This week I'm in Dublin Ireland with 5 World Race squads, alumni, staff, coaches, family and friends.... about 350-400 people for the second annual Awakening Worship Conference.
It started this morning and it's already awesome. Everywhere I turn I see a familiar face, somebody I haven't hugged in several months, or a great friend I need to catch up with over lunch. The worship is going to be incredible because we have Jonathan David Helser and his band here to lead us once again. Some of my spiritual mentors are here speaking throughout the week. We have breakout sessions, kickball games, alumni dinners, and all sorts of fun times planned in between.
Wishing you could be here??? Well the good news is that I'd love to invite you to be a part of this years Awakening Worship Conference.... and you don't have to have the money to buy a plane ticket.
Please join us by watching the LIVE STREAMING VIDEO of the conference's main sessions online! Just follow this link to see a schedule and to watch the video. If you miss the session, (I know some of them are REALLY early) we're going to try and post the recorded sessions that you can watch online whenever it's convenient for you.
The first session came through very well this morning, and I want all of my family, friends, and supporters to be involved. Thanks for always being behind me and this ministry.... this is what is happening to my generation because of you're involvement.... They are Awakened!
To all my family, friends, casual blog readers, and stumble upon internet surfers...
Many of you know that I work for The World Race, the trip that changed my life back in 2006 when I spent a year of my life traveling the world and ministering in the nations. What most of you may not know is that my job revolves around ministering to all the World Racers who have finished their journey and are moving on to the next things in life. It's pretty fabulous because I get to make around 50-60 new friends every couple of months... and if you know me, I love making new friends.
What does ministering to World Race Alumni look like? Well, it all starts at Training Camp before they ever leave. For the past 3 years I've been heavily involved in our training process which helps me initiate relationships with all the racers before they start their journey. At training camp I've done everything from teach drama, run team builders, do participant check-ins, decide and manage the team formation process, lead announcements, organize and run all the logistics of our team of servant leaders, and pray and release deliverance and freedom in their lives. Training Camp is a busy 9-10 days that is squished in between two regular work weeks. No matter how busy it is, we love and live for training camp around here.
After we launch the teams and they travel to most of their countries around the world, I get to go and visit them during their month 8 or 9 debrief. Basically we send coaches and mentors out several times a year to check on them, minister to them, and help them work through all the emotions of community living and seeing the hurting people of the nations face to face. When I go and visit towards the end of the trip, I get to spend quality time with the participants and help them prepare to come home. After all they have experienced, normal life has changed dramatically. It can be a tough process to integrate the past year of their life with family, friends, jobs, and ministry at home. I teach a few sessions and talk about opportunities to lead trips, continue growing, and continue serving after the race. I love seeing the participants at this point in the race... when they have pushed through all the hard stuff and know that it's all worth it and they understand.
A couple of months later the racers return home and it's my responsibility to care for them, help them transition, and help lead them into other opportunities they have expressed interest in participating in after the race. Several squads just returned home in the past few months and we are working hard to stay connected and to continue the ministry we've already begun in their lives. We want to empower them and mobilize them to reach the dreams God gave them on the World Race to bring His Kingdom to the nations. Darci Simpson, a January 2009 World Race Alum, has been helping me.
Please join me in prayer as we seek to better minister to World Race Alumni. Pray for the June 2009 and two August 2009 Squads that have recently gotten home and are making the transition from life on the race to life at home.
Darci and I had the two August squads participate in a contest to better understand what it has been like for them to return home. This also gets the word out to potential participants on what they can expect after the race. It's usually pretty interesting, insightful, and funny. We've had several entries, the prize is a $25 restaurant gift card. (If we're honest, that's what we talk about missing on the World Race anyway!) If you've got a minute, take some time and read the following blogs about coming home. These are the initial thoughts of people who have just become World Race Alumni. Leave an encouraging comment or two. Thanks for all your prayers and support for my ministry. I truly love my life. I've got the best job in the world.
Have you been thinking about applying for The World Race and just haven't started yet?
Do you know somebody who would absolutely love the idea of traveling to 11 countries to show God's love to people in need all around the world?
