More Than I Can Bear
Last month I joined a new department at Adventures in Missions called Kingdom Journeys
I’M THE NEW DIRECTOR OF KINGDOM JOURNEYS!
Exciting, right??!!?
This excitement lasted for about 24 hours when I realized that taking this new position really meant adding more to my already presumably full plate.
I’m now responsible for [successfully] running two programs: The Fellowship and Kingdom Journeys. This will make for an interesting Summer.
For those of you who want to know a little more about Kingdom Journeys (KJ), here you go:
KJ is the vehicle for driven leaders to pursue one specific type of ministry that makes them come alive. Unlike the World Race, Kingdom Journeys teams spend six months partnering with international organizations to deliver within their passion across three different locations.
It’s about diving deep.
World Race participants become Kingdom Journeys pioneers as they invest into the sustainability of a long-term program by pressing into their unique gifting while contributing lasting ideas and support.
Simply put – KJ is 6 months, 3 countries, 1 purpose.
With the return of our KJ Women’s Team 2 this weekend and the launch of our KJ Men’s Team a couple weeks ago, Kingdom Journeys is still an infant – still in a very innovative state. There is much work to be done; at times, very intimidating work.
When I first agreed to take this job, KJ was simply another program to me. I saw it through a purely logistical lens. Spending countless hours trying to come up to speed on budgets, processes, standards, and vision – you know, the who’s and what’s and how’s – I began to drown quickly.
“This is too much for me to take on“, I would allow myself to believe at the end of another long day.
The Lord has been so kind and faithful during this season; however, in helping me to understand that the more I put myself in a position to need Him, the more His grace shows up in my life.
Most recently, His grace came in the form of meeting a Kingdom Journeys team at their final debrief. I listened to their stories, I was captivated by the impact they made, I was drawn into the reality that a Kingdom Journey is both life giving and incredibly draining at the same time.
I wept with them, I celebrated with them, and while I had no part in training this team or overseeing their ministry, I began to see the world through their eyes. I had a sudden shift in perspective, and now I am not as concerned with the how’s or the what’s as I once was – what matters most is the why.
I had a chance to hear firsthand why this ministry is amazing and why it’s important for everyone to experience their own Kingdom Journey.
You can’t simply take my word for it, however; read from the blogs of the participants yourself!
* My Friend, The John
* Laced In Grace
* Heart For Him
* The Mouse Who Roars
* Beauty For Ashes
I’m honored to be a part of what Adventures does in and through the lives of some of the most amazing missionaries that I’ll ever meet. I’m blessed to serve God and others in my work every day. Sure, it can be time consuming and difficult and stressful, but it’s never too much. He isn’t going to give me more than I can bear.
