Testimonies
Testimonies of people who have finished 24 days of The Start Experiment.
Moving abroad // Kaylei Ward
Kaylei Ward Ginger. It’s the smell that can bring up a thousand emotions. It’s the smell that can take me back faster than any other smell. It races me back to a faded pink building and black hair snuggled against my neck. It races me back to alligator tears, finger paint, and fits of giggles. Ginger races me back to China. I have read “God calls you where the world’s deep hunger and your deep gladness meet” I just always questioned what that would look like for me. When I joined the Start Experiment, I knew that my gladness was not meeting the world’s hunger. I was stuck in a job that focuses on first world problems, was a dead end, and I knew that it wasn’t where I wanted to be. I told my group that I just wanted to find the next step. With that God opened the door, the large door to change my life. The day after the experiment I received an email asking me to come and move back to China and help out. Excuses were futile, and fear was pointless. Any time I wanted to talk myself out of it, Jon’s email would show up first thing that morning. I was invited to go back to the place that stole my heart five years ago. To walk back into the faded pink building and snuggle with the unloved and the unwanted. To share a love so much deeper than one I could ever show on my own. In one month I will fly to China and be the hands and feet of Christ in the best way I know how. I pray to be broken and drained of anything that is me and only reflect Him. My gladness is loving the orphans of the world. My audacious goal is to put orphanages out of business and to find a home for each child. I’m beyond excited to START and take that next step, loving and holding one child at a time....
Read MoreMusic Ministry // Jonathan Fortenberry
Jonathan Fortenberry The Start Experiment was a lot of things for me. It was a giant can opener on bottled up dreams. It was huge fly swatter against fear. It was the first time at a family reunion where I felt like I’d known everyone my entire life. While slightly disappointed that I needed neither my machete nor my passport, I’m confident that the seeds planted during this time will ultimately lead there. Twenty-four days is really the perfect length of time for this sort of thing. It’s just long enough to accomplish small tasks that lead to a big goal, but not quite long enough to feel like you had enough time. I long for Round1 to still be going so that I can still be brand new at this. However, one of the greatest joys is being in a 2nd round and helping other STARTers find their place. A month ago, I had a small vision of writing worship tunes one day and helping musicians develop themselves. Today I stand confident in my craft, I’ve launched a blog, published a tutorial video, and applied for a position in full time ministry. I owe all to God for inspiring Jon to pull this great community together where I developed true friends that are committed to seeing each other change the...
Read MoreA Heart for Orphans // Sarah Rose Wilson
Sarah Rose Wilson When I first signed up for the experiment, my risks were going back to school, sponsoring a child in Africa, and applying for new jobs. Before we got our first assignment, I had already found a new job. And I had also heard a story of a young woman close to my family who was pregnant. She would not be able to raise the child, but still chose life for the baby. She had no idea what she would do. I suggested taking the child and fostering it until she was able to parent on her own. We contacted DSS and were given a social worker. I had to take classes to become a MD Certified Child Care Provider and a foster parent. I completed those classes and am now just waiting for this baby to be born. I stuck with my first risk of going back to school and will be starting online/night classes in a few weeks. I’m sponsoring a child in Kenya, and will be going on a mission trip there next summer where I will meet this little boy. At the beginning of this I had no true idea of what I wanted to do with my life. The past 24 days my life has been turned upside down. God had a different plan for me in all of this and I love it. The next few months will be an adventure and I look forward to it. And it all started with a creepy blog...
Read MoreCommunity // Jason Sprague
Jason Sprague Whatever you are expecting to get out of this experiment, you might as well throw it out the window. Because this is infinitely better. You know, it’s funny. In the beginning of all of this I thought I wanted one thing, but I got so much more. The START Experiment let me see myself through the eyes of people who are driving forward in life. I have met people who have helped me better define who I am, and others who have helped me know that I am the perfect version of me. I now have a community of people that believe in me. When I am down, they lift me up. When I am happy, they cheer with me. As I chase my dreams, I know I have people who will help me slay dragons, blaze trails, and celebrate my battles won. If someone asked me if it’s worth your time, the answer is “one bajillion percent yes.” You aren’t going to find a group of people that believe in your dream as much as you do anywhere. There are no haters, no critics, and no honey badgers. (Honey badgers can do a lot of damage. What? The analogy fits.) The things I want out of my future now have an army willing to pray, push, and pull me along the way. Will I chase and catch my dreams? Yes! And I will have a tribe of people there with me to celebrate....
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