*please excuse this blog if you have already received a hard copy in the mail!
My dear Friends and Family (and possible friends I don’t know yet),
First and foremost, I want to say again, thank you.
You have blessed me beyond what words can express. This year as I was on the World Race, you supported me through prayer, encouraged me in words, and financially made this trip possible, and I am deeply grateful. I feel honored to have walked through this year with you behind me.
As many of you may know, this year was absolutely incredible. It was life-changing and awakening. Over 322 days, I saw God and His Kingdom. My eyes were renewed and I was seeing with His. My heart was opened, my rights and entitlements were stripped away, chains that held onto me were broken, and I saw His Kingdom manifested on earth with power, presence, and most of all love. I was taken out of my life of comfort and distraction, and was brought in to the truth of His love and the epic adventure of His Kingdom.
Walking out of this year, and looking at my next step, I believe that there is a calling on my generation–a calling to wake up from our complacency and self-serving ambitions into a place of passion for His Kingdom. After seeing the miraculous, experiencing the freedom, and witnessing the power of the Spirit, I can’t just go back to ‘okay.’ I believe that my generation is at that place of dissatisfaction in the ‘American Dream’ and wants to be a part of something bigger. And God is calling us to something bigger.
So, despite a lot of stubbornness on my part (I fought this kicking and screaming because of the location), my next step has been taken. On January 24th, I moved to Port Huron, Michigan to endure the frigid cold and heaps of snow alongside a few other equally-crazy World Race Alums. Yes, it is freezing, but I guess the below-zero weather is worth it to get a generation banded together-together to go out to the hurt and dying world armed with the truth, hope, and love of our Mighty God.
There are a handful of us who have relocated up there for this next year. I am in the presence of some pretty incredible people who are gifted in all sorts of things. Writing. Storytelling. Artistic expression. Design. Speaking. Teaching. Worship. We’ve coming together as His body of individuals who have the same heartbeat to keep diving in. We are under the spiritual authority of Michael Hindes, Director of the World Race, and are diving into life together. We are going to be dreaming up what the World Race can become as a movement for this generation.
We’ll be doing things both locally within the States and globally out on the field, all based around the vision of seeing people come alive and mobilize to bring Kingdom to the world-on earth as it is in heaven.
Here are some of the details:
Stateside:
* Help with the marketing of the World Race through the website, Facebook, blogs, and other avenues.
* Speak at universities, youth groups, and churches, sharing the stories and vision of the World Race-promoting it to more potential Racers.
* Interview applicants. Help run training camps. Prepare upcoming Racers.
* Bring awareness to the global issues that are plaguing our world. Issues like the reality of human trafficking in Thailand AND the US, and the true expanse of the AIDS epidemic in Swaziland. Basically, get people aware and get involved in bringing change.
Internationally:
* Travel to debriefs to encourage, counsel, and light a fire under current World Racers out on the field.
* Connect with new ministries as potential places for future teams.
* Lead short-term teams back into the places that broke our hearts and awakened our spirits this past year, like Mozambique, Thailand, and Swaziland.
* Get our hands dirty in the issues of this world. Human trafficking is a huge issue that we want to play a part in. We want to keep going back into those places of injustice and be a presence, proclaiming freedom and light into the darkness.
I don’t know all the details or have all the answers about this next year right now. It is a leap of faith and a journey of following God where He’s called me. All I really know is that I’m being sent to a place of community, and out into the nations to continue bringing light, hope, love and truth.
I know we’re not all sent out, and that many of you are exactly where you are called to be-impacting your communities with Kingdom everyday. Some of us are sent out and some are called to send. If you feel called to send, I’m asking if you would prayerfully consider supporting me. There is a lot of Kingdom work to be done out there and I’m ready to get dirty diving into it (I’ll take pictures of the dirt)!
Our goal is to send 1,000 people on the Race in 2010.
Our goal is to do everything in our power to do something about human trafficking through raising awareness, and to continue aiding orphans in places like Mozambique and Swazi.
Our goal is to GO, and to make disciples (not converts) of all nations.
With these goals in mind, my personal financial goal is to raise $20,000, which will cover the cost of travel, living, and team expenses. I will keep you up to date as to where your money is going, and keep you informed about all our progress via blogs, emails, videos, and hopefully some visits and phone calls!
If you would like to be a part of this vision, please click on the “Support Me” tab to the left, or send a check made out to “Adventures In Missions” with my name in the memo line to the following address (either way, your support is tax-deductible):
Adventures In Missions
c/o The World Race
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Thank you so much for reading this long piece of literature! I know your time is precious and I really do appreciate it. I look forward to what God is getting me into, and know that His plans always exceed my expectations. His Kingdom is worth it! And I can’t wait to keep seeing His Kingdom come!
Blessings,
Andrea
