Hello and Friends and Family,
Pokemon was one of my favorite shows growing up. I loved how in the beginning, Ash the main character was given three options to pick his first Pokemon. of Course we know he ends up picking one that was not even on the list, and was actually, not yet ready or even qualified to be picked. However, Ash sees something in Pikachu that he becomes so attached to and loves so well, even though pikachu disobeyed, and shocked him, but Ash called him and never gave up on him or left his side. Looking at it now, I see That God did this for me and does this for all of his children HE calls to himself.
The first time I had ever given thought to the idea of Missions was the summer going into my Junior year of High school. My church was going to Connecticut to share the gospel in a local neighborhood and lead a VBS. From what I recall, it was around this time, that I had read in Scripture Jesus commanding and commissioning us to go and make disciples of all nations and preach the gospel to all of creation. That summer, I felt as though Missions was something that I would be doing long term but kind of put it in box and did not really think I would devote my entire life to it (THough it sounded good and I wanted to). .
After being given the opportunity to serve in South Asia, I believed that going into missions full time was what the Lord was guiding me to do. A few months later through prayer and seeking guidance from the Lord and others, I was able to talk with some friends who were going on this trip called the World Race which is sponsored through Adventures in Missions (AIM). As I was reading in Scripture, Ephesians 3:7-9 stood out to me and I knew the Lord was telling me that being a servant of the Gospel and proclaiming it among the nations full time was the direction HE was leading me in. After learning more about AIM, I felt that God was directing me to serve him in this way and so I applied and was accepted.
The World Race is an 11 month Christian missions and discipleship experience to 11 countries around the world. It was founded in 1989 By Seth Barnes and since then has sent out over 100,000 short term missionaries to fulfill the commission and commands of Christ. The fact that this is a combination of a missions experience and an intense (literally in tents) discipleship program, makes this something unique and different from other mission organizations. The program is designed to launch other Kingdom minded individuals into the world to partake in the calling God calls us to fulfill in the Great Commission. Through the World Race, my team and I will serve God’s heart for the nations through the Gospel by partnering with local churches and ministries, work with orphans, and fulfill scriptures by binding up the brokenhearted and setting the captives free. We also have the privilege to minister to victims of human trafficking as well as those considered the least of these.
As of now, these are the countries on my route:
Panama
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
El Salvador
Malawi
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Cambodia
Thailand
Indonesia
Malaysia
As I venture in this journey with the vision of seeing people encounter the real and personal being of Jesus, and grow in relationships with God and others, I know I will face many challenges. As I am in the process of preparation, one of my main challenges is my financial support. I am expected to fundraise in order to participate in this life changing experience. For this to happen, I need to raise $18,100 so that I can leave on our launch date of August 2018.
This money will cover all of my field expenses for the 11 months of the trip. Those expenses include: Travel by land, air, and sea. Health insurance. Food, Lodging (host homes, hostels, apartments) when not staying in tents,Ministry project, project searchlight (week long re-entry after the race to get acclimated and adapt back into the culture of America)
I am looking for 10 people within the body of believers to help support by donating monthly at $100 a month for 8 months, and or people to give a one time donation at ANY amount the Lord places on your heart to give.
Donations can be made one of two ways:
Through my blog site by Credit or debit: dylanmathis.theworldrace.org just click the orange donate button and it is easy instructions from there.
or
Through mail by check or money order to Adventures in missions (All donations are Tax Deductible) On the check just make sure you have written my name in the memo.
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
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.
Lastly I would like to ask that you support me in and through prayer, as this has been and is a life changing experience with the Lord and I know that the prayers of a Righteous person are both powerful and effective as we walk in obedience in the Lord together.
Thank you guys so much, and Without Christ in you using you, I would not be able to embark on this journey with him to become more like him and spread his love and the gospel, and without you being used by him. I know GOD has called me and led me to this, and I am choosing in love and obedience to follow him and be the one he chooses to bear fruit, become more like Christ, and grow in Christ like community.
With that said, be like a Pokemon and let God choose you, because Uncle Sam wants you!!!
Yours
in Christ
Dylan Mathis
