So why the World Race?
The Lord has really been working in my heart since last spring break. I was serving for the week in Northern Ireland with the Agapé Center for Service & Learning from Messiah College. I was working in a church exploring the concept and practice of discipleship within their staff, youth group, and surrounding community. During this experience, I had time to think and be renewed by God’s truth. God taught me a lot about His grace – God owing me nothing but giving me everything. I was reminded of the freedom He gives. I didn’t have to come up with my entire life plans at that moment. Here, the Lord planted a seed of curiosity and desire to serve Him. I decided I wanted to be conscious of where God would be leading me rather than my attempt at a life plan.
Over the course of the next several months, God reminded me of my secure identity in Him and hope. My prayer was that He continue to teach me who He is and grow my desire to know Him more and more.
Over summer 2017 and fall, I felt the Lord’s nudge and encouragement towards service as I considered options for whether to graduate a semester early and if so what path to pursue. During many months, I sat wondering what path would be the “most faithful” in God’s eyes. I was so concerned about picking the “right choice” that I felt I couldn’t make a single decision. Through prayer, support, and wisdom of mentors around me, I began to realize maybe there wasn’t a “right choice”. Maybe God gave me options to choose from and the freedom to make a choice. I decided to graduate December 2018. I was pretty set on finishing undergrad, choosing a graduate school, and pursuing a masters in counseling.
Then, the Lord showed me another path. This past spring, the Lord brought about a lot of renewal and healing. In a season of unknowns and options for the future, for the first time I felt calm waiting in an open posture with the Lord. I prayed over various paths, summer jobs, internships, and experiences. I asked the Lord to reveal His direction as I discerned what was next. After applying to different positions and lots of prayer, in God’s perfect timing, He revealed plans and peace for not just one path but three! He confirmed a summer internship, confirmed a position as a local outreach leader in the Agapé Center for the Fall, and peace towards the World Race being a real possibility. With additional prayer, I walked through the application process, scheduled my internship, and waited to see if this was a door God would open.
During this time, I shared this interview process with a few specific people, and one wise senior spoke a lot of great wisdom and truth into my life as he prayed over me that day. He encouraged me not to doubt, to trust God when He says yes the first time. Not having to ask three, four, five times in order to get confirmation that this is what God has called me to do. (Thanks Gabe!)
As soon as I talked to my interviewer and received a call of acceptance a few days later, I knew – this is what God has called me to for 2019. To Go. Go and make disciples. Go and meet His daughters and sons. Go and speak life into the world that needs His love and truth. Go. (Not go … with a full itinerary with hour by hour broken down). He calls us, all of you, to go. Maybe it’s not around the world, but maybe He is calling you in your workplace, your schools, and your local communities – He says,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20. You aren’t going alone. He promises to be with you always. I will be continuing in this season of preparation as I get ready for this journey – praying and seeking the Lord.
You have the opportunity to join me as I start this adventure in several different ways. First, feel free to click on the “follow me” tab to sign up for emails and/or texts when I post new blogs. I will be documenting each part of this journey and would love to share with you what the Lord has been teaching me and how He is moving.
Second, I need people to come along side and support me – prayer is a HUGE part of this! Prayers for me as the Lord molds and shapes me, prayers for my fellow racers as they prepare for this journey, and prayers for the hearts of the people we will be encountering. Prayer is such an important and essential part of being able to do the work of the Lord.
Third, I am additionally starting the fundraising process. Like most other missions organizations, World Race missionaries need to fundraise financial support. For this 11 month journey, I need to raise $18,200 which covers all of my field expenses. In this time, whether a one-time donation or becoming a monthly donor, would you prayerfully consider joining and supporting me? Feel free to come here at madisongroff.theworldrace.org to read blogs, pray, and support me on this journey.
The Lord is at work and is forever faithful- I’m trusting in His promises and know He will provide and move through this experience in me and pray for each of you. Thank you for reading about where my heart is at and for joining me on this journey! More information to come about what is the World Race, what countries I’ll be traveling to, and what the Lord is teaching me 🙂 God bless!
