My last two weeks were spent in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the campus of Fuller Colorado, an extension of Fuller Theological Seminary.  The time was spent participating in two courses as a part of my Master’s of Arts in Global Leadership.  The MAGL gathers students from Churches and Mission Agencies across denominations and around the world.  The degree plan focuses on leadership, adult education and organizational dynamics.  Because the degree is aimed at practitioners in the field it is made up of a unique combination of online classes and week long intensives.

Our first week was a class called “Character, Community and Leadership.”  The majority of the time was spent hearing the stories of our fellow cohort members.  Stories about growing up in Liberia, or Korea or France.  Stories about faithful parents that raised kids to be missionaries.  Stories about drug dealers that met Jesus.  Stories about moving across the world because of a sense of calling.  In light of our own journeys we discussed what makes or breaks a leader, and how to help people grow to look more like Jesus.

The second week was spent relearning how to read the Bible in a class titled “Biblical Foundations of Mission.”  We looked at the over arching story of how God interact with his creation.  We saw that he loves the nations of the world and the world itself.  We followed how Abraham and his children displayed God’s kingdom to their neighbors.  We studied Jesus fulfilled the role of Abraham’s children to be a blessing to all nations.  We delved into Paul’s message of how all people are reconciled to each other through Jesus.  We glimpsed God’s grand plan to renew all things in a fresh, grand garden.

As good as the classes were, any of us would tell you that the academics had very little to do with what they got out of our time together.  Our cohort is made up of people who believe that there is more to life than the American (or Korean, Liberian, Libyan or Canadian) dream.  It is made of people who live as aliens and strangers in this world.  We’re committed to the belief our neighbors, friends and communities would be better off if they knew about Jesus.  In many ways, it is made up of lonely people, who have followed a calling that has taken them far from home.

Perhaps the biggest take away was the sense of relief when you realize “I’m not crazy!”  There are people who are also passionately living out their faith in a way that leads them to the ends of the earth.  Now, we know who those people are, and we can pray for them by name.