Where Did My Race Go?
Changes! There have been so many changes in the last two weeks for me personally and for my squad. Hearts have been stretched, faith has been increased, and I have seen intercessors step up more into the calling God has on them!
There was Nicaragua, that came and went in a flash. After all, we were only there in ministry for about three weeks. God continued to prepare my heart in Nicaragua for what was about to come. He taught me more about surrender, more about total dependence on Him, and more about being intentional with my teammates.
I have learned more about holding every position of leadership that I’m in, with open hands. I have been through different seasons even here on the race, and I don’t want to miss anything that God may want to teach me in every season that the He has me in.
Then there was Granada. I was invited to go to Granada a few days early with Joshua, Leah, and the three squad leaders. Joshua, Leah, and I were not told why we were asked to go to Granada with the squad leaders(Allan, Lindsay, and Hannah), but of course we could only assume!
You see, we have three squad leaders that have previously done the race, who lead us the first three months, and at the end of the third month they raise up new squad leaders to take their place. (They leave the race after the fourth month)
And so it was over dinner the first night in Granada, where they asked us if we would be willing to accept that position of leadership over the squad. It didn’t necessarily come as a surprise, but at the same time I was extremely humbled and honored to be invited to squad-lead.
They gave us till the next morning to give our answer on whether we would accept the invitation or not, but I already knew that this is where God wanted me for this next season of my life. I knew this is where I would be stretched in so many new ways. I knew that God had been preparing me for this. And so I accepted the invitation to lead the squad along with a brother and sister who are totally sold out for God… Joshua Savage, and Leah Johnson.
So what does this mean for us for the rest of the race? Basically we give up our race to pour into the team leaders and the squad. I really am thrilled that I get to do this! It means I get to be involved in disciplship. It means more dependence on God, less of myself, and more of Him working through me. If I don’t come to those places where “if God doesn’t show up, we’re going to fall,” I’m trying to do too many things on my own! It means spending hours in prayer and in the presence of God, seeking His heart for us personally, and then for the squad.
Yes! I love it! Spending time in the presence of the Father! This is something that has been on my heart since the beginning of the race, and now I get to so much of it daily!
I will admit it is a little hard letting go of being involved in ministry all the time…especially here in Thailand…the land that I love! The ministry we are currently working with, goes into the red-light district of Chiang Mai to speak with, and build relationships with the men and women there who are entrapped in human trafficking. Please be in prayer for my brothers and sisters as they go into these bars at night with the love of Jesus.
I do know however, that I can have a huge impact on the ministry we are with by pouring into those on our squad and speaking life over them!
So here we are in Thailand, traveling around as a team of six squad leaders. It is a transition month…the three former squad leaders pouring into those of us who have been raised up to lead. I am so grateful to Allan, Hannah, and Lindsay for the way they have poured into us and set an example for us. Their heart for us to go farther than they ever could go, is so awesome!
As I step into this new role that God has for me, I know that I don’t have to be overwhelmed by how huge the job may seem at times, because God has given us what it takes to lead!
The race has changed for me, but God remains the same! He is still good! He's still Abba Father and I'm still his beloved son!
My new awesome co-squad leaders…Joshua and Leah
A little bit about Joshua and Leah…
Joshua-is a great bro that I've grown close to through being fellow team leaders. He brings a great sense of humor to our team, and also has some pretty sweet dance moves which the squad loves! He's steadfast, calm, cool and collected, speaks with an authority that comes from God, and is gifted with an incredible amount of wisdom. He's truly a courageous warrior and even looks like one with the beard and wild hair!
Leah-seems quiet at first, but she has a beautiful heart that is in tunred to the Lord and in tune with what He is saying. She has a gifting in the prophetic and has an incredible heart for the women on the squad. When she speaks, you want to listen because she hears from the Lord and speaks it out confidently! I'm so blessed to be serving alongside this woman of God.
PRAY!Please pray for our squad this month as some of them work in the red-light district of Chiang Mai, some of them in the villages, and some of them at a cafe.
Also continue to pray for surrendered hearts and team unity. Teams were switched up a lot in Granada, so pray that these new teams could connect and function as part of the body of Christ!
It's not about me…It's all about Him! -Jamie
