So I have been home from the Race for about three months. In that time I have had the opportunity to rest and refuel as well as process the previous year of my life. I have also had the ability to start trying to figure out what exactly the next chapter of my life looks like. While I could very well get a normal job, reenter a normal community and proceed to have a normal life with God being at the center of it all, however I do not feel like that is where God is directing me to. Don’t get me wrong those are all very admirable things and I think God is very pleased with those lives. I just don’t believe that God would take me on the journey I have been on and the transformation within me to return to a traditional career and lifestyle. When I first went on the Race I never looked at it as a once in a lifetime mission trip or a season of my life that would eventually come to an end. Even though it was a season and it has come to an end the reasons and passion that caused me to sign up for the race still exist.
I have a heart for missions and through the race and life experiences I have developed a love of people and serving them. I believe that God has a plan for each one of our lives. Even though these plans may change through the years I believe that God still has his hand on it the entire time. I am a big sports guy and even though I can’t stand Alabama football you have to respect Nick Saban for the success he has had. He has been so successful because he has a specific process that he sticks to that time and time again works when he puts the right pieces together. I think God has a process for how our lives go as well and the Bible has plenty examples of people going through God’s processes.
Abraham had to go through the process of waiting.
Joseph had to go through a process of being a slave before he could lead Egypt.
Jesus went through the process for 30 years for 3 years of ministry.
Saul had to go through the process of physical blindness in order to see spiritually.
I believe that God has put it on my heart to be passionate about missions and building disciples, however I have learned through the race and life in general that I have a long way to go in order to be the leader he envisions me to be. I have to go through his process in my life as well. Part of this process was signing up and going on the Race. That has come and past. Coming off the race I wasn’t sure what the next step of that process would be. After the race AIM has a reentry program that they hold to try and figure all this out called Project Searchlight. This usually takes place soon after a Race ends, usually within a month or so. Ours took place the first of January and it consists of two main aspects the first being adjustment to reentry and processing all that the Race was. The second is figuring out what is next and for those of us like myself who didn’t feel like their time in missions had come to a conclusion it included other opportunities that AIM offered and information on other organizations they partner with. I went into project searchlight with an opened mind and the thought that I would listen to everything because I really didn’t have any direction at this point.
Back during our time in Cambodia we had a debrief and in this debrief one of our squad leaders Cam had mentioned about this opportunity AIM offered after the Race for people who wanted more but were not exactly sure what the more is or how to utilize their skills for it. It is called the Center for Global Action or CGA for short. It is a five month leadership and discipleship program that helps prepare racers for more leadership roles and ultimately a ministry oriented career. Cam thought I would be a perfect fit for it but we still had three months left in the field so I didn’t really think much about it. Fast forward to project searchlight and trying to figure out whats next I figured I had nothing better I was doing at this point so I decided I would go on a whim and apply for CGA. I found out this past week that I had been accepted and if all goes according to plan I will be moving to Gainesville, GA in the middle of March!
What is CGA?!?
CGA stands for the Center for Global action. is a 5 month program that takes place at the Adventures in Missions headquarters designed to equip and develop people leaderships skills through living in active community and to have the chance to be discipled by people who are living out their God driven purpose. CGA will help me develop the areas of my life that still need a little sharpening and develop the confidence to use the appropriately in my professional life. CGA has multiple different tracks to choose from including field leadership, worship, and business as missions. I chose the Field leadership as I have a passion for missions and one day have the desire to lead a missions organization in some capacity. Part of the program entails that we put what we learn into action and we will actual be put in charge of leading out a short term international mission trip through AIM’s short term mission program.
In order for me to continue with this opportunity I have to raise the funds to cover the cost of the program which includes the cost of the program itself and housing for the duration of it. The total cost of the 5 month program is $5,950 this is including housing and the cost of the short term trip that I previously mentioned. Of which $2,000 must be raised before the program begins on March 16th. Would you prayerfully consider continue to partner along side as I continue this journey God has put me on. If you want to know more about this opportunity or about my World Race I’d love to meet and chat!
