World Race
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The World Race was birthed in 2005 as a pioneer missions effort to get young people away from American comfort and into year-long program of spiritual formation. It was created by ministry entrepreneur Seth Barnes, founder of Adventures In Missions (AIM), a short-term missions organization in Gainesville, Georgia. AIM sends over 8000 missionaries into the mission field each year, but this is unlike any other program.
“This is not just another mission trip,” Barnes says. “The World Race taps an ancient human compulsion to take a spiritual pilgrimage similar to the Aussie walkabout or the Muslim hajj. World Race founders believe America is a largely uninitiated culture: All over the world, especially in tribal societies, there are rites of passage that young people have to undergo to become men and women. This around-the-world trip is an initiation for young Christians in the West.
The World Race is a spin-off of popular television show the Amazing Race. Participants travel to 11 different locations, spending a month working with local churches to serve the needs of the community. They “race” to each location and start each month with friendly competition, like a scavenger hunt around Lima, Peru. The vast majority of time spent in each location is focused on ministry and service.
This year (2007) is the second year of the Race, and hundreds of young American Christians are eagerly seeking to be a part of this experience. With nothing but a backpack, World Racers live simply, traveling from place to place in hopes of discovering a faith that is authentic and vibrant. They preach the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they go, while depending on the hospitality and generosity of strangers. As a result, their faith and in God grows.
‘06 and ‘07 participant Chad Mast, from San Diego, CA, remarks on his travels with this Race: “How can I possibly make a difference in this life? God has given me a glimpse into this world as to where he wants me to begin to find out. He has let me touch families that have suffered from hurricanes in Guatemala. He has shown me the life of persecuted orphans in India. He has shown me a revival in the Catholic church of Poland. He has shown me what AIDS is doing to the entire continent of Africa. I will never be the same. I never want to be the same.”
This year (2007), three World Race groups will be sent out on this journey of discovery, and four more are scheduled to leave in 2008.
