Dear Friends and Family,
As many of you know this past year has been a season of ministry and growth in learning how to be a leader with the youth group at my church. Over this past year the ministry team has seen wildly successful campaigns and events such as raising over $3,500 for Heartworks. We’ve had the pleasure of seeing the students of Echo grow in their walks with Christ and the group as a whole growing in spiritual maturity. While God has placed this passion for youth ministry, God has also ignited a passion for his lost. Last summer and early this May God has given me the opportunity to use my love for cycling and adventure to raise money and support for International Justice Mission and Restore International, two amazing organizations working to put an end to the issues of human trafficking and sex slavery. While building a passion for social justice and wanting to bring that passion into youth ministry, I believe this trip will provide to tools to better bring these two passions together.
This year I graduated from Colorado Christian University with a major in Youth Ministry and a minor in Outdoor Leadership. While these past four years have been an amazing time for me to grow in deeper understanding of God, Leadership, and better understanding of Youth Culture, I’m still aware that there is more for me to learn and experience that goes beyond the four walls of any school I could go to. After graduating I was looking at promising leads into full time ministry, but God has been calling me from jumping into full time youth ministry and into a season of growth. Over the next year God will be breaking my heart for his lost children, and inviting me to be a part of His story He is telling in different countries around the world. Over this past year I’ve come to understand one important lesson and that is that I cannot lead others where I myself aren’t willing to go. This next year I will be experiencing the fullness of what it means when Jesus calls us to, “Follow me.”
The World Race is an 11 month Christian mission’s trip that will be going to 11 different countries around the world. Come this September my route will take me from the Eastern European hills to African villages and South American homes. The team and I will be traveling with will be serving and partnering with different ministries and churches in the local community to help plant churches, work in orphanages, teach English, share the Gospel, and proclaim hope and love that is found in Christ.
Between now and when I leave in September, one of the biggest challenges I will be facing is financial support. Like most missions trips I will be raising my own financial support. In order for me to leave fully funded come this September I will need to raise a total of $15,500. This will cover all of my field expenses over these next 11 months. In giving to this trip and partnering with me over these 11 months you are also investing into the future generation as I plan to bring this experience of a lifetime into the field of youth ministry.
I ask that you would prayerfully consider supporting me in prayer during this time of preparation and through the trip itself. Ultimately this will be a time for me to learn to trust in Him and that He will provide. Also, I ask that if you feel lead, that you would support me financially as I step out in faith over this coming year. I also invite you to follow my blog (jasonchang.theworldrace.org) as I write about my experiences and everything God is doing in my life over this next crazy year of Adventure for God. You can give online by following the Support Me link on my blog or through cash or check by filling out the section included with this letter. Thank you
– Jason Chang
