I’m on my way home right now and I have to say it’s bittersweet. To everyone that has been part of the journey: THANK YOU. I can’t thank my family and friends enough for loving me and being there during every up and down. To those that supported me financially: I’m beyond grateful for your generosity and partnership. You all are living examples of God’s love and provision. You all showed me a new side of God as the Giver and Provider. Thank you for showing me Jesus through a simple donation. And for those that joined in prayer throughout the year: wow. The power of your prayers were evident throughout the whole year… through moments of being sick yet still being hopeful, through moments of ministry having the strength and confidence to speak truth, through getting my belongings stolen yet trusting the Lord…I can’t thank you all enough. Thank you prayer warriors!
This year has been an incredible personal journey like no other; doing missions in South America has definitely been one for the books. I’ve grown immensely closer to God through radical moments of His almighty power and through difficult moments of frustration and confusion. Through this experience on the world race I’ve become more in tune with who God created me to be and how He wants to use me to further His kingdom. I’ve known for a while I wanted to travel and connect with people on a personal level, but it wasn’t until this last season that I realized God put that desire in my heart to do missions overseas. I now have this burning passion to be involved in sharing the gospel in foreign countries.
Something I did not come on the race for was the community. I didn’t think I needed a group of like-minded people encouraging and challenging each other to pursue the Father. After this year I’ve realized the importance of having that community. I never would’ve guessed what God would do in my life through other people. I didn’t think I needed to change. I didn’t want to change. I thought everything was “all good,” and then I saw it wasn’t.
I found what I wasn’t looking for. Humility. Brokenness. Confidence.
This is why I will be going back out in August to lead a team into the 10/40 window. I want to instill the things I’ve learned this year into others. I’ve learned the importance of discipleship and truth, and I want to pass that on to more of my peers. I yearn to teach and build up a generation of sons and daughters that want to do life with their Dad.
What does this look like?
For about 6 months starting in August I will be going back out with the World Race leading a team. Our squad will go into Paris for 3 weeks to minister to Syrian refugees. We will then pioneer Spain, Morocco, Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, and Georgia by loving people, praying for the radical, and speaking truth to these broken people. We go with the beautiful opportunity to share the deep and vast love of the Father and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
What are some things to be praying for?
1. These couple weeks back home will be a time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the next journey ahead, so pray that I can be intentional with my free time instead of slipping back into habits that aren’t spiritually restful or beneficial.
2. Lift up my next squad! They are about to enter a new season that is foreign and very different from life in America. They are leaving everything behind to go to the unreached. A lot of the countries we are entering do not welcome Jesus with open arms, so pray that this squad can fight the spiritual darkness and walk in boldness to proclaim the name of Jesus.
3. For those that don’t know, I battled with sickness a lot on the race and the last few months it got pretty serious. I’ve recovered exponentially and I praise God for that, but I will need to get some more tests done before I go back out. So please be praying for my health; I believe I am walking in healing so pray that Father’s complete healing comes every day!
How can you be part of this next chapter?
First and foremost: prayer. I didn’t fully grasp the power of prayer until this year. So for all those that were supporting me in prayer and wish to continue I’m stoked! I plan to be more intentional keeping in contact with people this next go round, so I will reach out with more updates on what’s going on and how to be praying for our squad. I also need financial support. The exact amount has not been determined yet, but I will need to raise a considerable amount before heading out in August. If you would like to join my support team and be part of sharing the gospel in some of the most unreached regions of the world, you can do so by donating here on my blog through the “Donate!” link!
Blog: www.patrickryan.theworldrace.org
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Patrick Ryan
Instagram: @patrick_ryan7
Love you all so much!