Are you passionate about telling stories for those who don't have a voice?
Then it's time to sign up! Read below because we are giving away a free World Race.
Don't wait another second.
World
Race Trip Giveaway
We're going to send someone on an adventure around the world for a year... Will
it be you?
To be eligible you must submit either a written or video blog sharing your
story and why you should go on the World Race. Be as creative as possible.
We want to know what you're passionate about.
What
is your cause? How will you advocate for the oppressed or raise awareness of
global injustices? Whose stories will you share, and how will you do it? Why
should we send you as our advocate? How will you change lives? (Not all topics
must be covered).
We're
looking for skilled storytellers who are both passionate and creative.
Written blogs must be 500 words or less, and video blogs must be 120 seconds or
less.
Application
Process:
Submit
the link for your blog to stories@adventures.org. Be sure to include your name, hometown, and
phone number.
You
must apply for the October 2010 World Race
You
must complete the application process for the World Race prior to July 1,
2010 (including written application, interview and reference check) and be
signed up for training camp.
Submissions
will be accepted up until midnight EST on July 1, 2010. Only one
submission per applicant.
Top
contestants' stories will be shared on the World Race Facebook page
(facebook.com/theworldrace), and the finalists will be selected through
peer voting via Facebook. (You can and should get your friends and family
to vote for you.)
A
panel of AIM staff will select the winner from among the finalists based
on strength of message, content and creativity.
The
winner will be notified by email or phone by July 20th. If he/she does not
respond within 48 business hours, the runner-up will receive the prize.
Terms and Conditions:
Contest
open to U.S. and Canadian residents. AIM staff members and their
immediate family members are not eligible.
Currently
accepted or committed October 2010 applicants are also eligible to apply
for the giveaway.
If
winner already has money in their support account those monies may be
applied to a trip with Adventures in Missions within 90 days of completion
of the World Race.
Trip
may not be transferred to any other route. Failure to depart on
October World Race trip will result in forfeiting all money. Applicant
is still eligible to raise funds and depart at a later date.
There
are no refunds.
All
submitted blog posts become property of Adventures In Missions for
redistribution. Contestants must ensure that submitted blog posts
remain available through December 31, 2010.
Winner
must attend training camp July 24, 2010 - August 1, 2010.
Prize
includes the cost of travel, food and lodging from the start to the end of
the trip (a value of approximately $14,300). Prize does not include personal spending
money, travel expenses to and from training camp, equipment costs, or any
other expenses not directly associated with the trip as mentioned above.
Posted in Haiti Relief by Ashley Musick on 5/7/2010
I know I haven't given an update on Haiti in a while, but I wanted to share this incredible story. My friend Stephanie Pridgen is in Haiti to capture the emotions and stories of the people and the ministry. Amazing things are happening and this paritcular story is an incredible tale of rescue, redemption, and victory. I actually went to college with Stephanie and she was on the World Race squad that I led last year. I'm so proud of her and she's an incredible writer. God continues to use her and urge her into greater areas of growth.
AIM has continued to increase it's efforts to mobilize the body of Christ to go and respond to the hurting and broken from Haiti. Short-term teams from churches around the country are going down to help out with the pastors and ministries we have connected with since our initial trip back in January. The World Race will be sending a team of 50+ participants to June on a special relief trip. After that, we'll be sending the July World Race to minister to these people in their very first month of ministry. Please be in prayer for them as we expect more stories like this one as God continues to reshape the nation of Haiti.
Curse Broken :: Life Changed – By Stephanie Pridgen
I don't know exactly what we expected walking
into his home, but I know that
it wasn't what we found.
The tent seemed to exhale as we opened
its door, and it expelled a torrent of heat. I could not begin to
imagine
staying inside these tarpaulin walls all day as rivulets of sweat
instantly formed against my skin; yet, this is Evansbord's life
everyday.
Evansbord was taken to a witch doctor at two months old. Before
me was the result of this choice by his parents. He was
lying on the tent floor, knees to his chest, feet crossed flat against
himself; he has spent 15 years in this same position.
