One week ago, 39 young adults showed up at the AIM headquaters to participate in the World Race training camp. These young men and women have abondoned the social norms of their generation to pursue the greater things of God.
As we prepare teams for international ministry, they learn that the battle starts here on American soil. In fact, the first battle is faught in their hearts. Here are a few excerpts from some of the participant’s blogs.
Jessica Miller: I am curently in Gainsville Georgia training for the world race. 10 days of life changing experinces. I have learned way more about myself then i have ever known before.
I have learned that i hide behind walls. One wall i have put up is having my whole life together. I make everybody believe that I have delt with all of my issues, which is a complete lie. I also put up a wall from being open. I can talk about things that dont really matter but when it comes to things that do im not compltely real.
I have also learned how to grieve for things. I hate crying because it makes me feel weak and powerless. But yesterday i cried more then i have for a really long time. i let all the pain and stuggles of my life out so i can begin the journey of healing them.
Amy McAllister: I had a lot of fear that I didn’t want to admit to before camp began. I was afraid of what camp would be like, could I handle, it, what would God begin to break in me, and would I get along with my teammates. The answers: intense, yes, lots, and yes. I have so many thoughts right now that I am still processing, so bear with me. I will give you a taste World Race training camp.
Dr. Ron Walborn has been talking to us so far. He has rocked my thoughts. God is doing big works in each of us. I feel like the lesson I need to process the most is the one on the Holy Spirit. I have not grown up seeking the Holy Spirit…but that is going to change now! “The gift of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. It is not a reward it is a gift.” I know I have so much to learn when it comes to this, but I already feel God working in my heart. He is opening it up right now and preparing it. I am not sure exactly what that entails but the key word is open. I am open to the presence of God and He can do whatever He need to!
Andrea Lindquist: Ruined. Delivered. Those two words above are the only words that really resound in my mind. So why ruined? Why delivered? Do I really believe who Jesus Christ says He is? Do I believe He’s alive and actually moves in our daily lives like a father interacts with his child? These are some questions we have to ask ourselves if we’d like to get beyond religious conceptions. As you’ve probably guessed, we’ve asked ourselves them here at training as well.
THEE answer is ‘yes’, so being ruined delivers me in full to Him. Now since I’ve said ‘yes’, that changes everything. No doubt I mess up and will continue. But it is no doubt that He is life. That is why I’m going to places starting July ’08 to bring what gives life.
Daniel Strosky: I knew training camp was going to be intense, but not this intense. God has moved, He has moved in big ways.
The song “Stir it up in my heart Lord” has been the theme song this week. God is beginning to stir up the passions that have gone silent. The passion to serve, the passion to be with the poor, the passion to live in true community, and so much more has come back to the surface.
I thought it was going to be easy, this training camp thing, but it’s been tough. It hurts when God stirs your heart up. Why? Mostly because I have allowed these passions to die and God, being a merciful God, has allowed these passions to re-surface. It hurts that I ignored these passions. I thought shame would come with this, but for some reason I felt grace, I felt the love that comes only from our Father.
Josh Bruce: We have been here for almost four full days and I have not yet encountered God, however, something greater has taken place, GOD HAS ENCOUNTERED ME.
He has scooped me up and brought me into his presence setting aside my short comings, my flaws, my insecurities, and all the crap and baggage that I am carrying around everyday. I carried this stuff because there was a part of me that bought into the lie that things must always look good from the outside, however, the total opposite is true. It is ok to not be ok, and He just wanted me to crawl up into his lap and let him speak truth into those lies.
So I crawled up there with hesitation and God just poured his spirit of truth into the lies and all the pains and insecurities were exposed. As the pain began to flood in and I just wanted to run but God just held on tighter, lavishing love on me. As I am doing my best to describe this moment I cannot put it into words the feeling of the Creator God just holding you in his arms and whispering in your ear “YOU ARE FREE.”
As I share this moment with my wife we are rejoicing because of the freedom that has been whispered into our marriage. It has been hard for the both of us and a ton of internal healing to process but the initial pain is worth the time spent in the arms of the Father. More has been done for my marriage in the past 3 days than almost the 4 years we have been married.
Jesus said “…I have come so you may have life and have it abundantly.” I am beginning to see the abundant life and once you have tasted it nothing else can satisfy that taste but the one true God. So crawl up into the lap of the Father and listen for that whisper “YOU ARE FREE.”
Tara Bruce: The presence of the Holy Spirit was thick in the room like a blanket of love and peace wrapping me up. The reservoirs of emptiness within me were being filled up with real love,peace and joy undescrible. I was once again crying tears of joy as his presence was bubbling up within me. Then I hear someone praying over my husband and I look down and this man of God on his knees praying for Joshua.
At that moment more tears of joy spilled out of me. I knew that God was pouring love into my husband and speaking forth his calling. It is such an amazing thing to see the love of your life being lifted up and stepping into all that God is passionately desiring for him. Joshua is coming alive and it is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. It is better than all the transformation happening inside of my own heart, because I am watching the man I love become something he never really believed he could be. And, now God is lifting up his arms and I get to watch the magnificient artist paint this vivid image of LIFE ALIVE. Josh is released and free to LEAD!
Then, tears of joy began to flow again as Joshua laid his hand over my heart and began to pray for me with boldness and freedom. He began to lift me up and pray that God would heal all of the brokenness in my heart. He asked God to restore my heart to its fullness and that the places that he has caused pain and hurt would be made whole again. This is significant to me because Josh has not wanted to pray because of the messiness in his heart and instead of self condemnation he was free to be completely HIMSELF in the throne room of God’s presence, accepting God’s love just as he is. AND, that is a beautiful sight. I love my Beloved, Joshua!
