In October, I will be leaving for 11 months to serve communities, churches, and share the Gospel. To take this step was a very long decision that I have been thinking and praying over for about 3 years. And now, I’d like to share some of that thought process I went through to get here with you all!
My General Beliefs of Missions:
I believe that everyone who follows Jesus is personally called to missions in some capacity. That doesn’t mean everyone is called to specifically “go” but we can be called to work within the church community, witness to our neighbors and co-workers, send out missionaries, give to the church, raise disciples of Jesus, love those around you well, and so much else.
God created us purposefully. He gifted each of us with unique talents and abilities that we can use to worship and glorify him. I am currently reading through the bible chronologically and in 1 Chronicles 23-27, David organized the people of Israel to fulfill certain jobs to build the temple. At the end of each “job” he described the people as skillful in that position. This to say that they did not only receive that placement due to their family line of, let’s say musicians, but God created them within that family line to be skillful as a musician. Right after these placements, David wrote Psalm 139. It is a passage dedicated to how God knows everything about David. And not only that, but God intentionally created David to be that way.
Discovering the World Race:
The first time I had heard about the World Race was sometime around Middle or High School. At the time, my sister had been reading blogs of those on the race and I just remember thinking to myself “those people must be so brave”. They were living so radically away from everything comfortable to them. It wasn’t until a few years later that I started to read blogs myself. And again, I would think how brave and how bold they were to speak about what they believed in. I was impressed by the faith displayed on the screen but it was nothing tangible that I could relate to. Growing up, I did not have the kind of relationship with God where I depended on him. These world racers I would read about were nothing but people on a screen and an idea of missions was so distant to me.
Receiving the call to “Go”:
During my freshman year of college, I joined a Christian organization that was centered around building people up in their faith, discipleship, and outreach. I went in wanting to rebuild the foundation of my faith and it was within that community where I surrendered my life to Christ, and developed a new personal relationship with him.
That fall, God called me to do a Cru summer mission. I remember my first time hearing about it and thinking, “wow, that is a really cool opportunity for everyone else that has ever gone to Cru but not for me”. I ignored the call over and over and over again until the thought of going practically consumed me and I said yes. Thankfully I did because that summer truly changed my life. It grew my relationship, identity, dependence, and trust in God. I learned how to share my story and my faith. Over the summer I became more confident in sharing the Gospel with others and even saw some come to Christ. It was there that God gave me a heart for the lost and I decided to spend a year after graduation missionally.
I want to share the Gospel. I want to bring others closer to Jesus. It breaks me to know that some have a very little chance of ever hearing about Jesus if it is not brought to them. The statistics of people getting the chance to hear about Jesus here versus other countries is astounding. Paul writes in Romans 10:13-15a, “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 heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?”
I have been distant from God and here’s what it felt like: lost, no purpose, no hope, no true joy. The difference between my life in one short year was astounding. And the only difference? Christ. He gave me a purpose, a love, a joy, a hope. He found me. He made me alive. He brought me to him, made me his own. He has prepared me and shaped me to now go. To strive and live as Jesus lived. To make disciples of Christ. To share His Good News.
Re-discovering the World Race:
After my time on the summer mission, I would casually explore different mission organizations, deeply considered some, but never felt drawn to the ministry of anything I found. That was when I remembered the World Race. I looked them up again and immediately felt a connection to the way they ministered. So, I began to pray. I prayed hard and I prayed a lot but it got to this point where I just had to wait. I still had about three years left of school and I still had a lot of time to figure things out. So, then I would pray that God would build me up to be sent through whatever organization he wanted me in.
After all this time, I saw how God has given me so many opportunities to love, support, and encourage others through him and how much I enjoy it. I felt God calling me to give up more than just a year of my life, but during that time to give up a tangible home, being close to family and friends, missing out on life back home, simple comforts…to just deny myself and follow him. I chose the World Race because of how they minister. They partner with organizations and churches that need encouragement and support. They go out to communities where people do not have an abundant amount of places to meet God. And they do not carry their lives with them. They leave their families. They leave their belongings. They completely deny themselves. They follow Jesus.
In Mark 1, Jesus called upon his disciples. Verses 17-18 say, “And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” And immediately they left their nets (which was their source of livelihood) and followed him.” Later in verses 37b-38 it says, “they (his disciples) found him (Jesus) and said to him. “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”
They followed Jesus. Not just to one place but many places, bringing the word with them. So now I consider little me, when I would think of how brave the racers were and I realize that I got it all wrong. Because I am not brave. I am so far from brave it is crazy. But I am a vessel for the one who is. And day by day God extends his bravery to me.
{Short story about how un-brave I am}
I was so definite about this being the next direction for me in my life after graduation. I knew that it was where God was calling me. So, what did I do when the August 2018 routes opened up? (In August 2017 btw) I convinced myself that it would make more sense to wait for October. And then a couple days before the October 2018 routes opened up, I had discovered a possible internship opportunity. So, I deferred my application once more until January. When I finally heard back from the internship all the way in April, I was honestly relieved when I heard that they chose another candidate. As amazing of an opportunity, it would have been, I knew that I was using it to hide. I was scared of what saying yes to the World Race would mean. I was scared about having to fundraise, pack, prepare, leave, and then actually go.
So no, I am not brave, I am called. And I am dependent on the one who is.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this!