Aside from moving his
arms, his head and a few grunts, Evansbord was immobile and mute. Little
did he know how his life was about to change. Little did we know
how
our
lives were about to change.
Evansbord's home was destroyed in
the earthquake; yet, he survived. He was discovered 24 hours
later, surrounded by rubble but virtually unharmed.
This week, as
we visited him and his family in the tent community, our hearts were
burdened to see God move in his life. So the team prayed.
Daily,
team members visited and spent time interceding for Evansbord. One
participant, a physical therapist, examined him and said that physically
there was no reason for him to be in such a condition. Diagnosis: It
had to be spiritual.
Thursday, the team gathered and prayed...
and prayed... and prayed. After hours of seeking God on behalf of this
child and his family, the team retrieved a tarp, used water from their
water bottles, and created a baptismal on the spot.
Result:
Evansbord was smiling, laughing, uttering his first words.
Friday
morning, Evansbord was crawling. Friday afternoon, he was playing and
throwing a ball.
He is a transformed boy, joyous and responsive.
The entire community has witnessed this and been astounded.
Evansbord's life is changed.
His family is changed.
His community is changed.
The team members are changed.
I am changed.
Below is a clip, taken by one of the participants, of Evansbord
being baptized.
Mark
your calendars.
August 30 - September 2, 2010
We'll give you three hints
and only ONE guess as to where we are headed...
Hint #1 - you might see rainbows with pots of gold.
Hint #2
- there will be little green men - or at least we're told.
Hint #3 -
it's the birthplace of Guinness - the beer of old!
IRELAND.
Yes. Believe it.
And... if you come, you might just
be able to worship to the musical stylings of... JONATHAN DAVID HELSER.
The Awakening is a Prophetic Worship Experience & World
Race Alumni reunion.
We're planning for over 500 in attendance
at this year's event - current World Race squads, World Race Alumni, and
friends & family of Alumni are all invited!
Check out www.theworldrace.org/awakening
for more information and to begin planning!
More details to
come. Stay tuned and spread the word!
I'm an internal processor. You may not think that's true for me since I'm known to be an outgoing, extroverted person. But when it's time to organize the things in my mind and heart, the vast experiences I've been blessed to have, the amazing words and teachings of mentors and coaches... I need to get away and do that.
Here's the bad news... I rarely take the time to get away and bring organization to these things. I just don't take advantage of the time I have. It's easier to claim I need "to rest my mind" and dive into another world via the TV, a book, or even into the lives of my friends.
In my most recent and meager attempts to process through my crazy life, I've seen that my pursuit of God isn't what it should be. People talk about "being romanced" by Him. If I'm honest I'm not there, but I want to be.
I'm reading A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God. Everything he writes is amazing, and while I've read this particular book before, it's certainly speaking to the deep places of my heart right now. Tozer talks about how "things have beocme necessary to us, a development never orginally intended. God's gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution."
I've been on the World Race twice. Abandonment happened. I think it has since un-happened. (Yes, I know that's not a word.)
"It would seem that there is within each of us an enemy which we tolerate at our peril."
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matt. 5:3
I want the Kingdom of Heaven so the time has come for some painful extractions to take place in my heart. This ironically is something else the Lord keeps bringing up. This kind of "cleansing" or "healing" often hurts really bad. I just read a blog by another contemporary author that I enjoy, Mark Batterson. In the blog he talks about how, "the Lord often has to hurt us to heal us."
Tozer gives the example of Abraham and Issac. With time running out in Abraham's long life, the promised blessing of a son finally comes. I imagine that there was instantly a love for that son which I can't fully describe or have yet to understand in it's fullness. If it was me, and God asked for the sacrifice of my promised blessing... the love of my life... I wonder what I would have thought? I wonder what I would have said? I wonder what my response would have been?
These "things" in my life that seem to take up my time and take precedent over my pursuit of God aren't even as valuable or meaningful as Issac surely was to Abraham. I grieve as I realize this fact.
