Adventures Founder and CEO, Seth Barnes, wants to tell the story of how God is at work in the nations through a reality tv show of a World Race squad, following them as they live their faith in 11 countries in 11 months.

Seth Barnes had a dream, one of many out of the box, too-big-for-man-to-accomplish-alone type dreams. A kingdom dream with the hand of God all over it:

A reality television show following a World Race Squad.

Why television? Barnes says, “Young people get their information visually. They want to see stories. If we want them to follow Jesus around the world, we need to show them what that looks like.”

Typically the mainstream media doesn’t show you a favorable picture of Christians. They are either portrayed as weak, hypocritical, or innocuous, depending on editing. 

The World Race is about young people living out their faith in a raw, authentic way. A show about the race would show Christians being real about their mess.

The last frontier in terms of the Gospel used to be those separated by distance and understanding: tribes hidden in the remote jungle and people groups separated from the rest of the world because of governmental, cultural, or religious control.

Now it’s as close at the remote control.

Turn on the television and the screen is full of every story we can imagine: sports, drama, movies, reality tv, and documentaries.

Not to mention its power as a medium – the ability to stream content anywhere in the world, at any given time, and the ready access of billions worldwide to its message.

Even those in the jungle. Some of those villages have television now.

So if there is something powerful enough to reach both my neighbor’s couch and the ends of the earth at the same time while still being a mission field itself … why can’t it be used to share the Gospel?

Of course, we have those shows too – ranging in everything from blue wigs and prosperity gospel to often poorly made cinema.

Enter the World Race Project.

Barnes first dreamed of the World Race Project eight years ago. In 2008, he took the first steps into walking out this dream. But it wasn’t the right time and it had to be put on hold.

So he waited. He believed. He continued to dream.

Then two sisters went on the Race. Their parents, Tim and Maureen Gray of Gray Media, began to talk with Seth. A new partnership was born, with just the right people at the right time.

“It’s been such an encouragement and thrill to work alongside Tim, Maureen, and their team. They are brilliant and they know what they are doing; they have experience and success in their field. I can work in my giftings and they can work in theirs. A lot in life is waiting for the right partners to show up, whether it’s for marriage, work, or even ministry.”

The show began filming in July and follows the 50 racers on the K Squad. It follows them as they travel to 11 countries in 11 months.

They left equipped with cameras, specifically trained to capture and tell the stories of what God is doing within themselves, their squad, and the nations they are living in.

The squad is now in Southeast Asia, entering their 7th month on the field. Stories have risen to the surface, been captured, and sent to network executives to review. Still, there’s more to live, more to learn, more to see how and where God is moving. But the possibilities are exciting.

The overall message – that Jesus is alive, well, and walking on planet earth today, will challenge viewers to walk alongside Christ and personally see if he doesn’t turn life upside down.

And that is why Barnes continues to dream.

“You’re owed a view of the kingdom that is different than the view you got from your own hometown. You’re owed a chance to see if the stuff he preached about is real,” he says.

“This project has the potential of activating a generation for the kingdom of God in a way that captures their imagination like nothing else has.”

If Barnes is right, the show will be coming to a TV in your home sometime soon. Look for it.

*All Photos by Steve Rokks.

Click here to get insider updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses into The World Race Project or click here to find out more abut supporting the film’s Indigogo campaign.