The last two months have truly been the exploration of making missions a lifestyle for our two squads currently out in the field. Here is a report for each squad (click the links to read featured blogs and stories):

The September 2007 squad has been in Central America in locations from Panama to Costa Rica and through Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.

They are doing everything from reaching out to orphans to church planting to prayer walking. The men of “D” Squad went to Guatemala to explore new ministry up on Lake Atitlan. The squad is preparing for their final few weeks of ministry which will culminate in Granada, Nicaragua where they will undergo their final debrief and return home.

Now I don’t know how to explain the kind of ownership I felt I had to that sense of destiny. Did God promise that for me? I don’t really know but I will tell you at the time I felt it was my God-given calling in life to do something big. It’s a funny thing about people that do big things for the kingdom, many times you either don’t know who they are or they just have no idea the scope of what they’re doing! 

Regardless, let’s operate on the foundation that I truly believe “destiny” was an amazing, special gift from the Lord. It was precious, it was a responsibility, it was a calling. When we look at Abraham in Genesis, the promise of the Lord was not just “for a son.” The promise was very clearly Isaac. Isaac was the promise, the future the generational promise was to be fulfilled through him.

Abraham didn’t ask for it to be Isaac, he didn’t even ask to have a legacy! God was the one who volunteered and gave….and asked for it back.

I mean what audacity! God asking for the very thing promised back! It wasn’t like God asked for his wealth, health, lifelong servitude, etc. He asked for the one thing that mattered above all. Funny how “it” usually falls into that category for us.

In Hebrews 11 it says “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead.” There was no promise there was no “calling God’s bluff.” It was three days of walking into the wilderness intent on sacrificing that which was most important. It was terrifying, saddening, maddening, illogical and a host of other extreme emotions.

So what.

What could that possibly mean to the way I live my life? If God has control of my destiny, then He’s responsible to get me where I need to be right? My response is to GO where He wants me to go and one day I might just find myself enjoying where He takes me!

I’ve been thinking a lot about this concept, obviously, and one has to wonder how “it” became so important. In my last post I talked about the “significance” factor and I truly feel this is a foundational principle that fuels the “it” myth. I mean, on paper, it seems too good to be true! I mean, who WOULDN’T want to be doing something they not only loved but something that contributed immensely to the greater good. And not only would we all have the chance to do whatever “it” is to us, but do it perpetually for the rest of our lives – never getting bored, disillusioned, understimulated or dissatisfied.

But beyond the drive for significance, I really believe there is a root of fear involved.

As amazing as the draw is to discover and latch on to “it”, the anxiety and ultimate devastation caused by a realization that “it” has been missed or lost is paralyzing in its effect on us. In fact, we would rather do something we hate rather than something that piques our interest if it meant not being available when “it” came around.

As I’m writing this, I’m realizing that the description above might even be too presumptuous. The truth of the matter is, many of us don’t have a CLUE what “it” is to us. And we fear that we might miss “it” because we don’t even know what we’re looking for!

We use the “doors” metaphor all to often to feed into our fears. We wait for “doors” to open, we wait (or even expect) them to close. We get frustrated why certain “doors” aren’t open. We get angry when certain “doors” close. The whole idea affects us emotionally because we value so few “doors” and those “doors” in effect represent and fuel our obsession with “it.” 

It’s a paradigm shift entirely to begin exploring the debunking of the “it” myth. It requires a sacrifice of an ideal and instead turns the focus on finding life in the here and now. There aren’t two options: “it” and “not it.” There are, instead, seasons with varying amounts of “it” included. Granted some seasons might include more of “it” than others, but to live in discontent or to live in dissatisfaction is not license to fall into victimization. It’s our responsibility, nay our privilege to spend our lives on account of discovering and relishing “it.”

Matthew 6 says “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” What activities, careers, environments, etc. would genuinely prohibit us from following that directive? Christ came that we may have life and have it abundantly. It’s there, not in a place or a person, but just there.

 I believe that every vice has a foundation that should be excavated before conclusions are drawn. As such, I look at the “it” myth and wonder where this is founded. I know for myself, I can track pretty accurately where this mindset came from.

