It started somewhere around the beginning of the race. I asked the Lord what’s next for me – not looking for specifics, but for words to describe my future. I asked for words that would help me clarify my desires for my life. And (because He loves giving good gifts) He gave them to me:
Discipleship and Empowerment.
Those are some good words, y’all.
At our squad debrief in March, a cool guy named Freddy came to speak to us about a school in Spain called the G42 Leadership Academy. The minute he started talking, his words rang in my ears.
Identity.
Leadership.
Impartation.
Community.
Discipleship.
Empowerment.
It was exactly what I didn’t know I was looking for.
G42 is a 6-month Christian school dedicated to empowering the next generation to pursue their passions and develop strategies to bring those passions to life. It’s six months of classes with teachers from across the globe, who each come in for one week to share their hearts and impart their knowledge on subjects ranging from business to worship to leadership, and everything in between.
A huge part of G42 is living in intentional community with other people who have big dreams, big passions, and who believe in a big God who wants to be glorified through them. And it’s living surrounded by teachers and mentors who dream big and bold dreams, who are there to encourage and empower and inspire those same kinds of dreams in the students there.
The Lord used Freddy that weekend to confirm things in me. To confirm that I have big dreams. Dreams of empowering missionaries to love and serve well. Dreams of being able to pour into young people, into college students, and encourage them to choose the crazy life, the one that means surrender and uncertainty and adventure and all glory to the Lord.
I don’t know what those dreams look like yet, but I’m not going to set them aside and wait. I want to run after the Lord right now, and pursue Him in my dreams. I want to learn what He means by discipleship and empowerment. I want to learn what it looks like to inspire and encourage and empower people, so I can do it.
So I’m leaving in October for Mijas, Spain, where I will be growing and learning and seeking the Lord until the end of March 2016.
The Lord wants to use me in really big ways. I’m confident of that. He wants to use my passion, my enthusiasm, my willing spirit – not just in the future, but right now. I believe G42 will equip me, first and foremost, with the confidence and identity in Christ that I need to glorify Him in whatever I do, every day for the rest of my life.
And as for Africa? Well, that’s the real month 13…and it’s coming in part 2 of this blog. Prepare yourself. It’s a big one.
If you want to know more about how to get involved with my next steps, including (but certainly not limited to) praying with and for me, and supporting me financially, stay tuned. There’s more in store that I cannot do without you!
Also, I’ll be back in America on July 25th, and will be spending time in Wisconsin and Colorado before I jet away again. I’d love to share my heart, my stories, and my passion with you. Shoot me a message and let’s get together!
