my sleeve. Much like the reality of the hard work that goes into a long lasting relationship, I found I couldn’t charm my way into making someone believe the gospel.
My cover had been blown. Many could quote the cheesy Jesus one-liner I was going to use.
I could have sulked in the pity of my own inadequacy. I could've been bogged down, sick of Africans asking me to for money or hopelessly wondering if I said the right thing to sex-trafficked Thai Youth. Instead I made a choice. I started to trust God.
Because I can’t really do much more than be the me God has made. So I began to believe that was enough.
Can I really make Ukrainian kids believe they can change their nation with their dreams? Does it really make any difference that sex-trafficked girls in Thailand smiled when I taught them Spanish?
By the look on people’s faces, you can see it does.
I know I can’t change the world on my own resolve.
But I believe God can.
I believe in a generation who helps resurrect depravity, if by God’s grace, we are given eyes that are ruined by suffering.
And maybe, if I allow myself to be dependent, His light will penetrate my cloud of uncertainty and allow others to follow.
When we reach the place of seeing our own inadequacy, we can finally grow the faith to believe that with God, that is enough. Are you ready to test your limits and see what your God can do? our January 2014 routes are waiting for you!
