Part of World Race is changing teams, developing vision and learning to rely more and more deeply on discerning the Lord’s voice.
About three months ago, our squad was informed that for the last season, we were being given the liberty to pray into and form our own teams. Where as leadership usually prays into these decisions, we were being given the opportunity to submit to the Lord’s voice and work together to form teams. With twenty plus people on the squad, this was quite an growing opportunity and privilege.
In March, one of my good friends asked me, “Do you want to form an adventure proposal with me?” As I LOVE hiking, adventuring and the thought of trekking village to village witnessing, I was instantly excited by this idea. But before I could even say anything back, my spirit checked me and instantly, I felt God saying, “NO”.
Honestly, being a bit confused by the check in my spirit, I started seriously praying into where God was inviting me in this season. Initially, as I prayed I wasn’t getting any clear direction other than that one closed door. And then, as our squad was on a ferry across the Caspian Sea, God dropped an idea in my heart.
I was standing on the top deck of the ferry with squadmate, Val. It was March 9th. The boat had been docked in a cove all day because of rough water ahead. And as we were watching the sunset over the shoreline, the Lord put Japan on my heart. It was clear, yet I was a bit thrown off. Japan? What about Japan, Lord? As Val and I stood there together watching the sunset, I was praying…what could this mean?
I continued praying in the open air from the top of that boat, the Lord continued speaking to my heart:
Japan. Women. Restoration. Prostitutes. Small Group. Military Base.
I felt like I was supposed to share with Val. I was a bit apprehensive, but knew God was inviting me into something with this. As I told Val, her face was shocked. Unbeknownst to me, God had laid the exact same vision on Val’s heart a few months back.
Japan was not on our original route. In these last weeks, we were scheduled to spend time in Mongolia and China. But, the Lord continued to confirm that a small group of us were to propose to spend part of this time in Japan. In order to submit a proposal, a team must type out a long document, outlining every part of their vision—ministry contacts, budget, housing, transportation, etc. Standing on the boat that night in March, Val and I realized that something very special might be on the horizon. Thus began a time of fasting, praying, interceding, seeking, asking, and waiting on God’s movement in laying out what Japan would be.
As the last two months have passed, we have committed to daily seeking the Lord’s vision and will in this. Early in March, the Lord instructed Val in the below painting. She gave it to me, and each morning, I have been using this as a prayer guide—praying for the country, its men, women, children, the local churches. I’ve never had a burning passion for a country as I have for Japan. And, as the weeks have gone by, God has given our team specific instructions and created special connections for this kingdom possibility to become a reality.
Since August, I have been part of two powerful teams: Daughters of the Light and Mosaic. Knowing the power that lies in a team, praying into God’s leading in empowering a group of women for this specific call was so humbling. Through the Lord’s lead and confirmation over the last weeks, Austin and Shela also powerfully joined in with this vision, team and into praying for Japan.
Our team is named Wings of the Dawn. The mystery and prophecy behind this name will be revealed more as we continue in the next seven weeks. However, we are expecting and anticipating our team’s role in restoration, freedom and hope as we share the gospel specifically with the women of Mongolia, Japan and China. Jesus is the only one that can take darkness and bring light. As we claim Psalm 139:9-12 (below) for our team, we know we can claim that Jesus’ work on the cross as finished.
Psalm 139:9-12 “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “surely the darkness will cover me, and the light about me be night”, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you”
As I embrace that I will be a member of a four person team traveling to Japan to partner with a local church that ministers to women in the red-light district of Tokyo, I am overwhelmed. The fear of the Lord is real. But, as I ponder the reality of how God has laid Japan on each of our individual hearts, I am in awe. Over and over again I have seen each threading and detail of this plan is coming together perfectly by the Lord’s hand.
As we have prayed into Japan and what all of this could look like, we prayed into connection and ministry contacts. Over the last weeks, the Lord opened and closed many doors. It’s been such a dynamic following and waiting on His movement. Valerie was lead through a connection in her hometown to a specific church and pastor in Tokyo. This pastor leads a recent church plant in the entertainment district in Tokyo. Spirit led and dynamic, this contact is heavily passionate and involved in ministry with the sex industry. With such congruent vision to what God has given us, we are so expectant to meet him in person.
Aside from the sex industry in Japan, this country is very in need of the gospel. According to Joshua Project, only 0.58% of the Japanese population is a professing evangelical Christian. Statistics show that over 124,296,000 people remain unreached by the gospel.
Prostitution and the sex industry continues to be a huge problem in the densely populated cities of Japan. In Tokyo, the entertainment/right light district is the location of many love hotels, shops and nightclubs. It is often called the “sleepless town”. While law forbids prostitution, the sex industry is a rampant problem.
After nearly two months of prayer, unifying a team, coordinating with ministry contacts and seeking God’s will, we submitted our proposal with its complete budget and ministry outline last Friday. It was approved just hours laters. And, now, with eight days left until we pray to arrive in Tokyo, it is OFFICIAL— a prayer, dream and incomplete vision has become an unfolding reality for our new team.
As I am excited to share this vision with you, I am also excited to share of our needs. When I started fundraising last year for the race, I found it to be very challenging. Did I deserve these donations? Over the months, God has shown me fundraising is not about me. Really, the longer I follow God, the more he shows me how nothing is about me. It’s about him, it’s about kingdom growth, it’s about heart change and sharing truth. So, as God has made a way for us to directly minister to sex workers in Tokyo in such a formative time of a new church plant, I am excited to tell you about how you can directly be part of that.
First, PRAYER. We need a lot of prayer. (I listed some of prayer requests below)
Secondly, FUNDRAISING.
In the next eight days, we must raise $900 individually for a collective total of $3600. Essentially, this is to cover the cost of long-distance transport and the higher cost of living in Tokyo. We will fly from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Tokyo, Japan. After ministry to rejoin our squad in China, we will take a Ferry from Kobe to ShangHai. If we don’t raise this support in the next week, we cannot go.
This is truly a kingdom opportunity. It feels chilling, sacred, big. I hold on to the verse that the laborers are few, but the harvest is great. As I am one of the laborers who gets to be in the city, you are the laborers who get to fuel the fire. As the months go by, I know without a doubt that God is the abundant provider. I am not entitled to your help, but believe God is asking for participants in His work. In this opportunity to work in the red light district, I believe with my whole heart that the harvest will be great.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Because Japan is not on our original route, the costs of travel are not covered. If you feel lead to support us in this prompting of the Lord, please email me directly at [email protected]
-Housing is another huge prayer request. We are very excited and expectant to be partnering with this contact. However, Tokyo is VERY expensive. With additional fundraising, we are working with a budget of $38/night for housing for our team. We are stepping out in faith, though this is about 30% of the average price for housing, trusting that God will make a way for us and provide housing for us near ministry.
-Prayers for the heart of those we will be ministering to, for their heart to be ready to receive the healing, hope, restoration and salvation that the truth of Jesus offers.
-Increased sensitivity to the Spirit and hearts that would truly break for the women we encounter so they may feel and share more of the Father’s love for them.
-Team unity and depth, dynamic encounters, powerful friendships that will bring kingdom everywhere we go. Spiritual protection, especially in the Red Light District.
-Continued strengthening and identification of our individual roles in the kingdom and as daughters of Christ through this time.
Thank you for your following the updates and for your continued support on this life-changing journey. The most powerful gift you can send us is prayer. Thank you for your dynamic support and contribution to the Kingdom!
With love,
Kelsey
