This Is My Job?!?!

Surprise!

Earlier this year the Lord told me I’d be working full time at Adventures in Missions (AIM) as the Mentor for World Race Unscripted. In that moment, I compiled a list of all the reasons God was crazy and I was not the right person for the job. He responded with a chuckle and a, “You may not believe Me now, but we’ll get there.”

About 9 months after that initial conversation with God, I just finished my first month in Gainesville, GA on the job. All I can say is, man, I am honored to get to do this.

I know what you’re thinking, what does it mean to be a Mentor for World Race Unscripted? Don’t worry, I’ll explain. And I’m going to start with a story.

Last week AIM had a training camp for some of the squads who will be starting their World Race journey in January. I got to serve R Squad, which is the squad my friend Megan mentors.

During worship one night the Lord highlighted a girl from the squad to me named Marilyn. While we worshiped He kept pressing on my spirit the phrase, “It’s for you too. It’s for you too. I’M for you too.”

After about five minutes of trying to figure out what in the world that meant, I came to terms with the fact that Holy Spirit wasn’t going to give me the interpretation. He just wanted me to share the phrase. After mustering up some courage, I walked over to her.

“Marilyn,” *deep breath* “Honestly, I have no idea what this means or if it’s even relevant but I really feel like the Holy Spirit has been highlighting you to me and keeps speaking ‘It’s for you too. It’s for you too. I’M for you too.’ Over and over and over.”

Suddenly I see tears start to fill her eyes. I didn’t have to interpret, she knew exactly what God was saying.

I lean in and hold her in a hug. I pray over her, that she may know that God is not just for other people, in her past or in her future, that He is for HER too.

Later that night I seek her out again.

“Do you want to talk?” I ask.

Without going too much into her story, Marilyn shares with me how her little brother died when she was younger and how she has blamed herself her for the past twenty years.

“I had just been asking God, ‘Why my little brother? Why not me? Why did I live?’ When you came and shared God’s response to me… That this life is for me too. That God is for me too.”

The last night of training camp I got to witness Marilyn get baptized as she claimed new life in front of more than 100 people.

What. An. Honor.

There is nothing in the world like getting to be apart of our Father’s journey in pulling His kids closer and closer to His heart. Into more of His love and freedom.

That is a tiny glimpse of my job. And I can’t believe I get to do it.

As a Mentor, I work with people in the office, as well as a set of coaches, to figure out how to best support my squad. This can look like logistically figuring out which countries the squad would thrive serving in, planning their training camp, as well as going out to debrief, teach, and encourage the squad throughout the year. Overall, though, it looks a lot like walking alongside racers, such as Marilyn, as they discover more of who God is, all He has for them, and what it means to serve Him. I get to be there as we navigate the hiccups and celebrate the breakthroughs of following Jesus around the world and doing ministry in foreign countries with a group of strangers they were just introduced to. All with the goal of theses missionaries gaining the tools to discover more of God, live out His Kingdom here on earth, and empower others to do the same.

The specific squad I work with is called Unscripted. Unscripted is a little different from traditional World Race routes in the sense that the squad does not work with ministry hosts around the world. Unscripted was found on Hebrews 3:8, “Today when you hear His voice do not harden your hearts.” When the racers on Unscripted enter into countries they ask God to highlight people He wants them to minister to and things He wants to do through them within that country.

In January Unscripted heads to Cambodia to start their 11 month journey. I get to join them there for their first month of training camp and ministry. Let’s go!

As an Adventures in Missions staff member, I’ve committed to raising $12,000 a year for this organization. Raising money can be extremely intimidating, but I’ve come to believe in this organization and what the Lord is doing through it so much over the past couple of years. All donations would be helpful! I am specifically looking for donors who would be willing to commit to giving $25, $50 or $100 a month. If you would like to partner with me in this you can donate through my page at the top of this post.

I would also love for you to follow along with the participants on this Unscripted 2019 squad. You can find all 19 participants and their blogs here: https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=participants&group=19W01UN

Please be praying discernment and ease upon the Unscripted leadership team as we prepare for the squad’s training camp in Cambodia. Also, please be praying peace and assurance over the participants as they prepare to step out on this crazy, scary, yet totally worth it journey ahead.