Another August has come and passed, and that means another Timothy Team has begun. Each year as we “recruit” teamers, so often potential teamers (and their parents) are looking for assurances. As best I can tell, their questions are similar and have not really changed over the years:

               What am I going to get out of this program?

               Will this put me ahead or behind in life?

               What is the success rate of this program?

               What if I don’t get along with any of my teammates?

               What about my career?

But the life of following Jesus is a Christ-Centered Adventure. And all adventures have highs and lows. All adventures have joys and sorrows. All adventures have mundane days and extraordinary days. All adventures have the unknown and unforeseen.

The Tim Team is an invitation to life’s adventure focused on following Jesus with a community of peers here at T Bar M. It’s not about what I can get out of this experience. Instead, it’s about what the Good Shepherd has for me in this experience. It’s not just about one calendar year either. It is an invitation to a lifestyle with Jesus as our guide.

As each Tim Team begins, there is an invitation given to the team. The invitation to join the adventure and walk closely with Christ as He leads us through these next 9 months at T Bar M. It is an invitation because no one can force anyone else to walk with Jesus.

Even now as I lead the Timothy Team, I am invited to live the Christ-Centered Adventure. I am not living in the mission house, and I am not in my early 20’s, but my year is filled with uncertainty, challenges, joys, sorrows, and mundane and extraordinary days. I get the opportunity to practice what we want this Tim Team to do, live the Christ-Centered Adventure before them.

That same invitation is given to each former Tim Teamer. Your circumstances have changed since you were on Tim Team. Your age has changed since you were on Tim Team. If you are like me, your metabolism has changed since you were on Tim Team. But the Christ-Centered Adventure is still before us all. Will we receive the invitation and join the adventure?

Seth McCord, Senior Director of Discipleship Programs