UPDATE 3/23/2020- As of now, my goal is to continue to push forward. This is a very interesting time to be preparing to travel internationally, but I am continuing to pray that the LORD will keep a path open for this trip. We will likely know around the end of April how the trajectory of this pandemic looks. There are still many “unknowns”; and let the LORD’s will be done here while we hold fast to faith.
*** UPDATE 3/25/2020- The World Race is Launching in October (along with Training Camp) due to the impact of the coronavirus. This also means that the route and countries that we will be serving in will likely be changed significantly as things progress. I will find out more in the coming weeks. Please continue to pray that God will enable us to be sent out to the nations to proclaim the Gospel in the midst and aftermath of this pandemic. May the plans of the enemy not prosper and may the plans of the LORD come to pass during this time of uncertainty. ***
UPDATE 3/26/2020- The United States now currently has the most coronavirus cases of any country. Please pray for our nation (and for healing / effective treatments) today and that more Americans will seek the LORD during this time. There are a lot of different prayer chains, prayer vigils, and online meetings taking place. Please consider joining one if there are any that are operating in your area!
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In light of recent events, I revised my blog post, and I hope you all are doing well! During this time, I look forward to keeping in touch with all of you. The mission trip is still set to launch later in the year, which is a blessing… Please see if you could take the time to:
1. PRAY- Please pray for our team as we prepare for this trip; even as it seems to be getting more difficult to travel internationally by the week. Please pray for the LORD to intervene supernaturally with this disease; and that missionaries can be sent to the nations and proclaim the name of Jesus. Also pray for those who are sick and our healthcare workers…
2. REACH OUT- It is super encouraging to the team and I to hear from you; especially during this time of social distancing. Even though church services have been moved online for now, I would love to still speak about the trip online and what we plan to do in Asia in the coming months. I also look forward to keeping in touch and in contact in the meantime.
3. GIVE- I am still raising money at this time. If you or anyone else that you know would like to donate towards the trip, please feel free to contribute via the link on my blog (bretthaas.theworldrace.org). I have raised over $8,000 so far and have a little over $10,000 left to complete fundraising (goal is to be fully funded by September 30, 2020).
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BLOG POST: March 1st, 2020, was a beautiful sunny day in Alabama. Our group woke up early in the morning and traveled to Selma- where the Civil Rights Movement march from Selma to Montgomery took place. Composed of Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) students, we took a trip to Alabama over the end of February to tour various Civil Rights sights and see how African-American citizens secured their freedom to vote and express themselves through non-violent protests. Yet March 1st was a huge day. The trip was leading up to this- the 55th anniversary commemoration of Bloody Sunday and the Edmund Pettus Bridge crossing Jubilee march. After we mobilized from our hotel, we gathered together and joined a large group of marchers at Brown Chapel AME Church- which served as a rallying point for the Civil Rights movement over 50 years earlier. Leading politicians such as Mike Bloomberg, Joe Biden, and Stacy Abrams spoke inside the church as we outside prepared to march. Late in the afternoon, we got the go-ahead and began to walk with our signs through Selma. There were many different signs- some highlighting issues such as voting rights and equal justice. Others flew flags that reminded people that true salvation lies in Christ Jesus. It was a very huge crowd; likely over 10,000 marchers plus thousands of spectators and logistics staff. Some of those in the crowd were “foot soldiers”- who took part in the original Civil Rights marches 55 years ago. We all huddled together as we crossed over the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge. On top of the bridge, we caught a glimpse of that small Alabama town, Selma, and how it ultimately shaped American history…
There are many times that we are called to be courageous. To face the unknown, seek the LORD, and make a difference for the country and ultimately the world. Let’s go back to March 7th, 1965. On that day, a few hundred protesters assembled in Selma to march over the bridge towards Montgomery for freedom and equality. What greeted them on the other side of the Edmund Pettus Bridge? Perhaps some of the marchers asked this same question as they slowly climbed the bridge that led out of Selma. Yet the question was soon answered as they saw rows of state troopers lined up on the other side of the bridge blocking their way. Ultimately, one of the most iconic events of the Civil Rights movement was seeing the protesters in 1965 confronted by the police and being chased back over the bridge and into Selma. This made national news and sparked President Johnson and other lawmakers to pass landmark legislation such as the Voting Rights Act. Later in March (after a series of court orders), a successful march from Selma to Montgomery was able to take place with the president’s backing. Throughout American history, its generations confront challenges to this nation as we rise up and face them. The marchers in 1965 confronted segregation and racism on the other side of the Edmund Pettus Bridge as the world watched. But as we fast forward to 2020, what did we (the thousands who participated in the Jubilee 55 years later) face on the other side of that same bridge? That question would be answered over the next three weeks as the world stood still and entire countries in multiple continents ground to a halt.
