Sounds hip
Intriguing
AWESOME
Ok, seriously though… what is it?
The World Race is a program run by a non-profit missions organization call Adventures In Missions. Adventures In Missions provides opportunities for young adults to be launched into world missions through several mission trip opportunities, some as short as a week, while others as long as a year or more. This organization is an interdenominational organization that is tolerant of a variety of beliefs and practices within the mainstream of Christian practice. The Goal of adventures in missions is to disciple and form relationships with people formed on a solid foundation with Christ. This goal of discipleship over evangelism has launched over 100,000 missionaries for the last 20 years and is growing rapidly.
The World Race is not an organization of its own, but is a program under the Adventures In Missions organization.
There are a few other programs such as Passport, which is a shorter mission field opportunity spending 1-6 months overseas for young adults ages 18-22. There is also family missions trip opportunities and week long missions trips. For information about the programs run by Adventures In Missions visit http://www.adventures.org/mission-trips/
Now that you know who puts together these programs we can go more in detail about the logistics of the WR.
The World Race is an eleven months long missions opportunity, wherein that time frame missionaries visit eleven different countries.
To go on the World Race, you go through a lengthy application process that involves an application, a phone interview, and several follow up phone calls. A board qualified Christian leaders thoroughly reviews your application and it is passed on to several people, They pray over you and discuss in depth all areas that could help or hinder yourself, your team, or your ministry opportunities. Needless to say, they are very thorough and careful about seeking Gods guidance and wisdom as to who is equipped to carry out the responsibilities of this long term mission assignment.
Each year there are several different times that The WR launches missionaries: January, July, and September. There are different routes that are available to choose from for each launch date. Some go to Africa or Europe, or South America, or Asia, and most routes include several different continents. So there may be five different routes available to choose from that all leave in January ect.
- For example: My launch date is in September 2014. There are five different routes that were available for me to apply to. I chose to go on the ALL Asia route; route 1. We launch overseas at the same time as the four other “squads”. The route you choose decides what squad/group of people you go into ministry with. Before squads launch (could be 50 people could be 80), we are split into teams of 5-7 people.
All world race routes are 11 months long. The goal of the world racer is to fundraise all necessary funds by having been on the field for 6 months. We have financial deadlines that we MUST meet along our year long journey and if those are not met, we ARE sent home and have to leave the field. This is just like any other missionary. They have to raise support and funds to provide for living expenses and food and ministry opportunities as well as establishing contacts in each country (there’s a cost breakdown sheet of my personal financial needs under the Donor Information tab on my blogs main page).
So how does a participant prepare for a year long missions trip?
Training camp is an important part of the preparation process before Adventures In Missions launches us. This training occurs approximately 2 months before launch date and last about a week. Missionaries gather together for a week to go through cultural training and begin to form bonds with fellow missionaries. Run by previous World Racers, they put you through real life scenarios of possible situations you encounter while sharing Jesus in some of the most untouched placed of the world. (I don’t know a whole lot about training camp, but Im not sure I want to know much now or else I might chicken out… haha just kidding). It is very practical but very in depth and realistic training for all areas: physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.
How do you live on the World Race?
The unique part of this missions trip is that is it all about living right beside the local people. This is the best way to form personal relationships and plant a seed. So to do that, in whatever country we may be in, we eat what they eat, sleep where they sleep, shower how they shower, cook how they cook, and live how they live. This means we all live out of ONE 50 pound backpack, carrying all of our necessities on our back for an entire year. This trip is about sharing the gospel but its also about change for us as disciples. Its a journey of self abandonment. We take the bare minimum to survive. These items may include: a backpack, a tent, eating utensils, towel, toiletries, very few pieces of clothing (perhaps two pairs of pants, a skirt, and three shirts), shoes, rain gear, clothes line, head lamp ect. Think about how much you may pack for a week long vacation in a big suitcase… especially girls. We must fit a years worth of living into one backpack which we carry on our back the entire duration of the trip. This gear is not covered in our fundraised money (I will have a gift registry list ut together for those who wish to help provide me with gear).
What do you do on the World Race?
Every day on the World Race looks a little different. Some days will be packed full with construction, VBS, building relationships with orphans, or praying for the sick at a hospital. Some days could be slower — shopping for groceries at the market, cooking for your team, and spending time praying for the community you walk through. Regardless of the pace or the activity, every day will be focused on being a part of God’s kingdom work.
I thought throwing in a video of a current World Race Missionary would help give you a better picture of what its actually like.
A day in the life –>
Day-in-the-Life of a World Racer: Cambodia from Adventures In Missions on Vimeo.
If you would like to discover more about the World Race please go to theworldrace.org
