One of my squadmates posted this and I thought I would share it with you all. After Training Camp, I have been throwing around a lot of these terms assuming everyone knows what I am talking about. Now you konw! I have added a few of my own thoughts, but the majority of it is credited to Cathy Carty.
World Race Lingo
Adventures in Missions (AIM)- The “parent organization” of The World Race. They are an interdenominational missions organization based out of Gainesville, GA. They focus on discipleship and offer a wide variety of mission trips for families, high school students, college students, and adults. Trips range from a few days to 11 months (or more). Trips are abroad as well as state-side. Check them out! Adventures.org
World Race (WR) or Race- “A journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve ‘the least of these’ while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering into the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith.”*
*Taken directly from theworldrace.org.
Squad- A group of 50+ young adults, ages 21-35, who travel together to the same 11 countries together. Once a Squad reaches its country for the month, it divides into teams and disperses throughout the country. Sometimes more than one team will be working with the same ministry, depending on the need.
I will be traveling with 61 Squad mates. We will divide into eight teams of 7 and one team of 6 upon entering each country.
Team- A group of 6-8 people from the Squad who live together 24/7. They do EVERYTHING together….eat, minister, pray, study, laugh, cry, etc. together. They build each other up but also hold each other accountable. They get real and raw with each other in an effort to stretch, change and grow.
My team and I are known as Team Tumbler. You can read more about my teammates here.
Racer- An individual on the Race aka me.
Route- The 11 countries in which a Racer is projected to serve in 11 months. This can change at a moment’s notice and for many reasons. Rest assured the Leadership of AIM stays abreast of current events in each country. Safety is paramount. If needed, AIM will remove Racers from a country or withhold them from entering a country to maintain as much safety as possible.
Ministry- A Racer’s assignment for the month. This will vary from country to country and can even vary day to day while in country. Ex: working in orphanages, mentoring street kids, befriending those trapped in human trafficking, door-to-door outreach, manual labor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, whatever there is a need.
Fundraising/Support Raising- The act of finding financial partners to join a Racer’s journey. This is accomplished in a number of ways i.e. support letters, garage sales, bake sales, 50/50 raffles, selling T-shirts, etc. This is an on-going process which continues until the Racer’s support account has met or exceeded the cost of the trip. Although not required, many Racers continue their fundraising efforts until the entire Squad has met the cost of the trip.
"Fully funded"- The two words EVERY Racer LONGS to say. This is the moment at which a Racer has raised enough money to cover the cost of his/her mission trip.
Financial Deadline- The words most Racers loathe. Each Racer must have a certain amount of money in his/her support account by a certain date. If a Racer does not meet his/her financial deadline prior to leaving on the Race, he/she will delay to a later route. If a Racer fails to meet a financial deadline while on the Race, he/she will be sent home. Do not pass go; do not collect $200. His/her race is officially over. Needless to say, these deadlines are extremely important to hit. Here are my financial deadlines:
$3,500 due June 30 (two weeks prior to Training Camp)
$6,500 due Aug 18 (two weeks prior to Launch)
$11,000- due Dec 1 (end of month 3 on the Race)
$15,500- due Mar 1 (end of month 6 on the Race)
Training Camp (TC)- A week-long period of instruction used to prepare Racers for the Race. This is the first opportunity for Racers to meet his/her new family for the year. This week stretches Racers physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I can’t say too much in order to preserve the experience of future Racers. If you have any questions regarding TC, use the link on the left to “Contact Me”.
Launch- The few days preceding a Racer’s departure from the States. The Squad reunites in a select city (Chicago for the four routes leaving in September 2012). They spend time catching up, worshipping, studying, and preparing for the Race. Each Squad departs the States at the end of these few days. Team leaders, team treasurers, and squad logistic coordinators arrive early to receive further, specialized training in their role of leadership. [I have been asked to be the treasurer for my team, so that includes me!] I have not experienced launch yet, so this is just a rough guestimate of what I have heard through the grape vine.
Feedback- What each team lives and breathes. A sometimes joyful, sometimes grueling process in which each team gathers at the end of a day. During this time, the team recaps the day’s events. What worked? What didn’t? What caused our disagreement? Could we have avoided the situation? What can I work on personally? What can we work on as a team? Etc. This can be painful at times, but leads to Racers being raw and real with each other. This forces each individual to stretch beyond preconceived notions and can lead to tremendous growth in the end. Walls will be torn down, and more importantly rebuilt. Every Racer needs to be open to get the most out of this experience.
Debrief- A time in which the Squad will recap events over a certain period of time. This usually occurs at the end of a ministry or month. This can be as quick as a few minutes to as long as a few days. This is also a time in which the Squad can relax, recharge and encourage each other. *Again, this is a rough guess on my part as I have yet to experience a WR debrief.
Squad Coaches- aka “Squad Parents”. This couple serves as Mom and Dad while the Racers are away from home. Who doesn’t enjoy a warm hug from Mom and a “pep talk” from Dad? This couple spends months preparing to accept this responsibility and countless hours praying for their Squad before they meet at TC. This couple periodically travels to the field to check on the Racers. I am so blessed to have Seth and Karen Barnes as my Squad Parents. [Seth is the founder of AIM]
Squad Leaders- Alumni Racers who travel with the Squad for the first few months (4-6) of the 11 month journey. They assist the Squad in transitioning from life in America to life in the field. After much prayer, they raise up current Racers (usually Team Leaders??) to lead the Squad for the remaining months. I am so blessed to have Carly Brown, Kristin “KK” Kendall, and Seth Barnes Jr. as my initial Squad Leaders.
Squad Coordinator- This is a behind-the-scenes person, based at AIM headquarters, who works to ensure all Squad needs are met (i.e. transportation, ministry partners, etc.). If I recall correctly, this person is a link between the Squad and AIM. Shout out to Chris Scott for stepping in as our Squad Coordinator! (Noe, we’ll miss you!)
Squad Mobilizer- This person prepares Racers to leave on the mission trip. He/She ensures all needed information is entered into each Racer’s profile. He/She ensures financial deadlines prior to launch are met and encourages those who may struggle. Our Squad Mobilizer, Alexandra Squyres, is DA BOMB! She is mobilizing more than 120 Racers AND Squad Leading another 60 Racers!!
Squad Trainers- Alumni Racers who walk with us through Training Camp. They laugh with us, cry with us, listen when we need it, and encourage us to “stay the course”. They offer amazing wisdom because they have “been there, done that”. A HUGE ‘thank you to Holland Cox, Holli and Chris Scott for your endless dedication to my growth!
Team Leaders- A fellow Squad mate who has been chosen to lead 6-7 peers. He/She assumes great responsibilities when agreeing to lead a team. Although each Racer maintains an equal voice, the team leader is ultimately responsible. Squad Leadership uses Training Camp and tons of prayer to determine Team Leaders and their teams. When the squad leaders return to the States, some Team Leaders are chosen to continue their Race as Squad Leaders.
Team Treasurers- Each team leader was asked to select one person from their team to be the treasurer. This person is in charge of all the money and expenses for the team; making sure they are living within budget, keeping track of all travel and living expenses, etc.
Squad Logistics Coordinators- Two people from our squad were asked to serve as logistics coordinators for the entire squad (shout out to Ed Olivett and Shayna Brocco!). These people will work with the Squad Coordinator back in the States to ensure all the logistics are taken care of (getting buses for travel days, etc.). These two have already stepped up on several occasions at Training Camp to coordinate sixty-some people effectively.
