My encouragement to future Racers:
1. The World Race is an opportunity to see so many ways God is at work in the world to save people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, for his glory! The World Race is not an 11-month vacation to 11 countries.
2. The World Race is journey that promotes community and discipleship with other believers. But the World Race is not a replacement for the local church. The WR has elements of local church life, but it is not God’s design for New Testament believers. The World Race can help you become more well-equipped to serve in your local church, but it will never excuse you from active participation in a biblical local assembly of the body of Christ, the church, when you get home.
3. The World Race is something God can use in your life to grow you in the knowledge of your savior, Christ. But the World Race should never become something you love more than Christ: it will not be your savior.
4. The World Race is an opportunity to be removed from many of life’s usual comforts in order to learn greater dependence on the Lord. But going on the World Race in itself will not replace the necessity of spiritual disciplines for growth in godliness.
5. The World Race will give you new experiences with God, present new doctrines to you, and put you along side people who believe differently than you. But the World Race experience is not authoritative for our faith and practice: only the holy Word of God is.
6. The World Race is a unique season, an adventure with God and with other believers! But the World Race is still life. You still have to do your laundry. You still have to go buy groceries. You still have to wash the dishes.
7. The World Race is once-in-a-lifetime blessing from the Lord for your good and his glory! It is not a season to be squandered. Align your expectations with God’s purposes/agenda for you and for this world as revealed in scripture, and steward your journey well!
