Committing to the World Race is an exciting endeavor. Preparing for the World Race is a terrifying one. I joined the World Race family a couple months ago. It is so exciting to look into the countries, meet squad mates on facebook, and even take the leap to trust God with the finances. But practically, “trusting God with finances” is a very hard thing to do. Us World Racers are looking at, not only the fifteen thousand needed to do the race, but the additional costs of supplies, insurance, and medication, as well as getting finances figured out for the life we are leaving behind in 2013. Not to mention that life isn’t stopping for us. My current medical bills (from an accident in December) are so vast that, if they took liquid form, I might literally drown. But, with all the worry and difficulty, I have also been completely humbled and overwhelmed by the support I have received! I wanted to write a blog as a shout out to supporters and to encourage those who are considering supporting me or any world racer (any missionary, for that matter). Here are three reasons that Supporting a missionary is awesome!
1) You’re Coming Too!! That’s right, like it or not, you are going to be in Africa with me next summer (and Asia, Europe, South America throughout the year). You bet your booty that the people I encounter on the race are going to hear stories about the mentors that have taught me, the teens that inspire me, and the friends and family who are pouring their lives out for the gospel. I bring with me, not only my testimony, but yours! Because your story is a part of mine. I have seen the gospel lived out through you and if my task is to communicate the gospel, you are going to be a part of that. We are all a great cloud of witnesses. I go on the World Race as a representative of our little sliver of the Kingdom of Heaven, eager to share what God has done with others and eager to share in what others are doing and bring THAT sliver home to share it with you. Therefore, we might all be used and edified to the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven!
2) Too weak alone. Any world racer that thinks this trip is about them needs a quick and deep reality check. I am WAY too weak to be able to embark on this journey alone. I need to know that you are praying, so that I can regain perspective when my failings wear me down. I need to know you are following and hear your encouragements. This experience would be practically impossible, spiritually intolerable, and divinely unsuccessful without the host of people who continually invest and uplift my meager existence.
3) God Uses You! I have a really hard time asking people who have already invested so much in me for support in this unique and crazy adventure. But it has been astonishing to see that people feel called by God to be a cheerful giver. This is not an obligation I am trying to put onto my loved ones, it is an invitation to be used by God. Mission work takes goers, senders, and supporters. And each part as important as the other. Many family and friends are thankful (yeah, THANKFUL!) to be a part of this ministry. I was not expecting that.
Absolutely nothing about my life, my ministry, or my going on the World Race is a lone-ranger expedition. It takes a family, a community, the Kingdom of God. Thank you so much for the ways you support me. The Gospel is a surprising, humbling, incredible thing. I am so grateful to share in the giving and receiving of it with all of you.
**Please consider sharing in this ministry with me by your prayers, encouragement and financial support. Also, please check out other World Racer blogs, pray for them and their stories, and support them also if you feel led. You can support me financially by clicking on the “Support Me” tab on the left of this blog or by mailing a check to Joey Willis, 2512 Goddard Drive, Midland, TX, 79705.
Thanks and God bless.
