**I want to start this post with a big thank you!! Chelsea B. and Tye have both made the deadline and are safe for now here on the Race! Thank you for all who prayed and gave and have asked how they were.**
The World Race is about change, it’s about allowing God to stretch and grow us in different ways. One of the terms used to describe this is “stepping into a bigger coat.” This phrase comes from 1 Samuel when Hannah would visit her son Samuel in the temple once a year. Every year she would bring him a new coat, that coat had to last all year, so most likely the coat didn’t fit him just then. He would have to grow into it. Then, at the end of the year his coat would be too small and he would receive another bigger coat.
So, as they always do, seasons are changing and my season as team leader has ended and I have been asked to step into a bigger coat, the role of squad leader. As I move into this new season, I have the privilege not to walk alone, but beside two amazing, spirit-filled people, Jake Morris and Courtney Buckner.
It is only by remaining wholly dependent on the voice of God and the power of the Spirit that we can lead this squad. I ask that God continue to give us eyes to see people on this squad as He sees them and a heart to love like He loves. Please pray for Courtney, Jake, and I as we step into this bigger coat and walk out this journey into knowing Him more and seeing His kingdom come.
Let me break it down for ya::
This is U-SQUAD
We are a family of 43 radical lovers bringing kingdom to the nations.
U-Squad is broken down into 6 teams with 6-7 people including a team leader.
Andrew Habermas Ben Gagne Brittani Dunlap
Team Soul Grafitti Team Rooted Team .APEX
Justin Warren Justin and Tiffany Hanes Rachel Ritsema
Team Fruit of the Groom Team Salty Sheep Team Willow
For the first three months we have had two WR alumni leading us, Kelsey Sage and Julie Lortz. But, at the end of this month they will be leaving us and heading home. These women have lead us with love and passion. Their pursuit of the Father is beautiful. They have lead by example in word and deed. They encourage and challenge us to love without fear, worship with freedom, pray in faith expecting results, speak with the authority we have received in Christ, and bring the kingdom in all we do. We are going to miss them so much!!
So, as Courtney, Jake, and I step into the role of leading U-Squad we do so with humility and a desire to see God move in this squad, to see freedom received and released, to see people walk in their identity as sons and daughters of God, and to see God’s kingdom come here on earth!!
TEAM SQUEADERS
The next 8 months are going to look drastically different from the first three months of this race. We will form a sort of team of our own The Squeaders (see what we did there:: we combined Squad and Leaders…brilliant I know!) and we will spend our month visiting different teams and ministering with them and to them, encouraging them, speaking life and declarations over them, and praying and prophesying over them.
So, for now we are spending our time in Malaysia being trained by Sage and Julie and we have spent our first week with Team Rooted, teaching Burmese refugees, working in a restaurant, painting a church, and leading worship/Bible Study. Life is good and God is faithful. Love you all.
