Some reading this may know me really well, some may only know my name. I want to share a piece of my story, about why I made the choice to begin my journey with the World Race.
As a little kid I remember going to church every Sunday and some Wednesdays when we could make it. Around the time I was in the third grade we were about to move to Michie, Tennessee from Eastview, TN. At the same time we were moving our church was about to undergo a name change and we were moving further away. So we decided to stop going to church there. Once we were moved in and settled we began to look for a new home church, hopping from one church to another not finding our place in any of them until eventually fizzling out and we completely quit searching. We still believed in God and tried to do what the Bible said. Fast forward almost nine years and here I am sitting in high school as a senior. I started dating this girl who went to church at the church we used to go to. So she invited me, and of course I went there for her. But I found something there much more breathtaking than a girl. I found the creator of all things and all of His goodness and love. Some months went by and as I was sitting in the front row on a Sunday morning before the Christmas play my good friend sat beside me and he said, “there is more.” I knew exactly what he meant by that. We just looked at each other acknowledging the truth in that. Within a few weeks we felt lead to go to another church as the youth pastor at our church was leaving. So as I walked in that place I knew that is where home was. The rest is history. I became a youth leader getting the opportunity to serve and lead kids to the Lord. Meeting the best spiritual father/youth pastor/mentor I could have ever met. He has discipled me in such an incredible way and helped me through tough times and vice versa. Our journey together has definitely been ordained by the Lord. The zeal and violent abandonment he has for the Lord has encouraged me and taught me so many things.
Being a leader I got to attend all these events such as youth camps and conventions. I remember in 2017 or 2018 specifically at a youth convention, as we were singing a song by Lindy Cofer I paused in the middle of everyone worshipping around me in there own way, and breathed and the Lord just overwhelmed me. I knew yet again “there is more”. At an event called Unveiled we hold at our church I had a pastor prophesy over me telling me that he sees me supporting missionaries financially. Other people in my life have always seen my call to missions as much as I have, some saying they see me building churches and creating a business.
I got this incredible job, the best paying one I could get within a large radius. I supported missions and the church with the money and even wasted some of it on things I didn’t even need. After knowing for months now I’ve known this isn’t it, and knew something else was coming. Since I haven’t ever gone on a missions trip I decided to start searching for one to join after looking at a few I saw the World Race. As I scrolled through the site watching videos and reading stories my heart was compelled and moved towards this. So I applied, got accepted, sold my car, my boat, and I am now ready to give up this job to do the Father’s will. Now here I am writing my first blog of many starting the journey of fundraising and preparing my heart for what the Lord has planned.
Thank you for all you do as supporters, friends, family, and last but not least, prayer warriors.
That is an amazing story. God has big plans for you Zach. You are a very special young man. You have inspired my son to look at missions and he has already sent me one for a two period here in the states being he is only 15. I know you will inspire many more and I can’t wait to see where this journey is going to take you.
Amazing Zack, I will definitely be watching and praying for you.
Zach, although we don’t know each other on a super deep level- I know we share the unity of the Holy Spirit, the love of Christ, and a connection through discipleship (as I was able to invest into the man who discipled you, and share a deep relationship with him to this day, as well)….therefore, I do want to share my heart on just a few things:
1- I am very proud of you for going against the grain of the culture we live in, just to make your desires for God made known in a public way. Your generation is starving for leaders who have counted the cost of following Jesus, and are willing to submit to serving— in whatever way His Spirit compels them to.
2- I appreciate your willingness to fulfill the Great Commission, by taking the gospel into other areas of the world.
3- I believe (even though I confess I haven’t looked into this “ministry” enough to know), and hope— that you all are focused on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting- as these are not only the basic tenants of our faith, but they are in line with how the Spirit works.
4- I will look to support you any way I can, including: continuing to pray for your preparation, and follow through, on this door you are walking through.
I would love to hear from you more about this organization, and hope that you know you could contact me at any time— if you ever wanted?
I pray that you continue to stay focused on the call and lifestyle outlined in His Word, and that you continue to step in real faith— as the Holy Spirit leads. May the Lord bless you, teach you, grow you, and keep you!
Zach, this truly has been an amazing journey for you. Your life has not been easy and it is a great testament to you that you have stood strong while facing the challenges you have been through. Life is never easy but if we always rely on the Lord and let Him lift us when we can’t carry ourselves we will always make it through. I have seen your faith in so many things. I saw it the day you knelt in that barn praying that God would help that baby calf to suckle the bottle so he could live and I saw the day you stood by your mother and brother at your Daddy’s funeral. You are going to do so many incredible things on this mission and throughput the rest of your life as you continue to dedicate your life to serving our God as his disciple. I’m so very proud of you.