I’m just going to honest: it was difficult to commit to World Race. It’s an incredible opportunity to share the Gospel while being in real community. But it’s 11 MONTHS! There was so much I was unsure of. There were so many variables. So before/during the application process, I made a pro/con list. Here’s a little insight into the very real struggle of giving God control of my life.
Reasons not to go:
-Fear of not being accepted by my squad (the group I will be traveling with)
-Fear of not knowing how to share the complete Gospel
-Fear that my imperfection would keep me from being used by God
-Uncertainty of being able to raise $16,242
-Fear that my past baggage would make its way into my present
-Possibility of not being physically safe
-Missing out on relationships and opportunities in the USA
-Not having a job when I return after 11 months
-Fear that I’ll fail
-Knowing that I will miss my friends and family
-Fear that my friends and family will forget me
But I’m not finished and God DEFINITELY isn’t finished. He didn’t leave me there. He showed me truth…
Reasons to go:
– “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, ESV) and “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, ESV). People NEED to hear this hope.
– “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). That’s it! I don’t need to complicate it. His Word is true and His love crosses all language and cultural barriers.
-God will provide the finances.
-God will still use your imperfections and past baggage.
-“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out…” (Romans 12:1-2, MSG). Not everyone is called to overseas missions, but I am. There is something in me that comes alive when I’m serving others. I am making overseas missions my everyday, ordinary life.
-I want to understand more of God’s heart for the hurting. The best way to do that is by living life with them.
-I want to learn to completely rely on God.
-I want to be in real, true, consistent community that stirs me to action.
-I want to make Christ’s name known so all can understand the hope that is found in Christ’s love.
Once I let go of my fears and allowed the truth of Jesus to fill in the gaps, I accepted my call to missions. Working with many different organizations and churches while on the World Race will help narrow down what I want to focus on in the future while on the mission field. I will work with orphans, victims of sex trafficking, those without homes, the elderly, and more. God-willing, this year will give clarity to my specific mission.
You may feel passionately about overseas missions, but aren’t in a season where you can go on the World Race. God has put me in this season. Even if you aren’t able to go on the Race, you can still be a part of it by prayerfully and financially supporting me. Please consider how God wants to use you to help fulfill the Great Commission.
How you can be a part of my ministry to accomplish God’s plan on the World Race?
