Ever since I arrived at World Race Training Camp, I wanted to squad lead. The thought of intentionally caring for a group of people hungry to serve the Lord and explore their role in the great commission brought me an excitement like I’d never felt. When the Lord placed college on my heart after the race, I thought that dream was only for a season, a door that had been closed. But over the course of my time at school, I felt my heart continually stirred for discipleship and the gift of the ministry of the race. My heart was burdened for Gen-z, that we would be a generation marked by zeal and devotion for the Lord in all things.
I still remember the day that teams were announced for my race. Each leader sent out a video with their version of a team announcement, featuring everything from whiteboard diagrams to porta potties and broken megaphones. My leader Emmery did the reveal via a song featuring all our names. Team reveals were our first glimpse at a group of people who would continually pour themselves out to serve our squad and lead us to encounter Jesus. Our leaders covered us in prayer, led by example and were quick to repentance when they fell short of perfection. Each leader on W squad intentionally spoke life into me, spent time with me and answered questions whenever they arose. No matter the circumstance, I knew that there was always someone I could come to for prayer and intentional conversation.
The most impactful thing my leader Emmery did was let me see her life. I’ve always struggled with impossible perfectionism, desiring to be in a place where mistakes are never made and everything is always done with excellence. Emmery taught me that living life with Christ does not look like perfection. It looks like seeking the Lord in all things, knowing that even in my brokenness, his glory is displayed. Emmery was a phenomenal leader and cared for our team in supernatural ways, but she was not perfect. But that’s not what she was striving for or what the Lord wants for us. It’s seeking the face of God in all circumstances, knowing that good or bad, he is the prize of our life. That’s what this is all for, not for the glory of missions or the serotonin from helping people. It’s knowing Jesus! That’s what it’s all for! There is not a “greater work”, knowing God and giving him the glory is the greater work. It’s what we were made for!
With all this in mind and through a season of prayer, I felt led to apply to lead for the summer, an opportunity that hadn’t crossed my mind. But the more I prayed, the more strongly I felt that this was something the Lord was calling me into. I decided to step out in obedience and pursue the opportunity, and felt his presence throughout the process. I am so elated to share that this summer I will be leading a World Race Semesters trip to Indonesia and Thailand! This trip will be two months long, featuring participants ages 18-30. My role will be to lead a team within a larger squad, intentionally discipling them to encounter Jesus and helping them to find their role in the great commission.
As I step into this new season of leading, I am excited in anticipation for what the Lord will do. I know he will bring freedom, joy and life to all involved, because that’s who he is and what he does! I know that I will have great moments of obedience and strength, but I know that I will have moments where I fall short. But I am confident that the God I serve is glorified in both! God is not only the author of my strengths, but of my weaknesses!
My prayer for the summer is that our squad would seek Jesus in all things. Before we seek to serve God, I pray that we would behold him and worship him for all he is. That we would be so lovesick over God that we cannot help but love each other and serve the people and places around us. That we would seek to consecrate ourselves as an act of worship unto the Lord, that even our minds are pure as an act of worship to the Lord!
My relationship with God is raw. I love him wholeheartedly, without reservation or structure. He is continually breaking things off of me and bringing freedom in every aspect of my life. I will not be a perfect leader by any means. But my prayer is that as I continue to love the Lord and to know him, he would show me his heart for this squad, and that I would be able to love them through his eyes. In the months I’ve spent praying for this group, my heart is overflowing with all the beautiful things the Lord is speaking over them. I cannot wait to see all that the Lord does.
I will be using this platform to share stories of what the Lord is doing in the life of my team and in my heart, as well as Facebook! I would love to hear from you and keep you updated on this journey!
I would love to partner with you both in prayer and through finances! If you feel led to financially support what God is calling me into this summer, I am raising support in two ways:
1. World Race Costs for the Trip: Flights, food, lodging, all the things! You can give using the link below!
https://adventuresinmissions.servicereef.com/events/adventures-in-missions-3/june-2025-world-race-2-month-indonesiathailand-25r06ind-leader/participants/kfinley_04
2. Personal Costs: Gear & Supplies, Rent for the apartment I’m leaving behind, and other life costs that still exist while I’m not working! You can support me in this way via venmo: kaileyl_04 (that’s an L as in love)
Ways to Pray:
- Pray for unity of mind & spirit in our squad, that we would be unified by our zeal for the Lord!
- Pray for prepared hearts for both racers and the people we would encounter!
- Pray for no expectations for the racers, that they may step fully into all that God has them without any limits they try to place on him!
- Pray for financial provision and last minute details for participants
- Pray that God would use this trip in whatever ways he desires to, that he would have his way!
I’m so excited for this seasons dn cannot wait to see all the Lord does! Blessings!
<3 Kailey
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