Selah week is a time for World Race mentors to unplug at the end of mentoring a squad and go through reflection questions with Jesus. It’s one of the best ideas our org has.
Having completed those questions (after 5 days), I also reflect with photos.
Here the Sojourners are at training camp…October 2018. This is where it all began. I knew they were special at training camp.
I loved their unity…something they started and ended with.
One moment that sticks with me was one of our guys needing money for an epi-pen. The squad immediately gave more than enough to help him buy his epi-pen that he never even needed once on the Race:)
I think God just wanted to show me, off the gate, what a treasure this squad was.
It wasn’t about the epi-pen…it was their willingness to give to their brother.
They stayed that way the whole race.
Oh and we won squad wars at training camp…jus sayin’…followed by baptizing 6 of our S squad Racers. I got to baptize Jen, Nikki and Jon:)
Here is our route. We made it to more nations than what we bargained for, but that is what Sojourners do…we go places temporarily…hopefully leaving a permanent impact.
And I believe they did.
DAB (Dwell, Abide and Believe) is the name of our hand picked all star alumni squad leader team. This was DAB at launch in Atlanta before they flew to Colombia.
Lynna is full of love and grace. She was a racer on X squad, the last squad I mentored.
Nick will serve your socks off and wash them, carry them or whatever you else you may need to show the love of Christ. He was with my on P squad in 2015.
Madison is a firecracker. Also a racer on X squad. I love to watch her burn. She is a bright, shining light in the Kingdom.
Britt. My goodness. Also a Racer from P squad 15′ and I know a woman that will always be in my life. We spur one another on. She is straight fire.
All that to say, I have relationship with these people. And I love when you continue to minister with people you’ve built something with over the course of time.
Running races together…
Then we have Month 1 where we had all squad month in Medellin, Colombia.
Our whole squad lived together at a homeless shelter. We were raw and vulnerable with each other. We began to try a lot of “firsts.” The squad would worship on the roof and pray while others were out evangelizing. I remember going to sleep one night, in my tent on the roof, hearing them worship and thinking “My my what a blessing they are.”
I asked the Lord for one word to describe my time this month with the squad and it was “FULL.”
He came to give LIFE and LIFE abundantly.
Next is Nepal….Month 5. We did team changes! I sent them out evangelizing at debrief. They knew if they got arrested, I had but one request…make sure I can be in prison with you cuz TT don’t wanna miss out:)
“Soar” is the name of our raised up squad leaders. Madison stayed the whole 11 months…and we are SO glad she did.
I got to work with Olive Tree, our all guy’s team when I was there. SUCH an amazing blessing. Met Gresom, their ministry host, who became like family. Our men shared the gospel fearlessly, hiked mountains to encourage believers, helped in a Bible school and lived out the book of Acts with this Nepali family that demonstrates it so well.
I asked the Lord for one word to describe my time this month with the squad and it was “Hungry.” They were hungry for whatever God had.
I went back to minister with Gresom and his family for a revival conference in Gorka, Nepal, in October, as a result.
And I got to go white water rafting with Olive Tree too!
Thank you Will for the footage from your go pro! Sorry I hit you in the head with an oar. #amateurhour
Below is a picture of DAB and TT as we had squad leader debrief before they went home from Nepal in May. WHAT A HUGE BLESSING THIS TEAM WAS. (From the left…Lynna, TT, Nick, Madison and Britt)
And how important it was for me to be back in Nepal from the last time I was there in 2015 with P squad when we were in the 7.3 magnitude earthquake. Going back this year was like jumping back on the horse after you fall. It needed to happen.
Then Month 8, we had a Spirit filled debrief in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Whoa whoa whoa. It was wild. I decided to not teach 2 nights and let the Holy Spirit do whatever He wanted. And He did.
I asked the Lord for one word to describe my time this month with the squad and it was “Free.” They are free sons and daughters.
Then final debrief in Santiago, Spain after hiking the Camino. #trulylivinmybestLYFE.
This squad. Man do they love each other. I wish you could have seen the celebration we had at final. They would bust out singing. Laughing. JOY!
I asked the Lord for one word to describe my time this month with the squad and it was “Delivered.” They are going home free. Will there always be places to grow in their lives? Sure. But they attained freedom this year to be WHO they were created to be, to walk in their giftings, to be devoted to God, to seek His Kingdom and bring it.
This leadership team…I got #blessed for every single one of them.
They are full of love, kindness, service and boldness and ALL different which is something I have treasured the whole race. Each person was needed. (We missed you Britt!)
Another way I reflect is through videos.
Our squad chanted “S squad best squad” since training camp…so naturally they finished this way. This would be them at final debrief:)
As a squad, we had one shared vision. To “live what we believe.” All year long, we worked on different paths around intimacy with God, community and mission to get us to our shared goal of being a people who didn’t just study the Word but LIVED it out.
Here is a video the squad made at the end of the Race stating how the Lord taught them to live what they believe:
Shelby made this video recapping the year.
Colby made this awesome video also!
Here is a video the squad made for me for final banquet.
