I am a quiet leader.
This may shock those of you who feel as though you know me well. Now I am a vocal person. I love to laugh, sing, make a fool of myself, and speak up when I feel like things aren’t going my way, or if people are being mistreated.
During my time on the World Race I was able to lead two amazing teams known as Karis and Lunchbox. Leadership has always been something that I just happened to stubble upon. When I first was asked to be a leader at training camp, I immediately said yes, but had no idea what I said yes to. In my mind I was working out all the “ins and outs” of being a leader. Was I chosen because I have a big voice? Was I chosen because I know how to get peoples attention? Was I chosen cause I am more spiritual? I knew for a fact that my leadership had nothing to do with me being spiritual.
When I first applied for the race I was coming out of a three year hiatus from my relationship with the Lord. My parents can attest to the fact that I wasn’t the same daughter they had sent out to California just 5 years prior. Literally I had just gotten back into church about 6 months before applying for the World Race. I knew, that I was no spiritual leader and that I needed more “leading” then rest of the squad. However, God tends to know what he is doing so I walked forward in faith.
Actually, my first two months I was that loud and annoying leader. I spoke up even if it wasn’t called for, but after China I honestly became much more quiet as a leader. That was a challenge. When it comes to challenges in the faith or trying new things- I AM IN! Marisa Banas (soon to be Rodriguez) told me one night during our Night Watch, “I love that you are always so willing and eager to crazy things with me.” This was in response to Marisa asking me if I would want to see how long we could pray in tongues for. I am always up for a challenge and up to this point the longest I had never prayed in tongues for was about 30 minutes in a church service in the Philippines.
One of things I didn’t know about myself as a leader is I don’t care about me. As a leader I delegate responsibility, not to give myself less to worry about, but so that others realize that they have value and are needed. I love giving people responsibility that they don’t know they can handle and then watch them fully walk in anointing God has placed on their life in that area. This is a team, not the Lindsay Heston show. (Side note- I will be in talks with the major studios here in Hollywood about starting the Lindsay Heston show.) I learned that I wanted more for me team then I want for Lindsay. This was a very new concept to me because I always considered myself a selfish person. I want them (my teammates) to experience more of the presence of the Lord. I want them to see more eyes opened by the power of Jesus. Each new squad that goes out I pray that they are even more passionate, pursuing God more, doing crazy miracles in the name of Jesus, casting out demons and raising more dead then the squad before.
When I had to leave the World Race, Allison Johnston told me, “When we were doing team changes, there were so many people that I wanted to put under your leadership. I was like, ‘that person needs Lindsay’s love. You know how to love people.'” (Do you remember that Allison? I do.)
Many of you know that I am raising full-time support for Adventures in Missions and what a struggle that has been for me. However, today isn’t about me. Raising support isn’t about me. It is about what God has called me to. There are four people who were on my teams during the course of the World Race and they have also been called to be full-time missionaries with Adventures in Missions. I ask that your prayerfully considering partnering with these amazing people. Actually, don’t pray about it- JUST DO IT. What a great slogan for Nike and for missions!!!
Click on their link and support with prayer and finances.
Braedon Tabor– currently serving in Uganda as a leader for the Real Life team. When he gets back he will dive right back into doing logistics for the Real Life and World Race teams. He is a detail guy and an amazing man of God.
Tangi Holmes– what an amazing sister to have in Christ!!! She serves on in admissions department and is a support coach for many of the World Racers currently serving on the field.
Cindy Flores- this woman is a rock. Her foundation is firm. Cindy works, like me, in both the World Race and Real Life programs for AIM doing Admissions and she is the support coach for the September 2010 squad.
Sara Choe- or Bango as I like to call her, has just come on with AIM as one of our marketing coordinators. She is quite the words-smith and will be giving ya’ll details about the amazing happening going on around the world and she is pumped about going to the AWAKENING this Fall and telling you all about it.
All of the above are in need of financial support. I hope you will partner alongside of them and anxiously await to hear testimony to the great things the Lord is doing in and through them at AIM.
