Writer’s Note: Ben Eppinger and I both
went on the World Race in October 2008; we were teammates for the first four
months of the Race.
[On a Monday, 11:42 p.m. EST,
on Skype chat]Ben: I’m looking scrubby as heck so don’t
worry about getting all doll’d up for meMe: Haha, I was just gonna say, man, I
didn’t shower todayBen: LOLGood . . . we can see each other in
WR form
About 20 minutes
later, I burst into laughter at the sight of Ben on my screen. He was clad in
his lab coat with a stethoscope draped around his neck. I’ve always appreciated Ben’s humorous side,
but seeing his face and hearing his voice, albeit via internet, reminded me
just how funny he really is.
It had been
two years since we had last seen each other (at training camp for the January 2010 World Race).
later, I burst into laughter at the sight of Ben on my screen. He was clad in
his lab coat with a stethoscope draped around his neck. I’ve always appreciated Ben’s humorous side,
but seeing his face and hearing his voice, albeit via internet, reminded me
just how funny he really is.
It had been
two years since we had last seen each other (at training camp for the January 2010 World Race).
Ben’s now in his second year of medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “I’m really
humbled and feel a little awkward” at the prospect of being this month’s
Featured Racer, he told me.
There are
at least half a dozen people (e.g., Kelly Jarvis (August 2011 Y squad), Jake Morris (January 2011 U squad), and Ashley Rose (June 2010 O squad)) who went — and will go — on the
Race because of Ben.
humbled and feel a little awkward” at the prospect of being this month’s
Featured Racer, he told me.
There are
at least half a dozen people (e.g., Kelly Jarvis (August 2011 Y squad), Jake Morris (January 2011 U squad), and Ashley Rose (June 2010 O squad)) who went — and will go — on the
Race because of Ben.
But it’s
not his great sense of humor or his outgoing personality that convinced them,
though it helps that he’s really fun to be around and highly extroverted.
not his great sense of humor or his outgoing personality that convinced them,
though it helps that he’s really fun to be around and highly extroverted.
He probably
didn’t convince you with his intellect either, although he studied biochemistry
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (with a 5.0 GPA or something like that).
Before you dismiss him as a science nerd, know that he reads
prolifically (the Twilight saga,
The Three Muskateers, and Pride and Prejudice are among the many works he read), and keeps up with
current events (he periodically received issues of The Economist and Newsweek
while on the Race).
didn’t convince you with his intellect either, although he studied biochemistry
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (with a 5.0 GPA or something like that).
Before you dismiss him as a science nerd, know that he reads
prolifically (the Twilight saga,
The Three Muskateers, and Pride and Prejudice are among the many works he read), and keeps up with
current events (he periodically received issues of The Economist and Newsweek
while on the Race).
Perhaps it was
his involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) as an undergrad, where he
exercised his evangelism muscles, met many new people, and struck up
conversations about Jesus.
his involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) as an undergrad, where he
exercised his evangelism muscles, met many new people, and struck up
conversations about Jesus.
Or his brilliant
copper might-give-Conan O’Brien-a-run-for-his-money-red hair.
copper might-give-Conan O’Brien-a-run-for-his-money-red hair.
Maybe.
But what
really won them over was Ben’s hunger for God.
really won them over was Ben’s hunger for God.
“I know
what it [the World Race] did for me and in me,” said Ben. “I know where I was in my faith before the
Race, butting up against a glass ceiling, not sure how to get to the next step,
hungry for [God] to come in a real tangible way.”
what it [the World Race] did for me and in me,” said Ben. “I know where I was in my faith before the
Race, butting up against a glass ceiling, not sure how to get to the next step,
hungry for [God] to come in a real tangible way.”
It may have
been a while since Ben returned from the field, but after having “the glass
ceiling blown to shreds through the World Race, my world got rocked big time,”
he said. “You don’t forget. You don’t lose the Spirit.”
been a while since Ben returned from the field, but after having “the glass
ceiling blown to shreds through the World Race, my world got rocked big time,”
he said. “You don’t forget. You don’t lose the Spirit.”
