Kendra Harris of 2014 K squad is learning how God can use her dreams, desires, and gifts to not only give her joy, but also advance the kingdom on earth.
Kendra Harris of 2014 K Squad is living her dream.
An only child, Kendra grew up outside of a strong Christian community in Texas. When she headed off to college in the Bible belt, she was a little taken aback when most everyone in Houston was going to church. Everyone just seemed to know Jesus, and as she was exposed to other people’s faith, her interest in him also began to grow.
After dealing with some very hard years of addiction, the Holy Spirit met her in a huge way and radically changed her life. “I remember crying out to God for help, and he answered.” She found comfort in Psalm 18:16-19 and it became a passage that she clung to:
“He reached down from heaven and rescued me. He drew me out of deep waters.”
He not only rescued her soul, he also rescued her dreams.
A few years later, Kendra found herself sitting on on the beach in California, talking to God about her future, and her desire to utilize her gifts as a director and filmmaker for the good of God’s kingdom.
When she heard about about the World Race and the documentary that they were shooting with K Squad, she was sold.
Since beginning her journey with K quad, Kendra has served as one of the eight field producers for the World Race Documentary Project, and later became a lead field producer, where she currently helps capture the amazing stories the men and women of K squad are living on a daily basis.
It’s beyond anything she ever dreamed.
“I am blown away that I am literally living my dream traveling the world, using photography and video to share the love of Jesus. This project is bigger than anyone expected it to be.”
In her third month, in the Philippines, her team worked with Wipe Every Tear, an organization which works to free sexually exploited women and bring them into wholeness and identity in Christ. They lived in a house with 17 girls and 2 children with one singular purpose: simply be with them. Kendra says that it is one of her most cherished memories. They went to school with their new friends, to the mall, shared meals, and even Thanksgiving together as family.
This experience of living with women who have been abused and are experiencing restoration pushed Kendra to love beyond her own capabilities and how to rejoice even in the face of suffering. It was a lesson that helped her through a difficult time:
“Honestly, I was tired of the Race, tired of living in constant community, tired of always ‘doing’ and not having an opportunity to stop and breathe… I felt I had gotten to the point of doing things out of obligation instead of from the overflow of just being with Jesus. The beauty that came from that was an honest conversation with my team where we realized we were all feeling the same way.
I saw the power of worship, even if it’s dancing like a fool in a room full of people you don’t even know and I experienced the faithfulness of God in how He carried me through in those times I wanted to give up.”
Kendra is currently in month 8 of the World Race and is excited for the rest of her journey. When we asked her what she would tell future World Racers, she gave some great advice:
“Remember the big picture and give grace. Give yourself and your teammates grace. You will have disagreements, you will offend others and find yourself offended. But remember, we are all on the same team.
Be all in. Take advantage of this unique set of circumstances you are living because it will go by so fast. You only get out what you put in.”
Kendra knows what she’s talking about – after all, she’s living her dream.
Is God calling you to use your gifts to build the his kingdom? Learn more about how you can do this on The World Race.