In the midst of that grieving I rejoice in the knowledge that it is time for something to change and God's heart is that I "would no longer be a slave to the tyranny of things." (Tozer) This is where I believe the "has to hurt us to heal us" part comes into play. So as I redirect my pursuit of God I wonder what He's about to ask me to take to the altar of sacrifice. Like Abraham, I wonder if I will consider it "an act of worship?" (Gen. 22:5)
Tozer imagines that once Abraham put his son on the altar to sacrifice, and was at the point of no return, God might have said, "I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. I wanted to correct the perversion that existed in your love." This is God hurting us so that He might heal us.
It's time that God corrects the perversion that exists in my love for him. I want the habit of clinging to possessions, security, relationships, and anything that's not Him, to be stripped away.
I want to live like I believe that I must lose my life to find it.
You know, before The World Race I believe that possessions and things were important and could have been described as an idol in my life. Now, I see that it's not necessarily possessions taking the place of the Lord in my life. I don't have much. These days it just comes down to the fact that my priorities and decisions don't always reflect that He is my all in all.
I'm seeking the blessing of a deeper love and knowledge of Him than I've ever known. Even though I'm just at the beginning of this process, I know it's bound to hurt. This is how Tozer describes it:
"The ancient curse will not go out painlessly; the tough old miser within us will not lie down and die in obedience to our command. HE must be torn out of our heart like a plant from the soil; he must be extracted in agaony and blood like a tooth from the jaw. He must be expelled from our soul by violence, as Christ expelled the money changers form the temple."
I believe it's a defining moment where I get to choose Him first. These moments happen every once in awhile, and sometimes I recognize them and sometimes I don't. I'm asking for a deep cleansing that will probably hurt, but it's time. I bring this before anybody who reads this blog and I ask that you take some time to personally reflect and dig into your own heart. Ask yourself one question:
Does God reign unchallenged in the temple of your heart?
Posted in Haiti Relief by Ashley Musick on 2/17/2010
AIM has taken the footage from our recent World Race Alumni trip to Haiti and made a video. This shows clips of the people we met, the Pastors, the devastation, the ministry, the living conditions, and the HOPE we experienced on our trip. Please take 3 minutes to watch this video and pray about your part in bringing restoration to this nation.
Posted in Haiti Relief by Ashley Musick on 2/4/2010
Before I left for Haiti a couple of weeks ago, I heard some negative feedback from a few different directions. The question wasn't, "Does Haiti need help?" The question was, "Should YOU got to Haiti and be that help?"
Well I prayed, and I got a word from God about my participation and my trip. I was called to GO even though the planning was difficult, the preparations were stressful, and I faced a constant fear of all the unknown emotions that awaited me. So, just 10 days after the earthquake, I pulled into the Dominican border town of Jimani, stared up at the hospital I'd seen on the news clips, and gazed out across the lake to the rattled nation of Haiti.
There were tents from all kinds of organizations. Relief agency trucks rolled one after the other down the street. Helicopters constantly flew over town, some towards Haiti, some back towards Santo Domingo. There were people everywhere helping. The question bubbled up in the back of my mind, "What can you and I really do to help these people?"
I'm not a doctor. I don't really like to see the blood drip from my finger when I peel it rather than the apple. We didn't carry hi-tech equipment that would help us locate those stuck beneath the rubble. Nobody on the team could fly a helicopter. It doesn't seem like we had much to offer.
Basically, all we really had were big hearts and willing hands and feet..... and you know what happened?
God moved.
While we didn't preform a life-saving operation in our week of service, we may have helped somebody who will someday soon. We took two days to help organize a storage closet and shipping container full of medical supplies at a local church. While we didn't bring in a cargo plane of food and water, we were able to give 5,000 bottles of water and 350 lbs of rice and beans to a church that can distribute them to the refugees who are showing up at their door.
There weren't any meetings of heads of states, but there was a meeting for pastors from Port-au-Prince who were able to tell us what they needed. We're now able to partner with them and help them meet the needs of those in their community... the ones they've been serving all along. We couldn't clothe all of the refugees that have fled the capitol without any worldly possessions, but I know a Haitian family and a Haitian police officer who have an extra change of clothes now. We didn't change out IV's at the clinic, but we prayed for a lady with a broken leg who amidst the busyiness of the day, had been mostly overlooked.
