I just want to say how blessed I am to be a part of the NLCC family. And that is exactly what NLCC is to me, a family. Over the last year or so God has made it clear that He is guiding me in a different direction than the path I was previously on. My plans of going to law school just didn’t seem to be working out and I began praying and asking God what it was He wanted me to do. Needless to say that He has led me to something that I have complete confidence and faith in. When I decided to do the World Race, I was a little anxious about leaving this congregation. After all, it was the first place that I really began to grow spiritually and feel what it is truly like to be brothers and sisters in Christ. I can’t tell you how much this body of believers has meant to me and my walk with Christ. Because of that, every time I think about leaving I start to worry that I am walking away from something great that I can never experience again. I then realize that this mission will provide me with the opportunity to show that same love and support to my other brothers and sisters around the world. Thinking about meeting these others brings me peace and joy. I admit that I still have feelings of anxiety and fear about leaving but I know that God has a plan for me on this trip and that He will provide. I know God is in control and having other believers such as yourselves has been a great comfort to me as I continue this journey.
My desire for this trip is for me to help others know Christ and for me to “lose” myself. By that I mean that I want to get away from my comfortable and monotonous lifestyle in order to be closer to God. I’ll admit that I am going to miss watching sports, hanging with friends, playing with our church kids and spending time with my family but I know that God has something special in store for me and those I meet on this trip. I cannot wait to experience it! I am also looking forward to seeing the grandness of God as He is the same throughout the world. I had a glimpse of this when I went to Nicaragua and there is nothing more amazing than observing the local people praise and worship in a foreign language in a place that is so far away from home. God has no barriers!
Another cool thing is that I have many directions I can go once I return from this journey. By this I mean I have no commitments that I will have to attend to. This is why I also desire to mature spiritually and let God lead me in the direction He has called me. I guess you could say I have a “blank slate” once I return and it is ready to be filled with whatever God decides to have me do.
I love you all and I cannot wait until we meet again!
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” – 2 Corinthians 13:14
Your brother,
Jeff
