This is meant to be mostly an informational blog about what Alumni Team Leading is and what I have been doing for the past three months. That being, the months of Sep., Oct., and Nov. 2019. I want you to know what the Lord has been doing, what I’ve been doing, and what I’ve been fundraising for! I admit, I’m not the best at keeping up with blogging. BUT, I’m trying 🙂 THANK YOU so much for being even a little bit curious as to what I have to say to read this blog!
Background:
I had the wonderful blessing of going on the World Race (Gap Year) for nine months from September 2018-June 2019. The Lord truly used that time as a huge platform to transform me into a genuine Christ follower and opened my eyes to His faithfulness and love towards me. It’s a struggle to put into words the vastness of all He did and how I was broken down and built back up again, stronger and rooted. “Growth” is an understatement and I am eternally grateful. My heart is constantly praising and lifting His name on high because HE is MORE THAN WORTHY of it all.
That being, I believe I had tasted and seen a glimpse of how good our God is. If I had only witnessed a glimpse and am that in awe of Him, try to imagine that deep sea of glory and honor that is unseen. This is (loosely and poorly explained) why I wanted to Alumni Team Lead. I felt selfish keeping it to myself. The fact that I had learned so much, witnessed several testimonies, tasted and seen that the Lord our God is REAL and ALIVE and GOOD and FOR US. And I’m out here trying to live my entire life exalting that! So I figured, Alumni Team Leading is the perfect opportunity to do that. To be a leader over a team who I could disciple and share my passions for Jesus with. I believe the Lord struck that fiery passion in me for heavenly community, reconciliation, and showing others that He is so worthy of worship and praise.
Alumni Team Leading
I was an Alumni Team Leader over a group of 7 girls. Kylee, Katelyn, Regan, Regina, Noelle, Sarah, and Sydney. As simply as I can put it, I was there to stand as an example of a woman of Christ and serve them as their leader. To help cultivate values of a healthy community into their team.
My Responsibilities
-Leading my team’s team-times. Everyday each team has “team time”. This is set for teams to relate to each other, grow as a team, learn together, and for them all to be on the same page for how they are all doing so they know how best to support each other. So, learning how to live in Christ-centered community in love that prefers the other. Each day is something different for team time: worship, bible study, feedback, blogging, debrief the week, and a do-anything-as-a-team day.
-Being an example. Sounds like an easy one, but not always. I’m human and I make mistakes. But when you’re supposed to be an example, your mistakes are big ones, they’re seen, and they may be questioned. I really loved that this is part of being an ATL because it really helped me to take what I’ve been growing in as a woman of Christ and truly be intentional in walking that out.
-Having my relationship with the Lord be my first priority. I loved being discipled in this area because it’s easy to let the chaos in your head as a leader overcome you and have your focus be skewed.
-Going to ministry with my team every day. My team that I was leading was my main ministry that I was focused on, but I also did what they did during their ministry hours. In Thailand, we taught english at a school. In Malaysia, we helped at a homeless kitchen and did some manual labor at a building that would eventually become a school.
-Having one-on-one conversations if anyone on my team needs guidance towards Jesus.
-Being in contact with ministry hosts and hosts we live with. Making sure everything is going smoothly, having good communication with them, asking if there are ways we can serve/help them, etc.!
-Being a part of leadership in general. Making decisions, planning things, helping with all the logistical things and what not.
-Taking people to the hospital/clinic if needed.
-The five of us ATLs had a few shared responsibilities in which we delegated- helping the squad thrive in: worship, blogging, logistics of travel, and other things that may have come up.
-Anything else that needs to be taken care of.
I am currently reflecting, praying, and writing about my time being a Team Leader. Why the Lord wanted me there, how I grew, what fruit came from that time, praising the Lord that I had that opportunity, etc. I want to write a blog more focused on what our God did rather than just the logistical stuff.
Hey, again, thank you for reading this. I really appreciate it!
PRAISE THE LORD!
-Clarissa Cappadona
