Team formation is definitely one of the most anticipated moments of training camp – finding out which people you'll grow closest to and share so many memories with in the coming months is a pretty big deal. And teams are formed after only having a few days to get to know people on your squad. The process of how exactly teams would be formed was not revealed, but I was sure they must've had a pretty complex strategy for such an important decision. But then when it was finally time & teams were announced, I was pretty sure they must've just randomly drawn my name out of a hat. I hadn't spent time with pretty much any of the people I was placed with, nor had I been on any of the team-building exercises with a single one of them. So my initial reaction that ran through my head was something like, "Huh, sure didn't see that one coming…" But then again, that's kinda been my reaction to a lot of amazing steps in this preparation phase for going on the World Race. After spending more time with my team during the remainder of training camp, I began to envision God bringing together all of the unique aspects each one of us has to offer in order to unify us & do crazy awesome stuff for His glory. It's like what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12,
"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ." Within our team, we represent the body of Christ – all with different strengths & stories, but unified because we're all covered by the same amazing grace.
So, without too much further ado (after some brief info about our name), I shall present…Team FireStarters! James 3:5 says, "
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." We're going on this journey not to boast about ourselves, but to proclaim the perfect love of our faithful Father to the lost & broken people around the world. Our desire is to spark hope into lives of hopelessness through the Good News we have to share. We pray that those sparks would continue to grow long after our departure so that God's glory would shine and spread like a raging fire that cannot be extinguished by attacks of the enemy. I'm so excited to see how God works in & through us! All right, here we go!:
J
ason –
I just turned 23 and was born and raised in Orlando, FL. I grew up in a strong Christian home but it wasn't until college, after many mistakes and regrets, that I truly realized just how much God loves me and how much I need Him. About that same time the Lord exposed the selfishness of my future career plans and is continuing to show me how I can, through the power of The Holy Spirit, use the gifts and abilities He has given me to bring glory to the Kingdom of God throughout this world. I am so excited to see how He is going to use me on The World Race, as well as how I am going to grow in my love for Him!
http://jasonhilborn.theworldrace.org
Rachel –
I'm 25.. grew up in a Christian home. Became angry and bitter towards God for "ruining" MY dreams and goals. I began treating him like some kind of genie… and we played lots of games for many years starting at age 16. He won. I chose drugs and pleasures of this world. He still loved me. I said I won't do it again.. "If I " then will you…and I did it again. He is relentless. Now I'm praising him for screwing up my worthless -meaningless -selfish plans …pulling me out of the darkness and letting me get a glimpse of his glorious plan. He is wrecking my heart for the nations…I wanna spread the Good News of Jesus to the world!
http://rachelgust.theworldrace.org
Tali
tha –
Tali
My name is Talitha Rankel. I'm 30 years old and from Calgary, Alberta. I grew up in a Christian family. I still wonder what I'm going to be when I grow up because I like trying different things but nothing I have tried has worked out. I don't know what God has planned for me in the future but I am praying that I keep moving forward in what God has for my life.http://talitharankel.theworldrace.org
Brandon –
I'm 22, I've lived northwest of Chicago my whole life. I'm the youngest of 5 kids, so I will be the "much bigger then you, little brother toeveryone" For the first two years after high school I had itallfiguredout. I had an amazing job doing construction in downtown chicago, I was building skyscrapers. I was living what I thought was the life. Then God came knocking and ripped me back into his house and I can honestly say that I'm happier now then I've ever been.
http://brandonforshall.theworldrace.org
Taryn –
" My
name is Taryn Neurohr. I am 23 years old from Roswell, GA and have grown up in a strong Christian family. It wasn't until I left for college that I realized that the world was much bigger than what I had beenexperiencing and slowly found my identity in a homosexual lifestyle. For four years, I fell in and out of my relationship with the Lord and even found myself in deep depression. He has never stopped pursuing me, though, and it is by the grace of God that He has rescued me from my old life and has renewed who I am in Him. I am following my passion by bringing the Kingdom to the nations and sharing God's love to those in the darkest places. I'm so excited to see how the Lord is going to use me and my team for His glory!"
http://www.tarynneurohr.theworldrace.org
Kendall –
Im 25 years old and a hairdresser from Tennessee! At the age of 23I was at my lowest point and I cried out to God and He rescued me. He didntcare who I was or what i had done. He loved me anyway! Everyday He continues to show me how big His love is for me and it blows my mind! Its so freeing to know its not about our works but about what Christ did for us on the cross. All we have to do is receive His love! I cant wait to go into the nations and grow more in His love and pour out that love to the broken. Nations get ready here come the firestarters!
http://kendallthompson.theworldrace.org
Check out their blogs to get to know each of them more, and please keep us as a team in your prayers!
*P.S. Less than 2 weeks until Launch – WOW!!!!*
