Hello, my name is Brandi Atkins, I am 26 years old and I the next big thing is……
THE WORLD RACE! Before we go into what that means, let me give you a little background on who I am.
When I was 17, my youth group was taking a team on a mission’s trip. Though I wanted to go, financially my family could not afford it. The day that they announced the team, I was sitting in the second pew. As they stood on stage the Lord spoke so loud, it was like a punch in the stomach. “You should be up there,” God said. I was scared because it was the first time I can remember that God had spoken to me in a way that only He could. I looked over to my friend and mentor and told her about what just happened. She told me that if it were Gods will for me to go, then He would provide the way! I didn’t believe her, but boy was she right. I signed up, and God did the rest. Funds flooded in and before I knew it I was getting on a plane to go on my first missions trip.
While in Fiji God moved in me and through me in more ways than one, but most importantly he called me to missions. I didn’t understand how a God that was so loving and so infinite could call an unworthy teenager with so much brokenness, none the less he did, and I am thankful.
I am not saying my journey has been a field of tulips and daisies; it has been hard, messy and ugly. Not because of the Lord, but because of my own choices I have fallen from grace, I have run as hard as I could from the call of God but He chased me. He never let me go, in the midst of my sin. One day while on the way to work He met me and called me by name, reminding me that He placed a call on my life, drawing me home. Though I took a 3 year vacation, He wooed me, He loved me when I was unlovable and He gave me a love that no one else could. After three years of running, I decided to come back home, not only to Florida but back to the Lord. Though the road was not always easy, it was and always will be possible. It says in Romans 11:29 “for the gifts and callings of God are without repentance,” and they surely are my friends.
Almost four years later, I am a singer on the worship team, a co youth pastor, and a missions coordinator at my church, but most importantly a CHILD OF GOD! On December 2nd through the 8th I went on a mission’s trip to Jamaica, where God moved in the islands of the sea, 11 crusades through the islands of the Caribbean where over 900 people were saved, and a church as planted. He is a great God!
So now the question everyone asks is what next?
I to have been asking myself this question, and one day I stumbled upon Adventures In Missions due to a Facebook ad. At first I was very skeptical, I had never heard of this organization and was worried it was a scam. The more I looked into it, the more taken back I was, because I had never heard of such an amazing organization. As I searched over the website I found the world race, and began asking God if this was what I was to do next. Then one day one of the owners of the company I work for came in, after my manager introduced me and told him I was into missions work, he began talking about adventures, and how his daughter just came back from a trip, and is now leading one. I was taken back, because no one knew that I had been doing research, and looking into the world race through adventure. So I debated for weeks. The deadline came to turn in my application but I didn’t have the money to do it. So sitting at my desk at work, I thought, well if I am suppose to do this I would have the money to do the app. To my surprise within the next minute I received an email from Adventures with a free voucher to fill out the app at no charge! So I did. Within the following weeks I had a phone interview where I felt like I bombed, but the interviewer thought I was fit for the race. I believe that this is it, so here we are!
So what is Adventures in missions, and the world race?
Adventures In Missions is an organization that mobilizes missionaries by way of discipleship, and teams out to share the gospel, and the hope of Jesus Christ! They have sent over 115,000 people since 1989 and send out more every year. The world race is a part of adventures where a team is sent out for 11 months to 11 different countries to do just that. To love his people, and share his word to the lost!
Isaiah 6:8 it says “then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
This is my heart, and the call that God has placed on my life, and I am answering the call. Some will find it crazy to leave my stable job and life, but I know this is where God is leading me. In Matthew 28:19 it says “Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” To answer that call, means stepping out of everything that is comfortable, to step out of your own wants and needs and putting His wants and needs for your life first. He has a plan, and that plan is good. So I trust Him!
So how can you help?
You can help in many ways!
I have to personally raise $19,200 for my trip, if you would like to give towards the goal that would be amazing! I will have fundraisers, support letters, and much more in the coming days.
If you cannot give, that is okay! I understand, but you can give in many ways it doesn’t just consist of money! Me and my team could use all the prayers that you can pray for this trip, the team and the people that we will encounter. That we will be the hands and feet of Jesus and to be his conduit and share who he is to each one along the way.
I love you guys, thank you in advance for your love, and support.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!
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