Most of
those Ben mobilized he knew through the UW-Madison chapter of Cru.
Most of
those Ben has mobilized to go on the Race he knew through Cru, who were, like
him, “hungry for God to show up in a powerful way.”
those Ben mobilized he knew through the UW-Madison chapter of Cru.
Most of
those Ben has mobilized to go on the Race he knew through Cru, who were, like
him, “hungry for God to show up in a powerful way.”
It helps
that although he’s a grad student, his life is spent on campus. The folks he
has met with are–or were–on the cusp of graduating and moving on to a new
season of life.
that although he’s a grad student, his life is spent on campus. The folks he
has met with are–or were–on the cusp of graduating and moving on to a new
season of life.
“They come
to me hungry,” Ben told me. “They want to be convinced; they just need to be
told to go.” And it doesn’t take much.
“I’m just
honest with them,” he said. “People can’t ever disregard passion . . . when you
share stories in a passionate way.”
to me hungry,” Ben told me. “They want to be convinced; they just need to be
told to go.” And it doesn’t take much.
“I’m just
honest with them,” he said. “People can’t ever disregard passion . . . when you
share stories in a passionate way.”
And Ben
tells all kinds of stories, of the way God shows up, “manifesting in a tangible
way,” or of stories of powerful ministry effected by the Holy Spirit.
tells all kinds of stories, of the way God shows up, “manifesting in a tangible
way,” or of stories of powerful ministry effected by the Holy Spirit.
“Stories
usually do the selling,” he said. “I can only share about what I know.”
usually do the selling,” he said. “I can only share about what I know.”
And thatincludes the bad and ugly stuff. “I like telling the horror stories out there,
crazy, outrageous life stories,” he said.
He’s often asked
about his experience-the logistics of the Race, daily life, favorite country, and
favorite ministry.
about his experience-the logistics of the Race, daily life, favorite country, and
favorite ministry.
“When you
leave for a year, you give up a lot to do it,” Ben said. “So they want to know
what they’re getting into.”
leave for a year, you give up a lot to do it,” Ben said. “So they want to know
what they’re getting into.”
And what
exactly will they get into? What were
some of the hard things he faced on the Race? He cited “wrestling through
conflict” and the phenomenon of never being alone.
exactly will they get into? What were
some of the hard things he faced on the Race? He cited “wrestling through
conflict” and the phenomenon of never being alone.
I asked Ben
if having to raise $15,000 to go on the World Race is an obstacle. “Support raising is always a question but
it’s part of the Cru culture so it’s not that big of a barrier,” he answered.
if having to raise $15,000 to go on the World Race is an obstacle. “Support raising is always a question but
it’s part of the Cru culture so it’s not that big of a barrier,” he answered.
“The Race
is so darn cheap in comparison to other year-long trips,” Ben pointed out, adding
that his friends who are in full-time ministry and/or are international
missionaries are surprised at the relatively low cost of the Race.
is so darn cheap in comparison to other year-long trips,” Ben pointed out, adding
that his friends who are in full-time ministry and/or are international
missionaries are surprised at the relatively low cost of the Race.
So what
advice does he offer to fellow alumni who want to mobilize their friends and
community? He just hangs out with people
and tells them sweet stories.
advice does he offer to fellow alumni who want to mobilize their friends and
community? He just hangs out with people
and tells them sweet stories.
“My
favorite is after they come back from training camp,” he said. “I tell them
they’ll get rocked and they’ll love it. They’ll hug me after they come back,” a
year later.
favorite is after they come back from training camp,” he said. “I tell them
they’ll get rocked and they’ll love it. They’ll hug me after they come back,” a
year later.
Even withall the time that has elapsed since he went on the World Race, despite spending
so much time buried in clinical textbooks and listening to lectures, Ben still
remembers the freedom in Christ he experience by encountering the Holy Spirit.
Though it might be a little while longer until
he’s out on the frontline again–perhaps some of you alumni are in the same
boat–you too can send others in your place that they might also have their
worlds rocked.
he’s out on the frontline again–perhaps some of you alumni are in the same
boat–you too can send others in your place that they might also have their
worlds rocked.
