My life has been defined by the way the world views success and the correct route to get there—I have followed my passions, attended the best schools possible for multiple degrees, fought for the best grades, worked myself to my breaking point each semester, and done everything in my power to position myself to land the best job, with the hopes of making enough money to live a comfortable life.
Over the past few years I have been praying for God to lead me, and all of my dreams were falling into place. I moved to New York to attend Columbia University for a masters degree in arts administration, fell in love with the city in a way I never could have imagined, and landed my two dream internships. My lifelong passion for dance has become ingrained in every part of my day, from school projects with Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham and Baryshnikov Arts Center, to my internships with New York City Ballet and The Joyce Theater, to my social life that largely revolves around going to dance performances.
So this summer when I told God that I was all in, ready to follow His call, in the back of my mind I was just expecting the next door on my path to open in a way that was expected and fit what I envisioned for my future. I was reading Philippians, and I was incredibly moved by Paul’s constant courage and joy, a willingness to be in any situation for the sake of the gospel. I wanted to experience this boldness and wisdom in furthering the Kingdom, but I never expected God to ask me to leave the comfort of the life I have built for myself over the last year in New York. I simply thought that God would lead me to increased boldness in talking about my faith openly, that I might become more involved in the Christian community in New York, and that He would guide me to the right job after graduation.
To my surprise, God had something else in mind: the World Race. An 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries, serving and loving the least of these in partnership with local churches and organizations. I’ve never experienced this kind of heart and mind shift that comes with a new confidence in something so beyond my concept of my worldly identity and abilities. I started having dreams as direct answers to prayer, and crazy coincidences that could only be explained by God answering my questions through people and situations. I decided to apply, praying for God to reject me if for some reason I was not hearing Him correctly. A few weeks later I was accepted, and I knew in my heart that it would be disobedience to God to not commit to this journey. While I love dance and my career in the arts, God is my number one priority. So here I am, still all in, boldly following God where He leads.
This journey will not be comfortable. This city girl is going to be backpacking, sleeping in a tent during certain months, and adjusting to living conditions beyond what I have ever experienced. The trip will be emotionally difficult, as my team’s hearts break for the people we will grow to love around the world. We will live in a real and raw community, exposing the most vulnerable sides of ourselves.
I definitely have moments when I ask, Why me, God? What purpose does this artsy, city girl who thought she had found her path in life have on the World Race? But then I am reminded that God is powerful and can call us into the unknown in a way that may seem crazy to the rest of the world (Check out passages about foolishness and wisdom in 1 Corinthians). Nothing I do on the World Race will be done by me, but by God through me. When Jesus approached the fishermen who would become his disciples and said, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19), they followed without hesitation, regardless of the fact that they were out of their element. I don’t need to be qualified, for God will be with me every step of the way. God has used Peter and John, “unschooled, ordinary men” (Acts 4:13), and He will use me and my team.
I am praying for a journey of growing in spiritual depth and maturity. I am praying for new passions for the Kingdom and God’s people, beyond my narrow view of the world. I am praying for growth in my ability to build relationships, love people deeply, and share the incredible gospel that affects our lives daily. And most of all, I am praying for God to show me what I can do to aid the intersection of Christianity and the arts. This Kingdom dream has been simmering in my soul for years, and I pray that God will reveal ways that I can be a light in the global arts industry throughout the rest of my career.
I am beyond excited to share this journey with you. God is going to do incredible things, and I pray that your participation in this adventure will be as much a blessing to you as it is a blessing to me.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Pray. Prayer is powerful, and I greatly appreciate prayers as I prepare for the trip. Please send me a message if you would like to be a recipient of e-mails with prayer requests.
- Share. Share my blog posts, my social media posts, and my story with others. Share what God is doing in the world, and help me to connect with others who want to hear my story and follow the continuation of my story on the World Race. To always know when I post a new update, subscribe to my blog at the top of the page!
- Donate. This area makes me nervous. Asking for help and acknowledging dependence on God and others is not my forte. I need to raise $16,561 to cover my travel, food, lodging and insurance for the 11 months, and I am beyond grateful for your willingness to contribute. Please see the information below about how to donate.
Thank you so much for your love and support!
Molly
