It’s community that shapes the experience. And on the Race, I’ve seen that this couldn’t be more true.
Before training camp, I took extra notice of the six other men on my squad – because, well, when your squad is comprised of thirty-six other women, male solidarity is something to strive for from day one. As I learned a little bit about them from social media in the days before meeting them, I grew concerned. These guys seemed to be nothing like me. Many of them were coming from construction jobs, farm backgrounds, or military families; I was a city boy working at a ballet school who, I realized, wouldn’t have much in common to offer besides Jesus. Once training camp rolled around, I kept my ground and pursued relationship with them, determined not to have my identity undermined by my lack of shared experiences. In that first week, I didn’t know if these guys would end up being lifelong friends, or just “co-workers” for the next 11 months. But by the end of training camp, I was placed on my first team with two of these men, and I quickly found friendship with them as we set out for our first three months in Latin America.
During Month Four, the men from each of the three co-ed teams were set apart to form a new all-men’s team in Belize – “Manistry Month”. I was asked to lead for that month, which was extremely intimidating. These men were far more capable of leading than I was, and I struggled to believe that I, the guy from the ballet school, would be able to get through to them. But sure enough, the Lord carried me through the month and I had some wonderful opportunities to get to know each of them on an individual and more personal level. And very quickly, to my surprise, I found something beautiful. I had a lot more in common with them than I thought.
Flash forward a couple of months. The men had been placed back on new co-ed teams, this time with new leadership and different combinations of men, and served faithfully for the first three months of our time in Southeast Asia. But after a squad Debrief in Thailand, the men came together and expressed to leadership a desire to have another month of “manistry”. Even though the men had spent a month together in Belize, we still felt like we had more to learn from each other. After some deliberation from leadership, the men were again taken away from the co-ed teams and came together for “Manistry: Round 2” for Month Eight in the Philippines. That month, the men got closer through time spent together serving at a boy’s home, and found that even through some conflict, there was a bond forming. All of us could sense it, and we were driven to use our short month together to dive into our identities as men of God. Time was moving quickly, but the Lord wasn’t concerned, because after the first two weeks we got the news: the men would be staying together as an all-male team for the rest of the Race.
These final three months together have not been easy. Personal struggles, ideological disagreements, and fatigue have caused us to clash in ways that have been at times frustrating or defeating. But yet, I’m standing at the end of this final month in Kenya, more grateful than ever for these men. Some have had to leave early, and some have been in and out, but I still look at each of them the same. These men, my World Race brothers, have been used so mightily by God in this past year, and have impacted me in the most incredible ways. The love and respect I have for each of them is insurmountable.
And so, for my final Missionary Spotlight of the World Race, I want to celebrate each of them with you. These mighty men of God. The Men of O Squad.
Keaton Curtis
I’ve been with Keaton on three different teams. In this past year, I’ve spent more time with him than any of the other guys on the squad. And I couldn’t be more grateful that this was true. As a team leader on our first team, he led with compassion, understanding, and patience, often exhibiting these traits in supernatural ways. And on later teams, when he was asked to step down from leadership, he exhibited these same qualities even without a position of authority. One of his favorite mottos (which is tattooed to his arm) says “beauty flows through brokenness”; Keaton lives this out by humbly attesting to his own weaknesses, and boasting in the strength the Lord has given him to overcome. He’s faced many challenges throughout the Race, but has consistently turned to the Lord for the strength to press through. I’ve seen his heart come alive especially while in Africa, and even in the moments that were most challenging, I could see this passion from inside pushing him to love and serve the people around him beyond his limits.
Keaton has been used by God in so many ways throughout the nine months I’ve spent with him. He’s been a level head for the men’s team, a mediator who is willing to listen and empathize with a struggle, but also an instigator for action and intentionality. He’s been a source of comfort for those in need, and has a natural ability to make people feel safe and understood. When an issue has arised, he’s been bold in addressing the topic, but not before taking time to gain wisdom on how to do so in the most loving way possible. He’s been a fearless advocate for his friends, and has been loyal to defend them no matter what. He may not realize it, but he’s been a huge part of growing my identity as a man of God this past year. Keaton Curtis has taught me to love others with boldness, to be graceful in conflict, and to be an open vessel for God’s power to flow.