Now whether or not my generation shares that kind of parental affirmation or not, it’s one instigator for this pursuit of “it.” I remember turning down a “good” opportunity because it just didn’t seem to have the scope of impact I was hoping for as a “world changer.” That’s the danger, you see, of having a sense of destiny – all too often we define it by secular standards of success.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, I think this pursuit of “it” isn’t so much in the activity one is doing, but in the significance that the given activity appears to have. What’s funny is that this “significance” doesn’t necessarily have a universal definition. It doesn’t have to be universally “significant”, it just has to be significant as I define it. It has to impact the things that are important to me – because when I spend my time contributing to something I deem important (even of the utmost importance) my life matters, and ultimately, I am fulfilled, satisfied – I have not failed myself or been untrue to my passions.

My challenge to this mindset is when we move into a place where one and only one activity, location, person, etc. ends up being “it.” 

I love the quote from John Eldridge “don’t spend your time trying to discover what the world needs, find out what makes you come alive and do that because what the world needs is people who are alive.”

In the perspective of this conversation, I’d love to add an addendum to this quote to say: “don’t spend your time trying to find the one thing that makes you come alive, allow where you are, the season you’re in, the people you’re around to bring out the life within you.” I say this because “life” isn’t in what we do, it’s from the Holy Spirit within us – isn’t Christ the ultimate “way, the truth and the life”?

 

My grandparent’s generation worked 60 years in a career happy to make a living, happy to feel the sweat on the brow for the satisfaction of a job well done. There was not as much emphasis put on the actual job itself but instead on the fact that the job was a blessing and the potential for advancement was icing on the cake.

We’re now coming out of a generation-wide embracing of the transient mindset. This had its hold that nothing should ever be done for a long period of time. Commitment was the worst evil because it made one feel trapped and ultimately unhappy – because freedom = happiness in most situations.

What’s being birthed in my generation, however, is a return to a fundamental belief that “it” is out there. We use “it” to describe a host of things: our future mate, our ideal job, the most amazing adrenaline rush, the environment or experience that will produce the utmost satisfaction and euphoria.

“It” has been defined otherwise as “destiny” or “fate” or the “mountaintop.” It doesn’t matter than we live in paralyzing discontent, unwilling to settle for anything less than the ultimate emotional high, the promise of “it” is tantalizing and motivates us to continue on.

I’m beginning to learn what a terrible myth “it” is. To think of the time I’ve wasted waiting for “it” when I could have been enjoying the moment. The doors I failed to walk through because if, just if, “it” came along while I was doing something else, I’d miss it and regret it forever. 

This past weekend I went home to Florida for my brother's high school graduation.  In a week and a half I'll be going back for my sister's wedding.  Life just seems to be running at the speed of light and it's choc full of so many good things! 

I had a great trip to San Jose, Costa Rica to meet with our squad there.  This squad, in particular, began their journey in September of 2007 when they met my team in Bangkok, Thailand.  Having not seen them since, it has amazed me to see the growth, perspective changes, interpersonal growth as a community and just a group of individuals seeking to know God better and understand their role in the kingdom.  Their journey ends in July and thoughts of the future are consuming!  Their remaining time will be spend between Panama, Guatemala and eventually Nicaragua.  It's been an amazing experience for them and I know their lives will never be the same.

My life is in a state of transition as Adventures in Missions does some restructuring.  Change is hard but it holds the promise of even greater effectiveness which excites me!  This month I am preparing for the launch of a new group of World Racers the beginning of July.  I'll be flying down to Mexico to help train and prepare this group for their 11 month excursion and the journey will begin again.

All this being said, my time has been stolen away from my support raising efforts and unfortunately I have fallen behind.  By July, 1^st I need to have an additional $1,600 to get caught up to my monthly goal.  God has provided through so many of my friends and family and I wouldn't still be here if it weren't for them.

It struck me the other day how daunting of a request it is to ask for monthly support.  Things are often so uncertain and the prospect of indefinite support can seem overwhelming.  That being said, I'd like to challenge any of you reading this to the ONE YEAR CHALLENGE.  For the next 12 months, I would like you to pray for my ministry and commit to giving $50 or $100 a month.  The purpose of my responsibility to support raise does not come strictly from the financial need of the organization but from the opportunity extended for others to contribute to the orphans being clothed, the widows being fed, the prostitutes being liberated and so many lost around the world discovering the hope that only Christ can provide.

To those of you that have already committed monthly, I can't thank you enough and hope you know how you have contributed to lives being changed. 

Some of you may be reading this post thinking I'm referring to the devastating cyclones in Myanmar where over 100,000 people are declared dead.  Or maybe you're thinking of the earthquakes near Chengdu, China that have been devastating to the people there (including some of my friends).

