Our leadership has the job of choosing roles for members of our squad. Delegating responsibilities helps things go smoothly and takes advantage of the gifts that members of our group have. That being said, I imagine that choosing roles for people you don’t know well is a daunting task. This is one reason I have so much respect for our leadership. They chose our roles by observing us during training camp and through lots of petitioning and listening to the Holy Spirit.
Each of the six teams on our squad has a team leader, treasurer, and storyteller. The treasurer keeps the team’s money. The storyteller uses photography, videography, and/or blogging to share stories about our ministry and encourages team members to do the same. Our squad has two worship coordinators. There are also two Beauty for Ashes coordinators on our squad, who plan and implement women’s ministry retreats. Finally, there are three logistics leaders for the squad. I was chosen for this role along with Kelly and Ty. Although some people’s roles will change throughout the Race, our role will stay the same for the entire 11 months.
I am very excited for this opportunity. I think it reflects many of my gifts: administration, teaching, organization, and being able to see details as well as the big picture. Perfectionism is a curse, but when you remove fear of failure, a type-A personality can bring God much glory. I also think it will be good for me to work on leading from behind. Logistics is a behind-the-scenes type of ministry. Members of my squad won’t know about everything that goes into my job, and that’s okay. I know that I should seek recognition only from God, not man. This role will give me the opportunity to grow in humility.
So what exactly will we be doing? Ty, Kelly, and I will adopt a mindset of awareness on behalf of our squad to help transitions flow smoothly. We will serve as liaisons for communications between our squad and the World Race logistics office back at AIM headquarters in Gainesville, GA. We will have our alumni squad leaders with us on the field for the first five months of the Race and will be able to use them as resources. My fellow logistics leaders and I will take ½ or 1 day a week to do our logistics work. This role is a form of ministry and a way to serve our squad.
Our responsibilities are as follows:
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Coordinating travel for our entire squad between countries and continents. Distribute flight information provided by AIM. Make sure all members of our squad are under the baggage weight limit and at the airport well before our boarding time. Book tickets for buses and trains. Communicate cultural adjustments to our squad. Update team information and locations. Research and obtain visa information if needed at certain border crossings.
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Tracking expenses. Each of us logistics leaders will have a credit card and will need to track expenses and keep receipts. We will also support the team treasurers and help them stick to their budget.
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Contacting AIM and each team on our squad regularly. We will communicate with the WR logistics office by email, phone, and Skype. We will be given a logistics phone and be required to purchase a SIM card in each country. If we are in a place without wifi, we may need to travel somewhere that has it.
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Planning debriefs. Every few months we will take several days and have a squad debrief. During this time, the entire squad comes together to refuel, learn, and enjoy some downtime. My co-leaders and I are responsible for anticipating the needs of the squad, coordinating lodging and food, and creating a schedule. We will need to find a place with enough space for us to meet and worship together. We will also take care of anyone who flies in to join us for a debrief, such as our mentor and coaches.
The following is a list of qualities that leadership looks for in a logistics leader:
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A positive “can do” attitude
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Initiative — the ability to make decisions quickly and act on them
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Laid back and not easily overwhelmed or stressed
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Influence and leadership within the squad
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Maturity of character
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Line up with World Race vision and beliefs
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Understand and operate through proper lines of authority
I can’t wait to get started! If you have any questions about my role as a logistics leader, please comment below and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Recklessly love and be loved,
Em