We helped a local Dominican church serve soup twice a day to refugees in the park and at the hospital. I know that's not a complete reconcilation between two neighboring countries that have a long-standing relationship of bitterness, contempt, and hate, but it's a big step forward for the Body of Christ when a Dominican church reaches out to the Haitians in need.
So I came to a conclusion... The big time organizations are helping. They're getting doctors and rescue teams and helicopter pilots in there to do some important and really hard work. They are saving lives. Their sweat and tears are worthwhile.
But without the small time peeople.... the ones with big hearts and willing hands and feet, there's nobody to cook the food that they bring in. There's nobody to pass it out to the patients who are hungry and thirsty, laying under tarps and tents of sheets in the hot Carribbean sun. There's nobody to sit and listen to their stories. There's nobody to pray with the brokenhearted and wipe the tears away. Supplies pile up and the things that are needed and within reacht stay hidden. People are up and walking around... yes... Praise God!
But without the intentional care and relationships provided by people like pastors, mission teams, and you and me... they still walk around with despair in their eyes.
I've been trying to describe my feelings about my experience in Haiti last week, and it still sounds a little random. Still, I have an urgency to let YOU know about what can happen by serving the people of Haiti. I'll describe it as a picture, but really... it's something I FEEL. It's weird, but everywhere we went, I would feel this in my spirit.
It's like there is a giant hole, but it was full of stuff... compacted and pressed down, all of this stuff filled the void. When I look at it, you can tell that what fills this hole is not natural. But now, after the earthquake, it's like all of this has been cleaned out. The space has been emptied. What was once full is now empty. There is a space to fill. There's an open window for us as the Church to go and fill that space. I can feel the holy anticipation in my spirit whenever I think about Haiti. The space is waiting to be filled and it wants to be filled.
I know this is true because I saw open hearts and open doors that weren't open before. I was in Haiti exactly one year ago, and there was a very different feel to our ministry. We'd talk about the Lord. We'd pray. We'd love on the people. It was tough though, like we had to give 150% every day to gain an inch of ground. It doesn't seem that way anymore. It's like every word we speak drops 50 seeds of God's love into the void of people's hearts. They are taking root and growing faster than before.
It all seems overwhelming. The number of dead and the endless road of rebuilding that Haiti faces is daunting.
Just because the news is talking more about super bowl ads, tea parties, and recalls on vehicles, don't forget Haiti.
Just because you aren't a doctor or rescue worker, don't think you can't make an enternal impact.
The time to bring hope to Haiti is now and YOU play a vital role in making that happen. YOU get to help fill the void with the love of God.
Pray. Give. Go.
The life you speak over Haiti in prayer could shift everything in the Spiritual realm. The dollar you give can buy formula for babies in need. The hand you hold can bring new life to the empty eyes of a nation.
Stay on top of AIM's continued efforts and long-term plans at the AIM HAITI BLOG and give all that you can to help meet the needs of these hurting people through AIM's HAITI DONATION page.
Posted in Haiti Relief by Casey Wells on 1/25/2010
I wanted to give you a quick update from Ashley and the team.
The whole team is doing really well. Besides being hot and tired they have really enjoyed working together as a team and being able to bless the people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The team has been able to distribute lots of supplies that have been donated. One of their main contacts in the D.R. has found five pastors that they have partnered with. These pastors are going to help make sure that people's needs are taken care of. They will be instrumental in being able to help the people in Haiti as well as helping our future teams be a blessing.
While they have been in the D.R. and Haiti the team has partnered with a church that has been working on the boarder in Jimani. The church has started a food program, serving gallons of soup a couple of times a day. The team has helped the church prepare and serve food as well as help them clean and organize.
Please continue to pray for the team - that the Lord would give them strength and energy as they only have a couple of days of ministry, that they would have divine appointments meeting the right people at the right time, for blessings for all of the people and pastors that have been serving, and that the team will be able to process the things that they have seen and felt and that they would be able to praise and worship through it all.