Daniel Ingalls
My man Dingalls. This man was my teammate and closest friend on my first team, before he was asked to step up into the position of Squad Leader. From the first couple of months I spent with him, I saw that promotion coming a mile away. Daniel Ingalls has the qualities of a natural leader, but not often the qualities that one might expect. Daniel has the rare ability to make anyone feel special, seen, understood, and appreciated. From very early on, he and I found friendship with simple things – stupid jokes, weird voices, singing in our abnormally high falsettos, etc. Those first few months helped me to see Daniel as a man that was loyal, selfless, and deeply trustworthy. But as he stepped into this leadership position, the Lord highlighted even more wonderful qualities about him. Humility. Boldness. Grace. Understanding. Compassion. His role as squad leader has required him to minister to forty other Racers while at the same time doing the Race for the first time. He’s had enormous challenges with this role, but has overcome each of them with astonishing amounts of prayer, wisdom, and grace.
Daniel has been used by God in the most beautiful ways this past year. Even during our second month in Nicaragua, I saw the way Daniel sought out individuals to encourage them, make them laugh, or empower them in ministry. He’s been a warm and inviting presence on this squad, and his joy has allowed people to feel comfortable enough to open up to him. He’s used his giftings of creativity and humor to bless others, and has always looked for ways to engage others and uplift them. He’s brought laughter and humor into moments of struggle, and has lovingly come alongside people to call them out of dark places. Daniel has brought me a lot of joy this past year, and I’ve been so grateful that the Lord brought him into my life as a friend and fellow goofball. Daniel Ingalls has taught me to embrace joy, go the extra mile, and to listen with the desire to love.
Michael Rojewski
Michael Rojewski is a man with a huge heart. Ever since training camp, I saw his love for people, for conversation, and for seeking wisdom from Scripture. And once I had the opportunity to be on a team with him, I got to see his heart in action even more. Michael has surprised me countless times with his selflessness. He always chooses to let others go ahead of him. He sees the needs of others and immediately steps in, even if nobody notices it. Michael has a tremendous testimony of God’s miraculous grace, and he lives it out every day. But on top of all of this, Michael is hilarious. He knows how to make the people around him laugh riotously. Even in moments of personal struggle, he finds a way to bring light to it. He has shown incredible loyalty towards his friends, and will stand with them through anything. He also exhibits supernatural patience in testing seasons, and is willing to push through hardship for the goal of greater victory.
Michael has been used by God in so many incredible ways on the Race. He has walked in supernatural power in different difficult situations, even while dealing with chronic migraines that have tested his strength. He has been given opportunities to minister to so many lost people, many of whom go unnoticed by those around them. He has brought so much laughter to the team in times of struggle, even if the humor was at his own expense. He has always volunteered to take the low position without grumbling about it. He has shown so much compassion in the way he takes time to sit down and listen to others. His hunger for Scripture and for truth has exhibited itself in ministry and in daily life, and has encouraged those around him to join in. Michael is the kind of guy who holds on to nothing and will jump in for anything, especially if it’s the opportunity to love someone else. Michael Rojewski has taught me to laugh, to be patient in understanding, and to humbly treat others as greater than myself.
Carson Stutzman
I am so grateful for this guy. I didn’t know him very well for the first half of the trip, but in these last few months, the Lord has allowed us to become friends. In that time, I have seen so much gold in him. Carson carries quiet strength, the kind that exhibits itself without showiness or pride, but also continually presses into obedience to the Lord no matter what. He carries a lot of wisdom, a lot of truth, and a lot of compassion. He is a deep thinker, and asks some beautiful questions of the Lord. He has a passion for capturing beauty, and his giftings in photography have blessed so many different people around the world. And in a team setting, he is bold to speak out when he sees people straying from the path of the Lord, often in moments when no one else will. He fights for truth with strong compassion, and has been proven to valiantly fight for his friends to live in that truth.
