The World Race is an 11-month Christian mission trip to 11 different
countries around the world, and it’s not your typical missions
experience. It’s a way for young adults to abandon a traditional
lifestyle in exchange for a dramatic paradigm shift.
Through adventure, ministry, community, and self-discovery, World
Racers develop broken hearts that propel their hands to act for God’s
kingdom around the globe. The best part of the World Race is it’s
merely the beginning of a life-long journey.
And what is that “dramatic paradigm shift”? It’s having my worldview turned upside-down. It’s having my comfortable, self-serving, half-hearted, luke-warm, pious, pew-ridden Christian walk turned upside-down and inside out and backwards as I’m broken down and remade in the image of Christ. I don’t want to know the “christianity” that’s nothing but a kingdom of talk and squawk with fake smiles and dainty little feel-good platitudes which penetrate to the soul about as far as the wall-frames in which they’re set penetrate into the body.
No, I want to know a Kingdom of Power, a Kingdom of Grace, and a Kingdom of Love. A Kingdom where people don’t just have pity on the hungry but take them in and feed them. A Kingdom where people don’t just talk about the poor orphans but they pick them up and love on them. I want to know a Kingdom where sinners are reconciled instead of condemned, where believers are united in advancing the Kingdom instead of scattered in defending it. I want to know a Kingdom that doesn’t squabble in petty differences and concern itself with worldly contentions and arguments that serve to do nothing but create division, but where the Saints are united in the Spirit for the will of God which is the reconciliation of the world.
“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of
God lives forever.”
God lives forever.”
What this race is to me is a chance not just to affect the world with
the love of Christ, but also a chance to enter into an environment which
is conducive to focused spiritual growth in Christ through
a group of people single-minded in purpose who are just as crazy as I am in seeking Him and living obediently to the
command He gave us to boldly preach the Kingdom of Heaven to the nations.
the love of Christ, but also a chance to enter into an environment which
is conducive to focused spiritual growth in Christ through
a group of people single-minded in purpose who are just as crazy as I am in seeking Him and living obediently to the
command He gave us to boldly preach the Kingdom of Heaven to the nations.
JAMES WOODLEY
<!– The World Race is more than a Christian mission trip; it’s a year of self-discovery and real, authentic empowerment. Do you have what it takes to go on one of our upcoming races?
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Thank you for visiting my page! Please click on the link below to learn more about me and how I was called to missions. For some of my visitors it may be new to you to find out that I am a religious man at heart. So be it, now you know =).
One thing I can tell you that I’ve learned about myself is that I am incredibly long-winded. I don’t write blogs; I write articles, apparently! My intention in doing so is to provide background and who I am, what I’ve gone through, what I’ve thought about, and why I’ve made the choices that I’ve made. My hope in being incredibly long-winded is that in doing so I will shed some light on some things you may not have thought about and/or spur you to think about why you do things and how God may be moving in your life.
And I am always open to any questions you may have! I want questions, tough questions, actually. I’m not saying I’ll have an answer, but I do want the questions! So please feel free to post a reply to any of my blogs or contact me through the “Contact James” link to the left. Thanks!
Please check back regularly for blog updates!
(Recent blogs appear in the left navigation column.)
(Recent blogs appear in the left navigation column.)
Countries better brace yo-selves!
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Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is an island nation in the middle of the Caribbean. With a population around nine million, it’s a country with more affluence than its neighboring country, Haiti. After the earthquake on January 12 in Haiti, the D.R. quickly became home to thousands of refugees searching for food, shelter, and comfort. This month, you’ll serve at orphanages, refugee camps, and more. |
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Haiti
Haiti was hit with a life-altering earthquake on January 12, 2010. While the nation was left in shambles, it’s far from struck down and destroyed. Haiti is experiencing a spiritual revival right now. Communities are turning to pastors for leadership and the Church is becoming the driving force behind Haiti’s rebirth. This month you’ll help with relief efforts, establish connections, teach, provide for immediate needs, and more. Come prepared to work – come ready to be rocked.. |
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| Romania The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy people. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here you’ll teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies, and more. |
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Turkey
A primarily Muslim nation, the country of Turkey is also the least evangelized nation on earth. One of the birthplaces of the Church, it is now a nation closed to the Gospel and home of persecuted Christians. This month, you’re going to take some risks in sharing your faith. And while we would love to share with you what you will be doing, we can’t for safety reasons. Just know – you’re not going to forget this experience. |
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Mozambique This is one of the most beautiful countries in the continent of Africa. This is a favorite location of the World Race for a variety of reasons (the people, beautiful landscape, ministry partnerships, and more). Although the stronghold of poverty grips this nation, Mozambique is seeing signs of redemption and economic recovery. Due to this extreme poverty, or perhaps in spite of it, the church is growing, as well. This month on the Race, you will be teaching, preaching, practicing “true religion” with widows and orphans, and more. You may also probably have one of your most memorable travel “days” here. You’ll find out what we mean soon enough. |
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Malawi
Known as “the warm heart of Africa,”
Malawi is definitely a place that you visit to ignite yourself with the fire of God. This country has a beautiful landscape and an even more beautiful culture and population. This month, you’ll be helping plant churches, raising up leaders, and infecting the people with the love of God. Chances are you won’t want to leave. |
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Pioneer Africa Twice during your World Race experience, your team will take a month to ATL (ask the Lord) for a new mission field. He may lead you someplace in the middle of a buzzing city or somewhere that can’t even be found on a map. Either way, it’s a time of listening to the Lord’s voice and following him with true abandon. Uncover more of your inheritance… |
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| Cambodia 28 years ago, Cambodia experienced one of the most gruesome genocides known to man where over one third of the country’s population was slaughtered. Still in recovery from their past, the people of Cambodia are thirsty for hope. |
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China
Host of the 2008 Summer Olympics and home to 1.3 billion people, China is known for its grandness, not just in land mass and population. While the Han Chinese comprise the largest people group, there are over fifty minority groups, including the Uighurs, a people without a country. Due to the legacy of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, Communism is not just a political system, it is almost the state religion. Speaking of which, depending on where you are, you may meet Buddhists, Muslims, and Taoists; there are even churches government approved and regulated. The exact size of the underground church is unknown (hence the name), but what it is known is that it is large and still growing, thriving even in the midst of persecution. While there, you’ll have to pay homage to the Great Wall, and bring light and hope to a people in darkness and depression. How you’ll do that exactly, you’ll find out once you get there. 😉 |
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Philippines This Asian island nation, once a Spanish colony and an American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes, beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes, and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music and dance and community. While there, you may find yourself living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up. |