While these things truly depict better than I could ever explain true desperation, I'm talking about the status of my heart and what God's doing in me right now.

There's a worship song I've led a thousand times that refrains "I'm desperate for you and I'm lost without you."  It's been a constant reminder of the posture my heart should have before God.  Our American culture relishes its self-reliance and comfort.  We have insurance policies, plan "B"s, family that can bail us out when we're in trouble.  Truthfully, we've more likely than not never truly experienced any semblance of desperation.

Why is desperation a good thing?  The easy answer as I've seen it in my life is because it keeps me dependant upon the Lord.  Trusting God is a good thing - nay the best thing I could possibly spend my life/time doing.  There are times in my life that I've truly reached the breaking point, the bottom of the barrell.  The point where I've been so done, so finished, so wrecked that God is the only possible option. 

In almost every case, I've been on the mission field.

I remember my first truly desperate moment being on the mission field in inner-city Brooklyn, New York.  I remember the crash and burn, the complete exhaustion, the spiritual attack and loneliness I felt.  And I remember how God took the next year to rebuild.

I remember pursuing the next experience after that not for the adventure but for the purpose of continually keeping myself in a position where I have to trust God.

A couple years after that my mantra in prayer as become "God, regardless of what I'm doing, keep me in a place where I have to trust you."  I designed silicon bracelets that have one word: "trust".  I wear it all the time.

But what comes after desperation?  Do we live in a state of desperation?  I don't.

If God moves us truly to a place of desperation, a place where we truly experience relying upon Him for everything, we experience true faith and true peace for the very first time.

I'm finding myself not living in the anxiety of desperation, but in the faith and peace that God is able to be trusted with my life.  It's a place I choose to remain - especially when the "ease" of American life is so accessible.  It's what I choose instead of returning to my habits of luxury and self-reliance.  I choose to remain there because trusting God is a good thing - the best thing.  It's the right place to be. 

As I reflected on a year long journey being brought to a close, I thought back to April 4—13 where 34 new World Racers convened in Gainesville, Georgia for our Ignition Training Camp.  These 34 individuals will depart in July of 2008 for a brand new World Race experience.  Their excitement is contagious as they look ahead to a journey through Central America, Southeast Asia, Southern Africa and Eastern Europe.  To think of all the orphans that will be held, the widows that will be prayed over, the prostitutes being set free and the lost coming to Christ brings tears to my eyes.

This ministry is changing a generation and impacting the world in an unprecedented way. 

In July 2008 I'll travel to Mexico to help launch a new team.  August 2008 I'll help train yet another new set of World Racers.  In October 2008, January 2009 and beyond new teams will venture forth in an amazing journey.  Thanks to your support and prayer, I am able to be a part of this ministry.  It's an amazing opportunity and I believe God has gifted me and placed me here for such a time as this.

I've now been at Adventures In Missions for four months and have watched God miraculously provide for all my needs and then some.  I am currently living with a family here in Gainesville and love it.  Jerry and Heather Goode and their two daughters, Anna and Sophie have been an answer to prayer.  They have welcomed me in as one of the family and I'm now the resident ‘big brother.' 

I have met my support needs through many one time gifts and two monthly supporters.  My ministry is rooted in the prayer and financial support of others so if you would like to join me in this ministry, you can send in a monthly or one-time gift to:

Adventures In Missions

Jimmy McCarty

6000 Wellspring Trail

Gainesville, GA 30506

OR

Click Support Me on my blog

From Seth Barnes:

I want to personally tell you about something new that we are doing at AIM. I've been asking God, "How do we help young people live in community and find mentoring?" Something profound happens when a Jesus-follower gives his life to ministry for a year in the context of communal living. I've seen that element with great coaching to be a powerful combination.

 That's why I'm starting this new program called Community Life. I came up with the concept over a month ago and want to throw it out there to those interested in pioneering the first season. Maybe you or someone you know will want to join us in September or January.

If you're interested in Community Life send us an email and we'll answer any questions you have.

You only have a week to meet our Early Application Deadline of April 30!

We're taking our best coaches and disciplers and matching them up for a year with our most passionate young people (up to age 31).

As a missions organization, AIM is committed to equipping and launching emergent leaders into a whole new way of doing life. We want to restore the value of interdependence in America that was prevalent in the Early Church.

By living in authentic community, disciples of Jesus learn how to "be the church" in a way that impacts their surrounding society for Christ.

It's a year of training and apprenticeship alongside peers who will encourage and challenge you.