The support I have received since getting accepted to the World Race has been nothing short of overwhelming.
When people ask me what it the trip is all about I can’t help but pour my heart out. (I laugh a whole lot when people thing I am doing the Amazing Race TV show considering I have the athletic abilities of an injured hamster.)
I am NOT the kind of person who thinks everyone has to agree but it hurts my heart when people respond to my call to international missions by saying, “Are there not enough people to help here in America?”
Of course there are hundreds of thousands of people who need help right here in America. There are people in the great U.S.A who have never heard the name of the Lord. There are families who do not have enough food to eat. There are brave veterans living on the streets.
God and I have been talking a LOT lately about this question that I keep stumbling on because it is something I want to address respectfully and from a Biblical perspective.
Matthew 28:19 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.” (NIV)
This is a verse I have reflected heavily on since I was called into ministry my senior year of high school at a youth conference. (I know it is used quite often but this is good stuff, friends).
It wasn’t until recently that I really let God have my trust and told Him to send me where I need to be. When I was called to ministry at 18, I thought my calling was to be a youth leader or maybe a Sunday School teacher one day when I was “ready.” (Maybe that will be my call in 15 years when I drive a really cool mini-van, have four loud kids, and a really hot preacher husband — because that is my definition of goals)
****When I said “send me” and “use me” I didn’t really expect that call to include living out of a backpack and raising $18,000 but okay God, here I go..
I was talking to a friend this morning who shines her love for Christ more brightly than anyone I have ever met. When you meet her, the first thing you notice is that she is on fire for Jesus before she ever talks about Jesus. This friend was recently selected for a prestigious summer job in Calhoun County (where our college is). This county has more churches than any other place in the United States. Let that sink in. However, I told this friend that I felt like her calling is to be the light of Jesus at her job this summer. Strangely enough, she shared with me that she felt like being placed in this position is her call to ministry for the summer.
Brr, *****Just typing that gave my chills. God is so mighty.****
The more I pray, the more I realize that God strategically places His believers in the perfect place to make a difference for Him. Let me type that again. God strategically places His believers all over the world so that all may feel His touch and hear His name.
THERE IS GREAT WORK TO BE DONE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD.
GOD needs strong, bold, talented Christians in small towns in Alabama to be the light for Him. He needs His people to plant churches in inner-city New York, He needs the Gospel spread in small towns in Missouri and lives changed for Him in Hollywood. He needs people to bring the gospel to sex-trafficking victims in Europe. He needs people to hear His name for the first time in South Africa.
Fellow believers, God gives us all spiritual gifts. We all have a unique set of strengths. We are all made beautifully, wonderfully, and purposefully so that we can complete work made JUST for us by a BIG GOD.
No matter where you are called, your call is important. Your call is to spread the light. Please don’t take that LIGHTLY (no pun intended ha).
Just because I’m about to race the world doesn’t mean I don’t have work to do in Alabama the next few months. I will work as hard as possible to share the love of Christ with as many people as I can as I await leaving for the World Race in less than 270 days (EEEEKKKKK).
“Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world.”
Kindly, 
Rox:)