It is astounding to comprehend just how much life in general has changed since the march. In the two weeks since we returned from Alabama, things felt different on campus and in the community. As the coronavirus jumped outside of China and spread into Europe and the United States, fear and anxiety became more commonplace as this new threat emerged. Just before Spring Break, it was announced that NCAA, NBA, MLB, and other organizations were shutting down athletics. Everything in the short term was being cancelled left and right. Ultimately, my college campus dismissed students for spring break expecting that we would likely not return to the campus over the spring semester. We hastily gathered our belongings, jammed as many items inside our cars as we could, and dispersed. Many students were heartbroken in seeing this semester end so quickly- so abruptly. Twelve days after the Selma march, America began to shut down in order to slow the spread of this merciless disease. Massive amounts of human population around the world are being locked down or asked to stay home due to the virus; with more countries or areas recording an exponential growth of infections and/or being added to the growing list of outbreaks each week.
At this time, I am reminded that God is in control. However, I also know that God’s plan often does take time. We as a society want immediate answers. We want answers as to when exactly this virus will disappear. We want answers as to when we (and the economy as well) can begin to recover. We seek immediate answers and find security in having our questions answered NOW. This is not a pattern that started because of COVID-19; but rather something that has been going on for thousands of years. We want immediate answers when God tells us to wait. In reality, many of God’s plans do take time. After four hundred years of living with the Egyptians and getting more oppressed through time, the Israelites were led out of Egypt into the Promised Land (and Moses was over 70 years old at that point). In the book of Joshua, God did not give Jericho to Israel right away. The Israelites marched around the city six times and nothing happened. On the seventh day, the city was destroyed. In Genesis, 25 years elapsed between Abraham being called out and Sarah giving birth to his son- Isaac. In the New Testament, the disciples were instructed to wait before they were sent out from Jerusalem to proclaim the Gospel. And finally- it took hundreds of years for Christ to come after prophecies from the Old Testament foretold his coming to redeem the world.
So what do we do in this time of waiting? This is a time when our faith must become real. We need to remain faithful and seek the LORD during this time. Yes, it is so beautiful when God’s plans are made known; we oftentimes look at what has elapsed from the rearview mirror and say how wonderful a God He is! It is not difficult to express gratitude after knowing what has taken place and being thankful for good things that did take place. When things are wrapped up nicely and we have the full picture with the information that we want, we feel happy and secure. When things have not been resolved and we do not know what is ahead or why such a thing is occurring, it is very easy to lose faith and feel insecure. I am still comprehending the resurrection of Jesus- the day that He came out of that grave for all the world to see! I can picture the disciples reuniting with Jesus in joy and then receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost weeks later- emboldened to be sent out. Those are times of victory. But proceeding the victory was a time of great struggle- the days when Jesus was tried, executed, and when the disciples dispersed. When Jesus was crucified, His disciples were in shock as He was buried in a tomb over 2000 years ago. The two days between Christ’s death and resurrection must have been very challenging days for those closest to Jesus and His disciples to grapple with. On the surface, quite frankly, everything seemed hopeless. But God knew that something miraculous was about to take place.
Today, there are massive amounts of uncertainty. Entire nations, economies, lives, livelihoods, planned missionary / ministry work, and goals have been upended everywhere because of one microscopic disease. But deep down, I am hopeful that God’s plan is not over yet. I do not think that this is the end. Yes, there is a ton of negative news, fear, and despair right now as the coronavirus infects and multiplies across more countries. But just like on Cavalry, God is working below the surface today. The ramifications of this pandemic from a spiritual perspective will be immense for years to come. What if millions of people across the world accept Jesus and look towards Him through this crisis? According to the No Place Left groups that I’m affiliated with, it seems like this process of hearts being opened is taking place across many people. Perhaps because of this, future World Race teams (including mine) can create a lot of impact in reaching unreached people groups that otherwise may not have been as possible beforehand. What if entire nations cry out to the LORD as they are shaken to their core during this time? There are reports in Italy (and Brazil as well) coming out of the Gospel being shared in meaningful fashion across apartment balconies throughout the quarantine. Christians are innovating to get the message out during these strange times. One of my favorite signs from the Selma march reads: “Prayer Still Works”. It is crucial that we pray and lift these things up to the Lord as this crisis unfolds. Please lift up the healthcare workers, those who are sick, and the researchers who are on the front lines fighting this disease. I pray because I know without a shadow of a doubt that we are not at the end of this unprecedented event. In fact, we are in the thick of it. God already is and is going to accomplish mighty things in the midst of tragedy and across this world as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
With regards to the Race, the LORD has been accomplishing terrific things during the process of committing to the Race, and I need to remain faithful during these hard times. This is where faith is really getting put to the test; when the future looks very uncertain and can change in a matter of weeks. Yet I do not regret choosing to serve Him among the nations, and the friendships that have been born so far on this journey have been terrific. Thank you very much for reading this blog post, and I look forward to keeping in touch!
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An excerpt from a prayer by King Solomon: 1 KINGS 8:37 – 40: “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come and when a prayer or plea is made by anyone among your people Israel- being aware of the affiliations of their own hearts, and spreading out their hands toward this temple- then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (for you alone know every human heart), so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our ancestors”.
