Now that you’ve read kind of why I was lead to the World Race, I want to get specifically into the route that drew me in and why it is important. On January 9th, I will be going to Atlanta to start launch training, then on the 13th we will fly out to our first country, Australia. This route is called the Expedition route, it is different from other routes in a couple different ways. One way it is different is the primary means of travel, the other is that the countries primarily fall within the 10/40 window. (If you aren’t familiar with that term I will explain it later on)
The first month will be spent in Australia, then to Indonesia, India, Nepal, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Spain, then lastly, Morocco. Part of what defines the Expedition route is adventure, adventure to reach those who are unreached in the most unreached parts of the world. The primary way of traveling on this route will be land and sea. The first few countries will be reached by flight, but once in India, land and sea will be the only means of traveling. There is something special about traveling into a country on the ground, to be able to enter and see the country, than flying into it. In some countries, we will be partnering with local churches and ministries that are already established and we will be supporting and encouraging them in whatever ways they need. In other countries, we will rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to tell us what to do, where to go, and who to speak to.
The next, and most important thing, that makes this route so unique is that we travel through countries that primarily fall in the 10/40 window. The 10/40 window is part of the world that is the most unreached by the Gospel, it contains about 97% of people in Unreached People Groups, but only 3% of the missionary force. That’s about 13,000 people sharing the gospel to 3,000,000,000 people. There aren’t enough evangelical believers to adequately spread the Gospel to these people groups. There is essentially no access to the Gospel, and no presence of those sharing it. There is an estimated 17,073 total people groups, and of those, 7,103 (41.6%) are unreached. There is a massive imbalance to missionary workers to reached places and unreached places. That is one reason this route was so attractive to me, it goes to places in the world that need to be reached the most. There is a Gospel need.
This route will be challenging in a lot of ways, but will in turn be very rewarding. Through this journey I know my team and I will find growth and intimacy with the Lord, we will grow and be challenged in how to live in close Biblical Community, and though it will be at times incredibly difficult, God will use us to bring about His kingdom in parts of the world where his name is not yet proclaimed.
Will you consider joining me in this journey through prayer and support? Come and see what God is doing all across the world.
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, the did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed, they have, for
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the World.”
But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
Then Isaiah is so bold to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.””
-Romans 10
