Hello Family and Friends!!
I have some very exciting news to share with you! Through lots of prayer I have decided to answer God’s calling on my life and go on an adventure of a lifetime. I have decided to partner with Adventures in Missions to go on The World Race, which is an 11-month long mission trip to 11 different countries. I will be going to Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Lesotho, South Africa, Madagascar, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. On my trip I will be partnering with local mission’s groups, non-profits, and churches, to serve the least of these and to share the good news of Jesus Christ, all while living amongst raw and real community.
My Story
Growing up, I lived in a Christian home, but it wasn’t until I was about a freshman in high school that I started actively pursuing my own relationship with Christ. In high school I had the opportunity to go on a couple of mission trips, one to Honduras and another to Nicaragua. Coming back from Honduras, something in me changed. My love for people, missions, and spreading God’s love grew tremendously. That is when I decided I wanted to do medical missions. Going into college, changing my major numerous times, and even changing schools, I always kept getting drawn back to the peace and calling I had in Honduras. God was calling me to share the good news of Jesus with others and to be a light in the world.
While in college, I have had the opportunity to work at an inner-city Christian sports camp the past three summers. Camp has become a sanctuary for me. A place I could leave the world and all the distractions it brought me and focus solely on God and sharing the gospel with the campers. It was a place I not only could pour in to others, but was surrounded by a Godly community, that was constantly encouraging me and holding me accountable. That first summer at camp was really hard. I was so physically and spiritually drained. But that summer taught me a lot about God, His redeeming love, and His unmerited grace. Although I was tired, there was something that changed in me, that longed for that feeling again and again. And so it was, I kept returning to camp, and watching the Lord transform my heart in radical ways. In spite of the challenges I faced, the Lord strengthened me and that second year at camp I was introduced to The World Race.
As my senior year in college started approaching and I started asking those questions: What will I do after I graduate?, What job will I get?, Where will I live?, etc. I began to start thinking of the Race again. The peace I had in Honduras, the love I had for sharing the gospel in Honduras and at camp, and the community that surrounded me at camp, all began to make sense now. This is what God has been calling me to all along and that’s all I want. That is what He is calling us all to. To “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19) and to “Love the Lord with all our hearts” (Luke10:27). Through the last semester I have prayed a lot, talked with a lot of people, and truly spent lots of time making sure this is where God could get glory out of my life and use me. Through lots of prayer I feel that the Lord is calling me to the World Race. I am so overcome with joy for what God has done in my life and what He will continue to do. My goal on the race is to focus solely on God and on spreading the love of Christ to all people that I come in contact with; to let His name be known, to give Him glory, and to become more in love with who God is; to dig into raw authentic Godly community, to partner with churches, and ministries all over the world; to be intentional with my time and with every relationship that I form and with every person that I meet. I know this journey will be very rewarding, but will also be very hard. I would love it if you could walk this journey with me, in being the hands and feet of Jesus, in whatever way God desires of you. Whether that’s through prayer, encouragement, or donating. As Paul says in Philippians, and so I say and pray, “I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ be honored in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
How can you partner with me?
Prayer: I will need lots of prayer, but also I will have a squad of about 50 people and a smaller team of about 5-6 people who will be walking this journey with me and will need lots of prayer! You can also subscribe to my blog to see specific ways in which you can pray for us along the way!
Buy a t-shirt or scarf: I am also selling t-shirts and homemade crocheted scarves to help fund my journey. You can contact me by phone, email, or Facebook to purchase one!
Donate: mail in a check or log-in to my blog and click “support” to make a special gift donation or set up monthly giving!
Gear: For this trip I will also have to purchase some gear. Some of that includes a backpack, tent, and sleeping bag. If you would like to help me in this way you can contact me!
Fundraising:
Total Fundraising Goal: $18,017.00
Deadlines:
$5,000 – Due 5/15/2017 (Fundraising Goal 1) –One month prior to Training camp
$10,000 – Due 7/21/2017 (Fundraising Goal 2) – Couple weeks before we launch
$13,000 – Due 9/30/2017 (Fundraising Goal 3) – Right before month 3 on the field
$18,017 – Due 11/30/2017 (Fundraising Goal 4) – Right before month 6 on the field
Monthly Partnership
If 19 people will commit to giving $100/month for 10 months – I will be fully funded by November!
If 38 people will commit to giving $50/month for 10 months – I will be fully funded by November!
If 76 people will commit to giving $25/month for 10 months – I will be fully funded by November!
If 127 people will commit to giving $15/month for 10 months – I will be fully funded by November!
If 190 people will commit to giving $10/month for 10 months – I will be fully funded by November!
It is MORE than possible to have 100% of my funds raised before my departure in August. Will you help me make that a reality?
If you would like to support me financially you can go directly to my account
http://callibigham.theworldrace.org
Once you are there, click “Donate”
On the “Donate” page you can do a one-time donation or a monthly donation (please include my full name when donating)
**Adventures In Missions is a tax-exempt organization under IRS code 501(c)(3) and is a member of the ECFA. (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability). Due to IRS and ECFA regulations governing the administration of tax deductible donations given in support of a particular trip/program, support contributions given on behalf of an individual will be used to offset the costs of the trip/program you are involved in. All contributions are non-refundable regardless of the participant’s success in completing the program.
**There is a processing fee when you give online, so if you would rather send a check directly to Adventures in Mission’s or me you can do that. If you make a check payable to Adventures in Missions and send it to me I can send it to AIM.
**Make checks payable to Adventures in Missions
**On the memo line write: “The World Race- Calli Bigham”
Thank you so much for considering partnering with me in whatever way God leads!
Send Checks to:
Calli Bigham Adventures in Missions
207 Sioux Dr. OR P.O. Box 534470
Waxahachie, Tx 75165 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Wow! I know that was a lot!! Thank you so so so much for taking time to read this letter! I am praying that the Lord will use you in whatever way His heart desires, whether that’s through ministering to me, encouraging me, praying for me, or supporting me as we follow Him and share His name with the World!! I would love to do the same for you!!
If you would like to continue following my journey now as I prepare for the Race and once I am on the field you can visit my blog site, http://callibigham.theworldrace.org.
If you have anymore questions/concerns/explanations I would LOVE to talk to you in person, get some coffee J, over the phone, in whatever way!! My email is [email protected] or you can call me at 972-351-3598! Love you!
In Christ love,
Calli Bigham
