All leaders are pilgrims

This is my letter to the leaders of the World Race, but I’d like to think that it could be a letter to leaders in the Church who are ambitious and crazy enough to believe in a revolution of young people who will transform the world:

You are about to embark on a journey. As intriguing as it may sound to be a World Race leader, it may be equally scary. All kinds of doubts and inadequacies may be popping up in your mind:

What if I don’t have what it takes? What if someone gets hurt? Am I really gifted to be a leader?

So let me ask that you view the year ahead as a pilgrimage, a journey in which you end up a different person than the one who began it. The American Church has lost its sense of pilgrimage. We’ve walled ourselves in with religiosity, while Jesus is left standing outside, knocking on the door of our institution, asking us to come meet him out in the streets. Most of us have had poor examples of godly leaders – ranging from sexually immoral pastors to your average, bored “nice guy.”

The model for church in America is broken; 53,000 a week are leaving it, and your generation is crying out for authenticity. The World Race is a chance to step outside of a narcissistic culture and meet Christ where he is hungry, homeless, and in need. World Racers are called to challenges that are well above and beyond their own physical abilities, and this is intentional. They are called to depend on God. A leader is expected to guide this process.

My prayer is that you will walk away a true and radical follower of Christ. The Lord will be your rear guard as you run forward with the flock that has been entrusted to your care. And as you go, you will be able to hear your Father’s voice guiding you: “This is the way; walk in it.”

Leaders are, essentially, servants with responsibility. They take the blame and get little glory. They step up when others fall down. They are God’s instruments to stretch people and build their character. As you lead your team on this quest, you will be a forerunner for your fellow pilgrims. You are Peter, stepping out when all the others are petrified to leave the boat, and doing it so that they may see the power of God. You are Joshua, staking claim on your inheritance on behalf of a new generation that refuses to compromise.