November 2017
“I didn’t want to look in the mirror at the end of my life and know that I didn’t fight as hard as I could for what I believed in.”
These words came from a wounded-in-battle U.S. Marine veteran from the Ken Burn’s docuseries “The Vietnam War.” This was his answer to the question of why he signed up to be on the front lines of the war. He could have chosen a easier, safer job, but he wanted to fight for what he believed in. Those words struck me. As I sat in my bed that night, I paused the film and asked myself if I was fighting as hard as I could for what I believed in. I knew in that instant what I needed to do.
One year earlier
My plane touched down at the airport in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was home after 11 months and 15 countries of a whirlwind of a missions trip. My family and friends all gathered at my house to celebrate my return from the World Race. I was thrilled to see my loved ones and for what God had in store next. I had been accepted to go to a YWAM discipleship school in Perth, Australia. I wanted to get back out and learn more about God. It seemed like the right decision.
“Not yet. Wait.”
“What do you mean, ‘Wait?!’ I’m 30, God. What if I don’t have much time left?! Please send me back out!”
As much as I loved seeing my family and friends again in person, I wanted to go back out. I wanted a team and a goal that would make a difference in the world. I couldn’t stay put in the waiting room again. I had seen thousands of hopeless refugees stuck in a camp that was practically a prison in Lesvos, Greece. I had seen the most extreme poverty I thought I would ever see in Calcutta, India. I spoke to a long-time missionary in Indonesia and he told me of his broken heart for Muslims with tears streaming down his face. How could I live the same as I had the year before?! When God took my next and put it on layaway, I struggled. I felt lost.
“Well if it isn’t a stable job or discipleship school then what’s next, God?”
After trying and failing at several other good ideas, I had to look back and remember the next God had shown me on my Race: acting and discipleship school. I decided to give acting another chance. “That’s a big step though. I could just get a good stable job in Raleigh and do acting on the side.” But God was leading me to the professional sector in Atlanta. I put the feelers out and found some men from the World Race community to live with and the move was on. And by some miracle, I signed with my first talent agent and jumped back into acting in Atlanta. I can’t tell you how much I feel alive when I get to act and work on my craft. No, I’m not making a whole lot of money yet, but God has been faithful with my little yes I gave him for acting. And now I want to learn how to bring more of God’s love and kingdom into the acting community. I don’t want to be known as someone who was on TV a couple of times. Or even a guy who followed his acting dreams and found success. I want to be known by my Savior and His love. I could sense God leading me toward something new.
Back to November 2017
G42. I have to apply. I want to learn about how to bring God’s love and kingdom everywhere I go and to be more intentional, especially the acting and film community. G42 is something God keeps bringing up in my life. Every time I talk to an alumni, my heart is beating out of my chest. “But can’t I just find a discipleship school here in the States? I don’t have to go to Spain to be discipled.” This was true, but also what is true is that God was leading me to G42 and I had to be obedient. He’s got something for me there. Time to put my yes on the table. I applied and I have been accepted to G42’s September 2018 term.
It’s easier to say yes this time. The World Race was a tough yes. But God was faithful in that yes and He will be faithful in this yes. I still have many questions for God for instance, “will I act professionally again? Why is such a closed off country like Yemen been on my heart for 5 and a half years? What’s with all these random dream puzzle pieces you are giving me? How do I develop them and put them all together?” But I’m learning to seek God first and He will take care of everything else (Matthew 6:33). So that’s what I’m trying to do. More details and blogs to follow. Please feel free to message me with questions you have about the school or anything really.
Will you prayerfully and financially support me? I would greatly appreciate it.
My official G42 donation page: http://generation42.org/donation-details?d=40
Learn more about the school here: http://generation42.org/the-school
“G42 Leadership Academy is a 9 month training program designed to mobilize leaders to plant missional communities that establish the Kingdom of God around the world. Our graduates, and their communities, pioneer and serve at ministries and businesses that reverse oppression, and reveal God’s love wherever they go.”
