I love.
What does a squad leader do? We love.
Becoming a squad leader has been one of the most humbling and beautiful things the Lord has walked me through. Coming out of Solo-Leading a team of 14 for Semesters in the Philippines into a season of Co-Leading a squad of over 40 for World Race Gap Year has been so unique and special. Learning curves all over the place, but the Lord has been so faithful.
Squad Leading, much like when I led in the Philippines, looks a lot like pouring into the participants as they pour into the ministries and people of the countries we are stepping into. We as squad leaders are hands on in ministry with them, we attend team times with them, we live in the same location and eat the same food, and we do life with them day in and day out. The only difference between their ministry and ours is who we are ministering to. My main priority is discipleship within the participants and helping them better find and follow Jesus in the everyday moments and in the most radical moments too.
As a squad leader I get the beautiful opportunity to get my hands dirty in ministry here in country AND the opportunity to mainly pour into these racers. It’s a crazy radical combination of revival happening and I am blown away by the joy I have in the process.
As a squad leader I am primarily over two teams and I bounce between the two every other week to be hands on with them and make sure everyone is being poured into and loved super well. Most of my time I am seen having one on ones with the racers, planning for a teaching I am giving to the whole squad, doing behind the scenes planning for ministries, helping with logistical and financial tasks, and most importantly loving the racers well.
My favorite part about being a squad leader is getting to call out gifts in these rad humans and getting to push them deeper and deeper into the callings the Lord has placed on their lives. I love seeing the lightbulbs go off and I love seeing the Lord use them in ways they never expected before. I love getting to intercede on their behalf and fight for them daily. I love creating a space for them to be vulnerable and feel seen and heard. I love speaking life over them. I love dancing with them and going on random adventures with them. I love watching breakthroughs happen. I love creating a bridge between them and the Lord. I love watching them learn and grow. I love getting to pour out into them and be a vessel for the Lord into their lives. I love how much it challenges me and how much fruit I see on the daily as a result.
Being a squad leader is a lot about sacrifice and surrender as we lay down our ambitions to create a platform for others to shine and go deeper. I’m learning more and more about humility and how I can’t lead at this capacity without removing my own pride first.
Being a squad leader is a lot about empowerment and paving the way for others to walk fast and walk well.
Being a squad leader is a lot about friendship and community.
Being a squad leader is a lot about being available and willing to let the Holy Spirit use you.
Being a squad leader is a lot about putting yourself second so that others can have a foundation to stand on and a clear path to skip down.
Being a squad leader is feeling like you never have enough time to do all you have to do and having to rely on the Lord in even the most simple moments.
Being a squad leader is hard and being a squad leader is rewarding.
My job is to love and to love hard. To give feedback and to call these humans higher. To be a shoulder to cry on and an entire cheerleading team. To teach and to example.
My job is to be on mission for the people who are on mission. This is such a sweet ministry and opportunity the Lord has allowed me to be apart of.
Hard but sweet. Challenging but beautiful. Humbling but fruit bearing.
I am a squad leader and I am blessed the Lord chose me for these humans in this season.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- I still am fundraising! If you feel led to donate, you can do so at the top of this blog! Help me continue this beautiful ministry!
- My back is hurting quite a bit and I would love prayer for healing. (I have scoliosis and minor back trauma from my car accident a few years back)
- Continued growth and life into this squad! Continued perspective and joy!
