The Y squad has begun the World Race in Alexandria, VA, staying on the campus of Virginia Theological Seminary. For the past week, 44 young adults have been further equipped before flying out to Kenya today. This is the first time we’ve launched a squad stateside and so the following are the goings-on from a day and a half of launch; the up-close behind-the-scenes glimpse of what goes on, the low-down, the inside scoop…
Wednesday, August 3The lawn in front of Johns Hall, the building where the plenary sessions take place and meals are eaten, is littered with tents — a dead giveaway of the World Race.
9:15 am – I enter the prayer hall while Sean Smith sits with team leaders, coaching on them feedback. “Confrontation is a positive thing, it develops intimacy… the Father confronts us all the time… we know He’s not going to abuse his power to speak into our lives.”
He and Katie Bruner demonstrate feedback for the leaders, then Sean directs the leaders to split into pairs and practice giving feedback. Some are a little nervous, unsure if they’re doing it right. Lucas Tillman, one of the squad leaders, listens in.
10:05 am – Worship session has begun. Sarah Schrack, the squad co-leader, has the Racers standing on chairs, declaring truth, their identity over themselves. Sarah asks the squad to roar.
10:30 am – Praise wraps up, Lucas Tillman introduces the staff to the squad and invites Sean to come up to speak.
10:34 am – Sean says of the 11 months ahead, “Are you guys ready to be challenged?”
10:36 am – “Your love for the nations can’t exceed your love for the person next to you,” he says. “You guys are stewarding half a million dollars, [and] his love, his faith,” he tells them.
10:40 am – Sean is teaching on World Race culture and offers an interesting view on how culture develops over time. He wonders aloud how the Maasai culture came to be as an example — did one person decide to stretch their earlobes, then others do the same and that’s how the practice became a norm?
Sean’s eyes scan across the space; paintings of past bishops of Virginia (the seminary, of the Episcopal church, was founded in the 19th century) hang on the walls.
He pays homage to the church leaders those who’ve come before, pointing out that much of our present culture has been built on the legacy left behind by others. “Hopefully we don’t become squatters… we have an inheritance,” he says, encouraging them to leave the places they go better than they found them.
11:19 am – Having gone through the hallmarks of World Race culture, we take a break to do jumping jacks.
11:20 am – We give you room to grow into this old uncomfortable coat; it’s okay that it’s a challenge, Sean says to them. “You have authority because you’re under it.”
11:22 am – Sean has the squad leaders stand in the middle of the room, speaking life into them. Addressing them directly, he says to them, “We expect you to mess up, you’re working your stuff out.”
He says, “you’re not here to be their friend,” to remind them to focus on more on loving the squad by leading well than being liked.
He has team leaders stand up. There’s a “sweetness” among the leaders, Sean says. “You don’t have to have anymore than what you have right now. You have everything… you just love the people, embrace the stuff, hold the line. Just give them a place to come together to talk and to love…” God doesn’t see just today but the whole picture.
11:30 am – Lucas makes announcements and dismisses the squad.
The afternoon is full of team debriefs, logistics orientation and video production (the squad is given a prompt, “The Best Stories Are…” and each team is to make a video response).
1:06 pm – Erin Winget Hoyer, logistics coordinator, shares with each team about what exactly the logistics staff does, how teams get connected with ministries on the field. “You guys are our eyes and ears on the field.”
Elsewhere on campus, Sean, Katie, Joshua Maisner, September 2011 B squad leader, and Tiffany Berkowitz, original September 2010 Q squad leader, meet with teams to debrief, helping them cast a vision and set goals for their lifestyle on the field.
8ish pm – Evening session is underway. Lilli, Billy and Andrea lead praise with guitars and their voices. When i stepped in the room, there was a sense of history, says Michael Hindes, director of the World Race; he teaches on the necessary elements of cultivating an environment where the presence of God is made manifest.
Thursday, August 4
10:30 am – Allison has discussed a few pointers on blogging then goes into teaching on having a positive attitude, referring to Philippians 2. “We are to have the mind of Christ, who gave up his [rights],” she says.
“Our purpose in life, really, is to please God,” she says, and cites Bible verses (Ephesians 5:10, Colossians 1:10). “The good news in this whole deal is that he’s working to increase your want to [please him more],” Allison says and goes on to share her famous “Bucket” story, from her experience on her first Race in 2007, in Mozambique. Ask her to tell you the story sometime.
She concludes with, “Positive pants on. Bucket kicked… it’s so not worth it… it takes no faith, no courage to whine.”
“Your team leader is not here to make you happy. I’m not here to make you happy. I am here to put you in a position so the Lord can work on your life.”
2:50 pm – Team debriefs continue. Teams are working on their video project.
Today, the Y squad is spending the day in Washington, DC before boarding their plane. Those of you readers from the greater Washington DC area: you will know the Racers by the packs they carry.
Thanks again to Virginia Theological Seminary for graciously and generously hosting us. We’re honored and blessed to have spent the first days of the World Race, a still young ministry, in a place with a rich spiritual heritage where veritas (Latin for “truth”) has been passed on through almost two centuries.
