Why the World Race?
Because I am a sinner who does not deserve God’s love, yet He loves me still. I have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus because Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins. I am forgiven, I am seen by God as blameless and beautiful, and I have this awesome gift of living life with God, now and eternally. Jesus gives me so much joy, peace, and satisfaction and I want other people to have the same. Jesus died for their sins too and they just don’t know the good news yet.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news. (Romans 10:15)
Because I want to live out the Gospel in a way I don’t at home, serving and loving others in a radical way, like Jesus did. I don’t know these people yet, but I love them and I want them to feel loved, even if that means laying down the comforts of my own life.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3)
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)
Because I want to be thrown out of my comfort zone and put in a position where I have no choice but to trust God. And I want to grow in my relationship with God and learn more about Him, about myself, and about the world.
He must become greater. I must become less. (John 3:30)
Because I love to travel and I want to see more of the world. I get to experience 11 new countries, cultures, languages, lifestyles, and food cuisines!
Because God commands us to share the gospel with people of all nations.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
Because there is so much hurt and suffering in the world, and if God can use me to make a difference, I want in.
Because I have my whole life to go to grad school or settle into a “real” job, so why not do something different now?