Posted in Haiti Relief by Ashley Musick on 1/21/2010
It's been one crazy week. Last week at this time I was only beginning to think about the possibility of taking a group of Alumni to help with the relief efforts in Haiti. Now, I'm up at 1:00 AM packing and finalizing some details before I leave on a plane for the Dominican Republic in the morning. All the pictures and videos from the news will get much closer tomorrow. The stories will become real. They'll have faces and names.
When we send out World Racers we don't expect them to come back the same person they were when they left. I don't expect to come back the same person after this week. If I'm honest, I'll tell you that I just don't know what I'm thinking and feeling right now. I'm tired from this past week's efforts to get a team of Alumni together and get the details and vision of the trip hammered out. I'm absolutely trusting God for strength to get through this week, knowing it's going to require more than I have left in my tank. But I want to be empty when I get back.... I want to give and serve and love with every ounce of my being. My heart breaks for these people; it breaks for my brothers and sisters in Christ. If it's already broken, I don't have a clue what it will look like at the end of the week.
I'm excited. I've never had as much love, prayer, encouragement, and support for any other trip I've ever been on. People are dropping me encouraging emails and giving me encouraging words. There are always new notes on facebook. I get phone calls from friends who want to pray with me. I have fun messages when I miss the phone calls. I have a family and church at home in WV who are behind me. The Staff and my community here in Gainesville have surrounded me and laid hands on me to pray for the trip. Alumni have gotten behind the team to support and pray for us 24/7 for the entire length of our trip. Racers on the field in countries like Cambodia, Kenya, and New Zealand are lifting us up by name. It's incredible.
This prayer covering has caused a shift in the atmosphere as we have prepared this week. As I dealt with details over the weekend, it was lonely and confusing and difficult and draining. But as soon as the word got out and people began to pray, the fog lifted. I can't wait to return from this trip and testify to God's amazing love and power through prayer. It's the key to this entire week. Thank you to all who are providing that covering.
We'll be flying into Santo Domingo, getting some supplies, staying with a contact, and then heading out to the border on Friday. We have the opportunity to work at a church and hospital there as well as connect with a pastor with some great needs at another border. Ultimately we want to walk away with a book of information to hand off to the people at AIM who are developing our long-term strategy to mobilize people and resources to bring restoration and redemption to Haiti. We are going to hug those who need hugging. We're going to pray for the sick... we're believing for miracles, the kind where limbs grow back and the dead are raised. We're going to hand out food, and we're beliving it will miraculously feed the five thousand. We want God to multiply our efforts for His glory and out of love for all those that are suffering. Along the way we're going to document what our trip looks like, what the ministry entails, and some personal stories from the people we meet along the way.
It's going to be a busy and amazing week. We are going to call and give updates so they can be posted throughout the week. I doubt we will be able to personally blog until we return. If you'd like to stay up-to-date on what is happening with our team and ministry and how to best pray for us, please subscribe to updates from http://haiti.adventures.org.
Also, please pray about supporting our team and the ministry we will be doing this week. If you feel led to give, please follow these instructions:
Once you're on this page, change the program on the drop-down menu to a "World Race Project." A new box will appear, for a description of the project. Please have supporters put WR HAITI as the name of the Project.
Again, thanks for the prayer, the support, and the encouragement this past week. It's already made a difference and we are all blessed to partner together in this ministry. For His Glory!
We're going to send someone on an adventure around the world for a year... Will
it be you?
nobody to cook the food that they bring in. There's nobody to pass it out to the patients who are hungry and thirsty, laying under tarps and tents of sheets in the hot Carribbean sun. There's nobody to sit and listen to their stories. There's nobody to pray with the brokenhearted and wipe the tears away. Supplies pile up and the things that are needed and within reacht stay hidden. People are up and walking around... yes... Praise God! 
e earthquake, it's like all of this has been cleaned out. The space has been emptied. What was once full is now empty. There is a space to fill. There's an open window for us as the Church to go and fill that space. I can feel the holy anticipation in my spirit whenever I think about Haiti. The space is waiting to be filled and it wants to be filled. 