S squad travelled to 12 nations over 4 continents in 11 months. They are true Sojourners. They saw the Kingdom come everywhere they went.
I did surveys all year that they filled out at each continent change that I compiled the results of. I would call this the fruit of the squad “Living what they believe.”
People who prayed to receive Jesus: ~1,015
Healings: ~200
Deliverances: ~342
Baptisms: 15
Bibles given out: ~295
People plugged into discipleship groups/church: ~659
They personally discipled: ~530
Not only that, but they did a lot of “firsts” on the Race for example:
Preached for the first time.
Gave feedback for the first time.
Saw a healing for the first time.
Forgave someone they needed to forgive for the first time.
Had a real conversation that was direct and in love for the first time.
Taught for the first time.
Evangelized for the first time.
Had a real conversation that was direct and in love for the first time.
Were vulnerable with something they had never told anyone.
Finished reading the Bible all the way through.
Saw a deliverance for the first time.
Shared the gospel with the unreached for the first time and answered tough questions.
Gave their testimony for the first time.
Got to evangelize to those who had never heard the gospel for the first time.
Shared the gospel with a Muslim and Buddhist for the first time.
Then the squad developed new disciplines like:
In South America (first 3 months) 26/40 Racers developed the discipline of a daily quiet time.
All teams, while in Africa, said fasting was a new discipline.
Bible study
Scripture memorization
Taking a Sabbath.
Listening to Holy Spirit in everyday moments.
When they evaluated themselves at the end of the Race survey, 100% said they are utilizing the gifts God has given them to serve your team and the locals you came in contact with. At the beginning of the Race only 56% thought they were. That is GROWTH!
100% said they were growing in understanding of and practice of living out the New Testament principles of church within the squad and team.
100% said they are discovering the Kingdom of God, seeing and sensing His direction, leadership and voice as they journey on the World Race.
94% intentionally sought out a non-believer with whom to share their faith with each month.
94% grew in their submission to the Lord and intimacy with Him.
Each squad has their own stamp.
This is the mark S squad left on me….the world…their families and friends.
They are worshippers. Hands down. They would worship freely on their own choosing on the Camino, in hostels at night and with their teams at their ministry home.
They love apologetics. You shoulda seen when I taught on apologetics Month 8 debrief. I think it was the most engaged I had ever seen the squad from my vantage point. Our men especially LOVED to discuss different topics in regards to the faith.
They lived what they believed. They had a lot of firsts for a reason. Head to heart stuff happened on our squad as their faith became sight in deed and action.
Having crazy faith. They are wild. You should see them. Bold. Preaching on the Parent Vision Trip. Sharing with someone who has never heard the gospel. Going to unreached peoples. Boldly standing up to declare something to the squad. Proclaiming the gospel when it was illegal. Praying for healing for the upteenth million time believing that God can do what He says He’ll do. Participating in a person getting delivered. Standing by what they believe though it is controversial and not politically correct.
They loved each other. You shoulda seen when someone was sick in the hospital with malaria how the squad took care of each other.
Instead of me saying how much I saw in their love for one another, I will tell you what THEY said for their Month 11.
I asked what fruit they saw in their World Race community:
Loving each other
Great conversation (deep and tough) with a friend
Great team bonding while walking and after.
Shared testimonies
Fruit would probably have to be the time together cooking and playing cards.
Saw God move so heavily within our group.
Worship
Encouragement
Great communication, apologies, sharing encouragement from the Word.
Worship and loving each other fully. Times were hard but we were always here to push each other to our full potential. Being each other’s biggest cheerleader.
Worship, sharing testimonies, selfless love. I hope to plug back into my community at home and be more open to doing these things there.
Service
Good reflection time with my teammates over the year
We had community dinners and enjoyed each other’s company each evening.
Amazing community, loving each other and others well, spread joy to those around us
We loved each other really well and built more community by traveling, playing cards, watching movies, etc.
Team worship, team loving each other.
We shared meals together.
Good conversation
That sounds like the book of Acts to me. The early church living it out.
One of my greatest joys as a mentor is watching a person grow.
Each and every one of them grew this year.
They just chose 2019 was a year they put their faith into action.
To be doers and not just hearers.
The Lord told me to watch “Chariots of Fire” recently. My first time seeing it. The movie highlights Eric Liddell, a Scottish Olympic Gold Medalist runner and missionary.
“You will know as much of God, and only as much of God, as you are willing to put into practice.” ~Eric Liddell
Everyone runs…where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within….the Kingdom of God is within you ~Eric Liddell
The Kingdom of God is within us. When the head reaches the heart, you live from “the within” space. Then you will gather Kingdom baskets full of fruit.
Everyone runs. But the Sojourners ran their Race living what they believe ….the inside…the within…lived OUT.
When something gets out…you can see it. This little light of mine can’t be sung anymore…it’s more like ” This HUGE, amazing BRILLIANT Light of mine…I’m gonna let it SHINE.”
Sojourners, you lived up to your name.
You stayed temporarily in many places.
Thankful you are home…for now…
“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” ~Jesus
Glad “everyone” in your house will see.
You are changed.
I loved the journey with you.
Buen Camino Sojourners!
