What is next for me after The World Race?
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you…”
Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commission. The foundation of how I have begun to live my life seems simple enough. Step one: Go. Done! That one was easy. I can check that one off the list. The rest of it is what I find myself looking at now. I am called to make disciples of all nations, but how can I do that? I’m only one person. Surely God doesn’t expect me to be able to do that, right? “Well, Melissa, it doesn’t say therefore go and some of you make disciples… and it definitely isn’t a request. So what are you gonna do about it?”
That brings me to the question so many of you have been asking: What are you going to do now? What’s next?
The answer, up until I went to Georgia for Project Searchlight, was “I have no clue.” I came home from the race with no idea what I was supposed to do next. When I asked the Lord about it, He told me to wait. He said that I would find clarity and direction at Project Searchlight. He also said that it would come from someone other than me. So, I left for Georgia with high hopes of figuring out what I was supposed to do now.
For those who don’t know what Project Searchlight is, don’t worry, neither did I. I actually had no plan to go until the Lord told me that is where I would find out my next steps. I didn’t listen to anything about what it was when we were told about it. So I left thinking it was going to be a “This is how to put the World Race on your resume” thing. They did offer that but it was sent in an email. This time was more like a time of refilling. At least, that was what it was for me.
I spent the week sitting and listening to incredible speakers who taught us on things like intimacy, evangelism, family, finances, forgiveness, obedience, and kingdom. They spent time pouring back into us and, to be honest, after a year of pouring out, I definitely needed this time. They also talked with us about many different possibilities for what to do next. They showed us things that Adventures offers and other opportunities outside of themselves. This is where I started to look for direction.
I had been grasping at everything. “What about ________? That might be cool… Or maybe _______?” I felt like all the things I looked at just didn’t fit. I looked into trip leading but somehow that just didn’t feel like where I needed to go next. I also looked into long-term missions. It was during my meeting with the long-term missions department that I started to think that maybe I was onto something.
I told them that the Lord had been awakening new passions in me since I left for the World Race. I realize that I now have a great passion for community, communication, and for hearing the voice of the Lord. These are things that I learned and grew in the most during my race. I also told them about my passion and connection in working with young adults. I have a way of connecting to and understanding young adults that can only come from the Lord. They told me that all those things align with a position they have on their long-term teams called a Field Mentor. There just happened to be a position like that open at their long-term base in India, which has been somewhere I have always wanted to go.
Here is the Job description posted for the field mentor in India:
The Adventures India Field Mentor provides spiritual leadership, training, and logistics support for teams and visitors to India through culture and ministry training, relational discipleship, logistical planning, and personal knowledge of and relationship with local ministry hosts. They are responsible for the utilization of the Teams toward long-term missions goals and the current work of the Holy Spirit in the nation of India.
The duties include things like spending quality time with World Race teams to invest in their spiritual growth and exemplify Spirit-led missions, and disciple Indian leaders in host churches and other partnerships…
I told them that sounds like something I am not qualified to do. They said that though I wouldn’t necessarily not be qualified, they do usually look for candidates that have a leadership background. I left that meeting knowing that I was still on the look for what to do next.
The day before I had signed up for a meeting with people who had offered to provide counsel for people who needed help with direction. I heard that and it stopped me in my tracks. A meeting with people designed to help give clarity and direction… The Lord told me that I would find clarity and direction here and from someone else. I couldn’t reach the sign-up sheet fast enough. My meeting with them was scheduled right after my meeting with long-term.
I walk into this meeting hoping to finally figure out what I’m supposed to be doing next. As I sat down, I explained this to them. The conversation went like this:
Them: Well, has there been anything that has seemed like something you might want to do that you have learned about here?
Me: The field mentor position is the only thing I can think of, but I’m not qualified to do that.
Them: Well, what would you need to become qualified?
Me: Leadership Experience.
Them: So, what you need is a program designed to give you the skills needed to grow in your leadership abilities and…
Me: Why does that sound like CGA?
As I asked the question, I knew I had found my answer. I knew exactly what came next for me. The problem was because it wasn’t even on my radar, I knew nothing about the program. I asked them if they could give me any information about the program. It wasn’t until then that I found out I was sitting with two of the main people who run the CGA program for Adventures in Missions. *facepalm*
Here is a little information about CGA. CGA stands for Center for Global Action and its mission is to mobilize a generation to be passionate followers of Jesus who live out their faith whether at home, professionally, or church planting overseas. They do that through activation in leadership, community and discipleship. In the 5 months spent in the program, I will get a part-time job, live in community, and learn how to live missionally in everyday life. Watch this short video for more information.
This is what is next for me. The very next day after my meeting with the two men you see speaking in this video, I had an application filled out and an in-person interview. Over the course of the next week I finished an online interview. A few weeks ago I got my acceptance into the program.
In January, I will move to Gainesville, Georgia and begin the CGA program specifically designed for leadership. I will be pursuing the training I need to be able to not only apply for the Field Mentor position, but to be able to do that job well. My plan is to complete the five months of leadership training through CGA and then move forward toward the next steps the Lord has for me. Those steps may be applying for the Field Mentor position or it might be something else, but I will cross that bridge when it gets here.
Matthew 25:14-30 is the Parable of the Three Servants. The man gave each of his servants money. Two decided to invest the money, while the third was afraid to lose what was given decided to hide the money. Upon returning, the man called his servants to come and tell them what they had done with what he had given them. The ones who had invested had been faithful to steward the money well, while the one who hid the money chose to do nothing with it at all. Verse 29 says:
To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
This is what I am doing. I am choosing to invest what the Lord gave me during this last season so that I may be faithful with what I have been given. I desire to do more for the kingdom but to get there I must be patient and willing to invest and grow.
This is what CGA is. It is where the Lord has called me to invest the wisdom He gave me and grow it further. With this training I will be able to go and make disciples. I will be able to teach these new disciples. I will be able to live out the calling that the Lord has placed on my life.
So, where do you guys come in? I need people to once again partner with me through funding. I am needing to raise $5,950 for this program. Just click the donate button if you want to make a contribution. I ask that you prayerfully consider donating and helping me get the training I need to go and impact the kingdom by teaching and mentoring. If you have any questions, please write me a message or contact me in whatever way is best for you. I would love to answer any questions you may have. Thank you to everyone who has supported me this far and for those who continue to support me. It means so much to me.
