She grew up in paradise and has travelled the world, yet Kai Taniguchi of 2014 J Squad felt a continued holy discontent until she learned the true depth of her identity in Christ.
Kai Taniguchi of September 2014 J squad was always looking for more.
As a child in Hawaii, Kai sat in church with her mind far away, watching the crashing waves and dreaming of adventure. It was while attending FCA in middle school that Kai realized she wanted a relationship with Christ.
And he became the greatest adventure of her life.
As a senior in high school, Kai discovered a love and talent for business and entrepreneurship. At age 19, she started a non-profit called 5,000 Reasons, raising money for scholarships for girls and books for kids in Zambia, all the while studying abroad in Europe. With her skill for business, international worldview, and passion for social issues, Kai had a world of opportunity in front of her.
Yet she wasn’t content.
Kai’s life of success in the business world produced a self-identity of people pleasing and questioning her worth: “I put my identity in people and things besides Jesus. I didn’t know my worth and had the lowest self-esteem. One of my greatest assets was the ability to be a chameleon. It was easy for me to transition between speaking to top CEOs about business to working in the trenches, to being that ocean-loving, adventure-seeking girl, to being a youth leader, and so on.”
More and more opportunities opened before her, including a relationship with the man of her dreams. Engagement followed, and with it, more questions about the future than Kai could answer. Then she heard God ask her to trust him: “He said I would have to go through the fire, but I would come out refined like silver and gold. It wouldn’t be the easy path to take, but it would be an incredible ride. If I would let Him, He would eventually bring into my life the man He envisioned for me.”
So in obedience, she broke off her engagement.
And a few days later, she found the World Race.
“I decided to do the World Race because I’ve always felt called to do international missions. I’ve traveled to many countries before, but it was more for myself. It was crazy because I had my future planned out for the rest of my life and when that all came crashing down, I told God I was all in to what he wanted me to do.”
Once on the field, God began to break down the walls Kai had built of compartmentalizing who she was and learning how to operate fully in her identity as a daughter of the Most High God. The lines between business, her relationship with the Father, and community disappeared.
And the more God led Kai into her giftings, the more a holy discontent began to stir in her heart.
Kai ached when she saw those who were spiritually oppressed, suffering in brokenness, and not living in the full freedom of their relationship with God. She grew more and more frustrated.
And then she heard God ask, “What are you going to do about it?”
Now in month 8, Kai is living with one foot on earth and one in eternity, walking in the full power and authority of God. Opportunities have repeatedly opened before her, like speaking with village chiefs and local community leaders. Kai’s desire to blend her love for business and missions is propelling her and developing her future plans – everything from building schools and libraries throughout the world to micro-financing and empowering women in business.
God is using her holy discontent and new identity in ways Kai could have never imagined. Her idea of “more” is now found in Christ as he continues to lead her into her destiny.
And she is all in.
Interested in going on the World Race? Click here to find out more.
