The first time I heard about the World Race, I was 16. We had taken a school field trip to the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) base in Colorado Springs, and someone was handing out flyers about this crazy missions trip that takes 20-somethings around the world for 11 months to share Jesus with people. I took a flyer, and while our group was eating lunch at Kairos Café (the coffee shop attached to the YWAM building), the Holy Spirit let me know in no uncertain terms that, at some point, I would fundraise $17,000, surrender my job and life for 11 months, and love God by loving His people in countries across the world.
Fast forward to today: February 24th, 2017. I’m here, in Kathmandu, Nepal, working with an organization the introduces Jesus to men, women, orphans, and widows across the country. I’m sipping on a masala milk tea (Nepal’s version of chai) in a hip, colorful coffee shop. I’m getting ready to post a picture to Instagram, and it tags my location: Kairos Café, Nepal.
Sometimes, you’re just walking along, enjoying your day, and God completely blows your mind. Guys, I’m more than 7,000 miles away from home, and God has brought me “back” to the place where He first placed this idea and passion in my mind and heart. I don’t think my words can begin to communicate how joyful it is to be in this place and know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God has this huge, incredible plan for bringing His Kingdom to earth, and for whatever reason, He chose me to be a part of His plan in such a unique and exciting way. The time I’ve been able to spend here at Kairos has been time where God has showed me His faithfulness, His steadfastness, and the joy He takes in orchestrating stuff like this; God takes so much joy in reminding His children that He absolutely loves meeting them in unexpected places… the most unexpected of places.
Because Kairos has been such a unique part of my story, I did a little research about the word “kairos” and what it means (in case I forgot to mention it, the Kairos Café in Nepal also operates in conjunction with the YWAM base here in Kathmandu). In direct opposition to what my English teachers taught me (sorry, Mrs. Borkert), I checked Wikipedia for a basic understanding of the term.
In the New Testament, “kairos” means “the appointed time in the purpose of God”; the time when God acts (e.g. Mark 1:15: the kairos is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand). “Kairos” (used 86 times in the New Testament) refers to an opportune time, a “moment” or a “season” such as “harvest time”.
What a cool word to speak over a business that strives to share the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! In doing some research, I also found that YWAM teaches a “Kairos Course”. The Kairos Course “is a study of the Purpose and Plan of God from Genesis to the End of the Age” and explores specific ways in which we can look at our present world from God’s perspective:
- Discover the missionary thread from Genesis to Revelation
- Glimpse the awesome advance of Christianity around the world
- Explore the challenging, yet achievable, final frontiers of world Christian mission
- Identify your part and place in the expansion and growth of God’s kingdom worldwide
- Learn from some of today’s leading mission personalities, theologians and historians
The course description goes on to note that “this course is for everybody who wants to grow as a disciple of Christ, and wants to investigate what God is up to in this world.” …Investigate what God us up to in this world… I love that! God is up to so much, and some of it is apparent and some of it is a great mystery, but absolutely all of it is beautiful and exciting and I want to be a part of it!
Papa, continue to lead me into this great unknown, this great mystery, full of questions and revelations and crazy adventures. Thank you for the ways you’ve led me and you’ve orchestrated my life. Thank you for letting me be a part of this kairos, this time when you are acting and moving mightily across the world! Thank you for allowing me to be with your people, to love on your people, and to be loved on by your people. Thank you for this café, for the ways you have reminded me that you are Faithful and Forever Good and Perfect and True. Thank you for bringing me back here and continuing to send me out. Papa, I love you so much. You are the greatest.
