If you are somewhat like me, you have spent most of your discipleship life within the American church system. Because of that, we are trained to learn and grow through someone teaching us, preaching the word, sharing stories. Basically, we have grown up learning through listening. This is not a bad thing… it’s a very healthy way to learn.
However, over 11-month journey around the world, you may often be looked to as the one doing the teaching, bringing the message, and sharing
your story. Sometimes you will have an AIM staff member or local ministry contact who might give you some teaching time. However, their role is much more focused in giving you hands on learning than it is preaching at you. Because of this, many Racers often begin to feel a lack in their spiritual life.
The first step in preparing for this is to examine how you have learned and grown the best in your knowledge of God in the past. Where are some benchmark experiences where you grew with the Lord? What “ingredients” helped you grab that understanding? Did someone teach you? Did a book speak to you? Was it more illustration and testimony based or was it more inspired by logical explanation and reasoning?
Spend some time journaling about those experiences and ask God to reveal what He has used to teach you in the past.
Next, spend some time researching how you will have those teaching tools available to you during the year. If books have been a large part of your learning, you will need to make sure you have room in your pack to bring a few extra books. Yup… that will make your pack heavier… but it will be worth it if that feeds you along the road. If you learn through teaching, research how you can access sermons online – podcasts and websites like oneplace.com or sermonaudio.com are great tools. Also, be sure you have the electronics necessary for these things!!!
You also might find a supporter who is willing to send you care packages that include new books or sermon cds that will help you along the road. If you are having trouble discovering how to best feed yourself, feel free to contact me and I will help you brainstorm. It also may help to share your ideas as comments on this blog.
