With a heart of gratitude, I can say that I loved my World Race experience. The first three months were full of external challenges and growth in leadership. The last three months were full of internal challenges and new identity. I will proceed in unpacking both of these aspects in the following portion of this blog.
The first three months I had the opportunity to co-lead with the Michael McCranie, as we surrendered to the Holy Spirit and lead the Jesus Scented Candles, our team! This was the first of many external challenges. New levels of communication and devotion, were two ways that I grew in this season. I was able to tap into my self awareness and learned how to communicate what I needed in order proceed in what was happing around me! Another external challenge of this time was having a team to invest into yet, wanting to do ministry and be there co-racers more then their leader. (Racer: a term referring to anyone who is doing or who has done the World Race) Through this external challenge, the Lord taught me that I was called to both ministry and discipleship; in teaching me this he taught me how to lean into him with the challenge of balancing both. Lastly the Father taught me how to lead in true vulnerability. Some might see that and disagree but for true growth to occur one must be messy and allow God to pull them through. Therefore as I walked in my mess the candles were able to see, through vulnerability, God pulling me out. Which, in turn, gave them the space to do the same.
The last three months I was not a leader but rather a regular racer. The Lord had to address my identity first. He did so by walking me through my control issues. The distinct memory that comes to mind is when loosing a pen ended in my crying on top of a children’s play ground. Why? Because I was Steadman,and Steadman is organized, and doesn’t loose things. God getting rid of pens and alarms, taught me dependability on him for everything which, when looked into deeper, is an identity issue. Second, God had to teach me what it looked like to walk in my identity as a Man of God. Being a man who’s sin nature is same sex attracted, just like any homosexual, so much of my identity was in that sexuality as apposed to God. The father had to correct how I interacted with all genders to reinforce who I truly am, his. Lastly in the last three months of my race the Lord taught me obedience. This lesson came in a change of plans. While on the field, the father called me into a season of discipleship followed by a season of mission work in Italy. Of course I was excited but, I was on track to go professional in ballet following this Race. But… by this time I had learned the true way to live was simply for God and if he is calling me into something else, then all that’s left to do is follow. In light of that, in the fall I will be attending a discipleship school, learning that every second on earth is for the Glorification of God. Proceeding this I will be working with YWAM (youth with a mission) in the country of Italy, building the Kingdom and reaching the lost.
Papa Flower, what does that mean? In training camp before any of the racers had arrived, we had a time where the Holy Spirit gave each of us words or visions for our fellow leaders. My Squad Mentor gave me a vision of God pouring water on my head which was a flower and me pouring that water into my team, The Jesus Scented Candles. This would be an accurate depiction of the first three months. The second three months can be depicted the same way, with the change of who I was pouring into. It went from Michael and I’s team to locals and indigenous. All in all I was blessed with the opportunity to see salvations, healings, and transformations, all for the Glory of God. What’s better? 
