Seth Barnes
Founder
Adventures in Missions
The World Race
In 2021, our World Race participants served alongside our long-term strategic partners in 18 different countries this year, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Turkey, Romania, Albania, Georgia, Greece, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, South Africa, Jordan, Kosovo, Ecuador, and Lesotho.
These World Racers are finishing their year-long journey with a deep desire and passion to reach people for the Kingdom of God wherever they go next. Many of them are continuing their journeys with us by leading new World Race squads and Semesters teams, or joining us at Center for Global Action (our discipleship training program).
World Race: Gap Year
In January 2021, Gap Year launched more than 100 Racers to the nations after 3 months of training at our headquarters in Gainesville, GA. In September, we welcomed another 100 Racers for a month of training followed by a two-week domestic outreach at Samaritan’s Purse. These Racers started their international outreach at the beginning of November. We have seen great fruit with our extended training model! Through teaching, team building, debriefing, and discipleship, Gap Racers are more equipped to serve than ever before.
212 total participants on the field
80+ homes served with disaster relief w/Samaritan’s purse
20+ homeowners gave their lives to Christ
Semesters by World Race
Semesters had an incredible year and saw some amazing fruit from their ministry. Our participants have been more eager than ever, and there has been a resolve unlike we have seen before.
In Costa Rica, one squad partnered with a brand new host and were able to start a youth ministry that is still going strong today! On our 6-month Semesters team, we had the highest return rate we’ve ever had with 50% of the squad coming back to lead trips and participate in CGA. Countless others are joining other campus ministries and working to partner with organizations in the 10/40 window.
Beauty for Ashes
We are seeing women’s lives transformed as they acknowledge their need for Christ in their lives and choose God! Their hopelessness is being dismantled by God’s transforming love. Our friend in India is one of many women whose lives have been transformed by Christ at a Beauty for Ashes retreat.
“I was born in a Hindu family and used to worship idols and pray to goddesses. I felt sick and had no hope. Then one day a Christian pastor visited my home and told me about Jesus and prayed for me. Before she left, she invited me to a Beauty for Ashes retreat. The invitation filled me with joy! I attended the retreat where the ladies shared the story of Jesus talking to the woman at the well. As I was listening to the story, I heard the Lord speak to me that He knew me just as he knew the woman at the well. The woman at the well left all of her sin behind and ran into town to share the gospel. I now felt the same way! I decided to leave my sin and dedicate my life to Jesus. I am so thankful and glorify God everyday, for He has changed my life.”
400+ women’s retreat attendees around the world
37 new Beauty for Ashes facilitators
57 women’s mission trip participants
Family Strengthening at Adventures in Missions Eswatini
Adventures in Missions Eswatini base is expanding beyond our CarePoints and individual survival care. To address the long-term whole life sustainability of the children we serve, we are working to strengthen each family involved.
Our Umdoni Campus allows us to impact communities through holistic family strengthening programs. At Umdoni, families, caregivers, and community members will find a safe, enriching learning environment to create pathways for their futures through personal growth and practical training opportunities.
80 full-time Swazi staff
200 women volunteering to cook at CarePoints
40 Swazi nationals in leadership apprenticeship program
Child Sponsorship at Eswatini CarePoints
Children are the future leaders of their country. They are best situated for success in stable families and thriving communities. The child sponsorship program in Eswatini is not only transforming the lives of children, but strengthening families and communities as opportunities for personal growth and practical skills are available to them.
Child sponsorship in Eswatini has already touched the lives of so many children. It not only provides for the child’s basic needs, it opens up a world of possibilities for them and helps them to find hope for the future. Through the discipleship program at the CarePoints, hundreds of children have come to know and follow Christ and connected to their local church to continue growing. We are thrilled to share that a number of the children who grew up in our Care Points are now young adults serving as ‘Shepherds’ at our Care Points, caring for both their young families and the children of their communities.
Sponsorship is not an end product, but a first step toward self-sustainability.
1396 child sponsorships in Eswatini
95 new sponsors in 2021
Hineni Immersion in Missions at Adventures Guatemala
There is a movement of Christians in Guatemala with a strong passion to no longer be just a receiving nation, but a sending nation.
Adventures Guatemala established Hineni Immersion in Missions, an 18-month mission training program that allows participants to learn about missions and grow in their personal relationship with the Lord. They also have the opportunity to put into practice everything they are learning as they are learning.
In 2021, Hineni started with five students in the pioneer class. God is moving among these new missionaries-in-training and we see it as a great start, laying the foundation for a bright future.
Continuing ministry in South Asia
Our missionaries in South Asia continued to work remotely in 2021, partnering with our local indigenous staff to plant churches. Our National Missionaries pioneered new ways to evangelize, conduct prayer ministry, and hold church services amidst the chaos of the pandemic. We trained new missionaries, bringing the total to 387. We continued to distribute relief packages within three different villages and dedicated 45 new church buildings.
