To all my family, friends, casual blog readers, and stumble upon internet surfers…
Many of you know that I work for The World Race, the trip that changed my life back in 2006 when I spent a year of my life traveling the world and ministering in the nations. What most of you may not know is that my job revolves around ministering to all the World Racers who have finished their journey and are moving on to the next things in life. It’s pretty fabulous because I get to make around 50-60 new friends every couple of months… and if you know me, I love making new friends.
What does ministering to World Race Alumni look like? Well, it all starts at Training Camp before they ever leave. For the past 3 years I’ve been heavily involved in our training process which helps me initiate relationships with all the racers before they start their journey. At training camp I’ve done everything from teach drama, run team builders, do participant check-ins, decide and manage the team formation process, lead announcements, organize and run all the logistics of our team of servant leaders, and pray and release deliverance and freedom in their lives. Training Camp is a busy 9-10 days that is squished in between two regular work weeks. No matter how busy it is, we love and live for training camp around here.
After we launch the teams and they travel to most of their countries around the world, I get to go and visit them during their month 8 or 9 debrief. Basically we send coaches and mentors out several times a year to check on them, minister to them, and help them work through all the emotions of community living and seeing the hurting people of the nations face to face. When I go and visit towards the end of the trip, I get to spend quality time with the participants and help them prepare to come home. After all they have experienced, normal life has changed dramatically. It can be a tough process to integrate the past year of their life with family, friends, jobs, and ministry at home. I teach a few sessions and talk about opportunities to lead trips, continue growing, and continue serving after the race. I love seeing the participants at this point in the race… when they have pushed through all the hard stuff and know that it’s all worth it and they understand.
A couple of months later the racers return home and it’s my responsibility to care for them, help them transition, and help lead them into other opportunities they have expressed interest in participating in after the race. Several squads just returned home in the past few months and we are working hard to stay connected and to continue the ministry we’ve already begun in their lives. We want to empower them and mobilize them to reach the dreams God gave them on the World Race to bring His Kingdom to the nations. Darci Simpson, a January 2009 World Race Alum, has been helping me.
Darci and I had the two August squads participate in a contest to better understand what it has been like for them to return home. This also gets the word out to potential participants on what they can expect after the race. It’s usually pretty interesting, insightful, and funny. We’ve had several entries, the prize is a $25 restaurant gift card. (If we’re honest, that’s what we talk about missing on the World Race anyway!) If you’ve got a minute, take some time and read the following blogs about coming home. These are the initial thoughts of people who have just become World Race Alumni. Leave an encouraging comment or two. Thanks for all your prayers and support for my ministry. I truly love my life. I’ve got the best job in the world.
Brenda Benson
Chelsea Dipaolo
Hope Mendola
Ralph Kelley
Jen Flavin
Marissa Villa
