Today is a special day.
In the other room sit eleven leaders who are getting trained to take out seventy college students to six different countries for the next four months. I’m taking a break form their training to write this to you because today is important.
Next week two squads of World Racers, almost 100 people will come to Georgia for five days while they prepare to launch into their 11-month adventure race around the world. One of those squads is the “Z” Squad (all of our groups have sequential letters of the alphabet making this squad the last of a era). The other is our “Second Generation A Squad”. I was on the original “A” Squad…seeing this new generation begin has been deeply sentimental for me. I’m going to continue to prepare for their arrival, but I didn’t want to miss out on acknowledging today.
You’ll know from my past couple of blogs that I’m embarking on a new season. Adventures Youth is about to be my primary focus while working at Adventures in Missions. Youth missions is where I started my outreach preceded only by a stint in youth ministry. I have some unbelievably talented people coming to work alongside me in this venture. That reality partnered with the incredible team I work alongside and the leadership I follow promises to make this next season a wild, fantastic ride. I’ve been working on this project and will continue to prepare for next summer, but today is unique for another reason.
I’m continuing to contribute to the Training of all missionaries that go through Adventures in Missions. We’re hoping to send over 1,000 individual participants and over 5,000 on group trips next year…that’s staggering. I also oversee the World Race Apprenticeship program that sees participants come to AIM for a six-month internship of sorts. Part of this Apprenticeship program is the World Race Initiative Program which I also oversee. We currently have a long-term team in Kenya. Beginning in October we will bring together similar long-term teams bound for Thailand and India. That is exciting…I mean really exciting!
But today is different for another reason. September 1, 2011 marks the beginning of my birthday month. On September 15th I turn 30 years old. The last year I have reflected on my life up until this point and ask some good, hard questions. Am I where I want to be? Have I made something of myself? Is this the contribution I want to have? Am I working toward leaving the legacy I want to leave?
The answer to all of these has been a resounding…yes.
As I enter a new decade of life and begin a new season, I stand firm in the reality that God has called me here. If He genuinely has, then He has promised to provide. So for this month, the next 30 days, I am putting for a request.
I have asked God for 30 new partners in ministry. 30 partners who would agree that what He has called me to is changing the world. 30 partners who will choose to join me by contributing $30 a month for the next year of my ministry and see what we accomplish together.
It’s 30, for $30 by my 30th. That’s one committed person per day of September. Which means today, September 1st, I am asking one person to catch the vision. Help me celebrate 30 years of life. It will be a pleasure to bring in a new decade with you.
