Here is a blog Kaitlyn my squadmate and I wrote together to show how different yet the same we all are even though we come from different churches and backgrounds in christianty. I’m in red and Kaitlyn is in blue.
My name is Kaitlyn and I’m 22 years old.
My name is David and I’m 29 years old.
I was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, a predominantly Hispanic area. My family has been in the US for at least 6 generations and no one speaks a different language.
I was born in Ukraine and my family migrated to the States when I was a year old. I was raised in Vancouver, Washington. My whole family speaks Russian/Ukrainian and I became a US citizen in 2001.
We come from very different places but we are both Americans.
I came to know Jesus through a summer camp.
I grew up in church and my dad has been a pastor since I was 12.
I started actively following Jesus in high school and I started attending church and a campus ministry regularly when I went to college.
I always believed in God and knew of Him but it wasn’t until I moved out at 19 that my faith really became my own and I started seeking God.
Before the World Race, I traveled to Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala, and Kenya for international mission work.
Before the race, I went with my church to Ukraine and Mexico for short term mission trips.
I decided to go on the World Race at the end of March after deferring my vet school enrollment date. I finished school in May and left in August.
I stumbled across the world race by accident and for 2 years the thought of me signing up didn’t leave my mind so I left my job and joined this crazy 11-month adventure.
We came to know the Lord in vastly different ways but we have both put everything aside to follow Him on this crazy journey.
I attend a United Methodist Church led by a female minister.
I attend a Russian speaking church. It’s an Evangelical/Pentecostal Church.
I taught first through third grade Sunday School and helped as a Youth Group volunteer at my church.
I sing in the choir at my church. I also teach teen school and I was a youth group leader.
Our churches both serve Jesus and make disciples.
I was the Valedictorian of my high school and I have a Bachelor’s degree in biology.
I’m actually a high school drop-out that’s still working on his GED.
We both have so much wisdom to offer one another.
I have four tattoos and enjoy an occasional margarita or shot of Fireball.
I come from a church that doesn’t approve of tattoos or drinking.
Our personal convictions may be different but our hearts are both focused on Jesus.
We are different. We are unique. But we are united as one family in Christ.
Think about your own family. You are not exactly the same as your father or mother or brothers or sisters, right? Each one of you is unique but you are still a family. Sometimes things can be difficult but you get through it because you are family and you love each other. The kingdom of God is one large family full of unique people who love the Lord and strive to look more like Jesus every day.
So, why did we do this? To show that two people can be a part of an uplifting and inspiring Christian community and not agree on everything. We can serve the Lord alongside one another because Jesus is so much bigger than denominational differences or interpretations. Our faith isn’t based on rules: it is based on love. When we focus solely on loving the Lord and seeking Him, we see that we are moving in the same direction- toward the outstretched arms of the Father.
The Kingdom of God is full of people from all different countries, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, levels of education, and lifestyles. It is time that we start focusing on the similarities that can unite us rather than the differences that divide us.
The worldrace brings a lot of people together from all across the spectrum of Christianity and gives you the opportunity to learn from each other. I’ve learned so much from my fellow teammates and Kaitlyn- even though we come from different denominations and hold varied personal convictions, this should never be a reason to put up walls between one other. We should be working together to further the kingdom of God for the blood of Christ unites us all.
