I was introduced to the World Race a few months back and it kind of just all made sense since I studied abroad in college and I’ve always loved to travel. Once I discovered there was an 11-month ministry program spanning across the world it just clicked; I couldn’t think of a better way to see the world than spreading Jesus. So I kind of played hokey-pokey committing to the World Race (like I did with my faith for the better part of my life) and found several excuses for why I shouldn’t go. Several weeks ago I finally committed to going (on my end) and felt the freedom, peace, and affirmation that came with my decision. I’ll say right now that the growth began as soon as I started the application. My sister and brother-in-law can testify just during that alone I tried to quit at least three times, cried once, and felt more inadequate than I ever have to my recollection. I was asked very tough questions that I did not have the answers to, mostly because they were questions I had never even asked myself. I also felt completely exposed in terms of everything I had done and walked through in my life, some of it somewhat recent. For those of you that don’t know, I spent the better part of the 2010s and some of the 2020s just doing whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Without realizing it I was as about as selfish as it gets and, ironically enough, in my selfishness I took more from myself and inflicted more damage and pain onto myself than I would have ever thought possible. That being said, I don’t think anyone who was around me during this time period would argue the fact that I found as much “joy” as possible in all the things the world had to offer. The endless string of parties, sex, drugs, and “good times” STILL left me wanting MORE. I may not have fully realized it at the time but that “more” was Jesus and everything that he is. I saw in a flash all that had been stolen from me without me even realizing it, and it. was. terrifying. What I had lost wasn’t terrifying, because God is the redeemer and He is retroactive in nature, what was terrifying was how close I was to seeing the same exact reel but at the end of my life when it was too late. I finally looked past my fear of changing the way I lived for so long and fully surrendered. It has been a lonely, heartbreaking, uncomfortable, beautiful, breathtaking, indescribably incredible journey since that has led to me writing this now. I joke (although it’s not really a joke at all) that the person I was for most of my life would make fun of who I am now RELENTLESSLY. I say that with a full heart and the biggest smile on my face because I can’t express how proud it makes me to visit that realization. I have officially become one of the weirdos and I wouldn’t trade it for the world and I owe some of that already to this journey towards the World Race. I told very few people about it to avoid boasting before I was officially accepted. Since I started letting the word out, everyone has been supportive for the most part but oddly enough it took a bit before one of my best friends asked me, “What do you want out of it?” It caught me off guard but my answer just kind of fell out of me: I want this to be the launching pad for the rest of my life, the beginning of something amazing throughout the rest of my days on Earth. I want to love and see love in all of its glory. I want to chase after Jesus with reckless abandon. I want to grow into someone who constantly pursues God’s heart and doesn’t go anywhere without sharing a sliver of his unbridled love. I want to grow into everything he created and called me to be. I want to grow into someone who loves Him and others with everything I am and everything in me and I want that to be unmistakably apparent to everyone I come across for as long as I live. I don’t want ANYONE to not be a part of this incredible journey, and there’s absolutely no way I can do this alone. So please, if you’re reading this, please don’t miss out, follow along at the very least. I appreciate in advance all the support! Spiritually, emotionally, verbally, financially, I welcome it all with open arms and it will all be needed! If you can’t support in any of those ways sharing my page with even one person who might can or be willing to would be immensely supportive in itself. 

Love, 

Jordan