Dear family and friends, September 1, 2016
I am excited to share with you I just found out I have been accepted to go on the World Race which is an 11-month, 11 country mission trip. Although the actual itinerary may change we are currently planning to go to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Montenegro, Romania, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. I will be part of a team with Adventures in Missions. Our purpose will be to share God’s love through the Gospel and various ministries. We might do anything from street evangelism to loving on street children to serving in rehabilitation centers, to whatever. (https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=routes&subtab=january-2017-1)
You might be asking how I became convinced that I am called to this ministry? Over the last couple of years, I have been searching for what to do next with my life. By last September I became convinced that God has been calling me to full-time ministry but it wasn’t clear where or how to start. I began looking into various programs to get some training. One-day mom (AKA Linda) made a statement that grabbed me. She said, “How amazing would it be to have the freedom to freely go where God has called you.” Well I have the freedom to obey Jesus command, “Go and make disciples of all nations”.
As I look back now, God has been molding my heart for mission work over the last two years. However, if two years ago you had told me I was going to be living out of a backpack and a tent for a year I would have said, “No Way! That is not for me. I like being comfortable and you are nuts”. But now I am looking forward to it, I am asking God for it, especially after my two trips to Haiti. To go and share the love of Christ, and to serve others around the world will be a life changing journey. I will have the opportunity to do ministry on four continents alongside local churches and fellow believers. I will also be gaining very valuable discipleship and ministry training to prepare me for future ministry.
The cost of ministry is not small and I ask that you would support me first in prayer. It will be all new to me to be away from everything I know. It will be demanding physically, emotionally and spiritually. Secondly, I need support financially. By living mostly out of a tent and free places to stay, we will minimize the cost but I will need to raise $16,617, of which $5,000 is due by September 23rd. This covers everything from food to travel. To me, a 20-year-old that seems like the biggest number in the world and it probably looks like a pretty big number to you as well. But, to God, that number is small and He will provide. If you sense that God would have you participate, you can donate by mail or here on the blog by clicking donate. I will be very grateful for whatever you can do. I thank you most of all for your encouragement and prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Stephen Carver.