Carson has been a vessel for the Lord this year in a number of beautiful ways. His perspective has encouraged me and my team on numerous occasions, especially in the way he works to find understanding in moments of conflict. In times where things were confusing, he never walked away, but instead sought truth from Scripture and encouraged others with the wisdom the Lord have him. He has sought to magnify the Lord’s simple beauties through his art. His joy has often overflowed onto others, and his dry wit has brought the team so much laughter. He has been one of the first to call teammates out when they are struggling, and has always done so with grace and compassion. Carson has encouraged me deeply through our conversations together, as he’s been willing to go into deep conversations to discuss hard things, and has always offered his wisdom in humility and love. Carson Stutzman has taught me to be a truth seeker, to fight for others in boldness, and to illuminate the beauty of the Lord’s heart.
Andrew Trausch
Captain Andrew. In the last couple of months, he has stepped into the position of team leader for our men’s team – an extremely difficult position. And while the role was a challenge at first, I’ve come to respect his desire to love and serve the men of this team with humility and dignity. He has been willing to own up to weakness and step boldly into greater strength in the Lord. I’ve seen his hunger for the Lord flow out into everything he does – into ministry, into home life, and into interactions with the team. He has been a faithful servant to the Lord throughout the Race, and has continually pressed into loving those around him even during the most challenging seasons. He’s seen the Lord move mightily in his life, and he wears those testimonies with pride. I’ve been astonished in the lengths he goes to love and serve people, and I’ve seen his heart come alive in ministry in the coolest ways. He is a gifted minister, a compassionate ear, and a passionate servant of the Lord.
Andrew has been faithfully used by God in so many ways this past year. He has shown compassion to all kinds of people, even in moments where it wasn’t asked of him. He has sought the Lord for wisdom and grace in approaching conflicts. He has pressed into his identity as a son of God, and valiantly shared this wisdom with everyone he could. He has fought to understand others’ perspectives, and to encourage people wherever they are at. He has exhibited the strength of the Lord in moments of weakness, and has boldly proclaimed those moments as victories. He has blessed the people he’s around with his servant’s heart, whether through encouragement or thoughtful gestures or delicious cooked meals. He’s a man with a bright future because of the light that he carries with him on a daily basis. Andrew Trausch has taught me to walk confidently in my identity, to serve others with compassion, and to choose obedience even in the hardest of seasons.
Daniel White
I have a lot of respect for this man. Dan carries a strong presence, and has been a huge catalyst for my team’s spiritual growth these last few months. He’s had a tough year, with lots of frustrating challenges, but I’ve seen him exhibit incredible resolve to endure and not sit in apathy. But what I respect most about Dan is his compassion. He and I have had our disagreements and misunderstandings, but I have always found such comfort in working through those things alongside him. Even though he holds strong beliefs, he is always willing to listen and understand. He a guy who prefers quality over quantity; he desires to dive deeper with individuals before trying to minister to the crowds. He’s a man of great character – one who is not afraid to take charge when something needs to be done, and one who is faithful to point everything back to Christ.
This past year, Dan has been used by God in so many incredible ways. His wrestle with the Lord has encouraged other people not to take things at face value, but allow those things to seek in deep. His depth of insight has allowed us men to grow deeper in our understanding of Biblical principles. He has been driven to implement Scripture in his everyday walk, and has lived as an example of this even in moments of weakness. He has been willing to come forward in mistakes, and his willingness to ask for help in times of need has encouraged others to do the same. He has offered supernatural grace in working through trials, and has exuded supernatural humility in the way that he has allowed others to speak into him. Dan has challenged me in many ways this past year, but I attribute a lot of my growth this past year to this man’s fearless faith. Daniel White has taught me how to wrestle for more, to listen with humble compassion, and to never give up living for the truth of the Gospel.
I praise God for these men. I praise God that he has given me five whole months with these guys who have shaped me, encouraged me, challenged me, made me laugh, and brought me life throughout the Race. It’s been a tough year, one with a great variety of obstacles, but these men have persevered and have encouraged me to do the same. Standing at the end of this experience, I couldn’t be more in awe by the ways God has used them in my life. I couldn’t be more grateful for the things they have taught me.
I couldn’t be more proud to call these men my brothers in Christ.
Guys Night Forever.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. ‘Greater love has no one than this, that one lay his life down for his friends.'” John 15:12-13
