Posted on May 26, 2008 - by Frank

World Race – A Life Changing Experience

Twenty-somethings Embark on Journey of Self-Discovery and Service

Hundreds of twenty-somethings, compelled by issues of social justice and simple living, are leaving the comfort of their homes and possessions for a year to travel the world and serve others. They’re calling it a modern-day pilgrimage – an opportunity to find themselves and live amongst the poor.

The group is called the World Race and was first conceived by Seth Barnes of Gainesville, GA in 2006. He designed a trip that would remove young people from their comfortable lifestyles for a year – to see the developing world and be transformed by what they saw. “This is a commitment to a transformational discovery process,” Barnes says. “The World Race taps an ancient human compulsion to take a spiritual pilgrimage.” Participants travel through more than 10 countries in less than 12 months. They volunteer their time and talent in the communities they visit: caring for orphans in southern Africa, rescuing prostitutes from the slave trade in Thailand, visiting refugee camps in Cambodia, and much more.

The nearly year-long trip contains a competitive edge: Teams race from location to location and are rewarded for the races they win. But the majority of time spent in each place is focused on serving the local people and building relationships with them. This is the third year of the World Race, and Barnes, founder of Adventures in Missions, predicts: “Thousands and thousands of young people are going to eventually embark on this pilgrimage around the world, because it provides a context in which they can discover themselves… and how they fit in the world.”

With nothing but a backpack, these young pilgrims live simply. They travel from country to country and learn how to immerse themselves into the local culture. They post weblogs and internet videos of their new experiences so friends and family back home can hear the stories. As they discover the world’s deepest needs and how to meet them, many find their identity and calling in life. “Most young people have more questions than answers… and what better place to find answers than on this pilgrimage around the world,” Barnes says. Each World Race group relies on the hospitality and generosity of strangers – whether this means living in a tent in a farmer’s field, staying in an urban shanty, or enjoying the rare comfort of a warm bed.

Through their experiences, World Racers learn to depend on each other. They also learn to care more and live with less. It’s a journey of self-discovery and worldview – a chance to explore life in a whole new way.

To learn more about this Christian organisation, visit www.theworldrace.org

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