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All world race parents should do this

You don’t have to go on the World Race to have your life changed by it. Here are some things that those of us who stay behind can do to get the most out of the race.    Read and comment on blogs. When our children (Talia and Seth) went on the race, not only did we read and comment on …
By Seth Barnes
You don’t have to go on the World Race to have your life changed by it. Here are some things that those of us who stay behind can do to get the most out of the race. 
 
Read and comment on blogs. When our children (Talia and Seth) went on the race, not only did we read and comment on almost all their blogs, but we read and commented on the blogs of their teammates as well. The World Race may look exciting, but make no mistake, it is probably the most difficult thing a young person has ever done. It’s a year-long change process. Racers move from narcissism to empathy, from parochialism to a world view. Making that change will take every ounce of willpower they’ve got; racers abandon everything to find their identity and purpose. They need your encouragement. Pray through what your racer is
experiencing. Ask God to help you empathize. Allow yourself to be impacted.
 
Let them go. You’ve given your son or daughter the best years of your life. Ironically, one of the most helpful things you can do now is to give them the space they need to find their own identity and faith. Let them set the terms of your interaction. Resist the temptation to skype them every week. This blog on the subject by Michael Hindes is priceless.
 

Read some of the books racers read:

Luke 4-10. We say we follow Jesus, but many of us are biblical illiterates. We want to take the year to delve into how Jesus poured into his disciples and how we can apply that to a 21st century reality. We look at these passages in Luke and meditate on what Jesus intended as he walked amongst the men and women of Palestine.
 
The Shack. Racers need help separating Jesus from culturally defined religion. Too often we confuse Jesus with the religious garb society puts on him. The Shack deconstructs a lot of the issues that keep people from a life of faith.
 
The Heavenly Man. Racers need help moving from a life of self-reliance to a life of faith. This biography of Brother Yun, a Chinese Christian leader, shows how God responds to faith. The miracles he experiences as he goes through persecution show what’s possible for someone who is sold out to God.
 
Always Enough. Having settled issues of identity, racers delve into what it means to live as citizens of the kingdom of God. Can he be trusted? Will he provide in the most extreme circumstances? This story of Heidi and Rolland Baker in Mozambique is a riveting example of how God shows up when we trust him.
 
The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind. Bill Johnson is a favorite of racers. He explains how kingdom living can occur no matter where you go.
 
Listen to
Andrew Shearman

Andrew has had a greater impact on me than just about any other man. He
has started a leadership school in Spain that a lot of racer alumni
attend. Listen to his messages (particularly the 42nd Generation) and
allow his generous spirit to impact you.

 

 

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