Called to the Mission Field

A lot of people love to plan. We want to plan where we are going and
what is necessary to get there. I have always been a man with a plan. I
spent the majority of my life planning to be a marine biologist. I had
it all planned out: school in California, intern at Sea World,
graduate, become Shamu’s trainer (Yes, I’m serious). Sounded good to me.

God had other plans though and instead of finding myself applying to
schools in California I ended up applying to one school; Belmont
University in Nashville, TN. My plan changed to: Major in Music
Business, intern in the industry, graduate, work/sing in the Christian
Music Industry. That plan looked great but things happen and my hopes
and plans for music hit a roadblock.

Change of plans to: Major in marketing, intern, graduate, go into brand
management. This looked REALLY good because I thought I could make a
lot of money if music didn’t work out. Up until November of 2008, this
looked like the best plan yet!

Then something changed. About a year ago, I felt God calling me away
from my plan of going into the marketing world. This took place after
viewing a video of orphaned children living in the jungles of Uganda, I
knew immediately that I wanted to answer the command in Isaiah 1:14 “To
defend the orphans.” The days following that video I learned that 1
child dies every 3 seconds from preventable causes, which adds to
almost 26,500 children every day.

My heart was completely broken for these children and I decided to act.
God opened the doors for me to start an organization called UNITED: For
Change, which raises money and awareness for impoverished children in
the community, America, Africa, and around the World. My school,
Belmont University, has helped make it a campus wide initiative and
things have happened that I never could have dreamed. Little did I
know, this was an integral part of the groundwork for the next exciting
chapter in my life.

About two months ago I heard about a missions opportunity called The
World Race. This organization sends out young missionaries to 11
countries over the course of 11 months to serve in partnership with
churches and ministries in local communities. After a month and a half
of prayerful consideration and God speaking in some incredible ways
(which I will definitely share soon!) I knew that God was asking me to
step down from my role as executive director of UNITED: For Change upon
graduation and do missions for a year.

I am thrilled to tell you that I have been accepted into this program
and will be leaving July 1, 2010! Although not all of the countries
have been confirmed a sample route might look like: Ireland, Romania,
Ukraine, Israel, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, Thailand, and Cambodia, as well
as two months that are called ATL or “Ask the Lord.” This means that as
a team we will have two opportunities to pray for guidance and listen
as God to guides us into another country that is located near one of
our other countries of ministry.

In addition to serving the people in these countries we will receive
extensive training, and experience spiritual growth and discipleship as
we live in a community of 6-8 team members for the year as well as
traveling with a squad of 50-100 other individuals. You will be able to
keep up with my team and me as we travel through blogs, pictures, and
videos! I will also be creating a Facebook group for my ministry very
soon so that you can help support me in prayer and financially if God
so leads!

Never in a million years would I have made this plan for myself.
However, I have never been more confident of where God is leading me.
This plan is far more than I could have ever hoped or dreamed for
myself and I look forward to sharing it with you all in the coming
months!

~ Joshua