When You’re Not the Leader: How the World Race Redefines Identity and Influence

When people imagine going on the World Race, they often picture bold adventures, stretching faith, and if they’ve been in leadership roles before, maybe stepping into spiritual leadership on the field. But what happens when the title you thought would define your journey is taken away?

For Allyson, a World Racer, the Race flipped her understanding of leadership and identity on its head.

She began her journey as a team leader, excited and ready. But by month four, God had something different in mind: she was asked to step out of her leadership position.

Suddenly, she was no longer “the leader.” She was just… her.

And that, it turns out, was exactly what God wanted.

Finding Your Identity Without a Title

Allyson’s experience reveals a core truth about the World Race: you don’t have to have a title to be transformed or to make an impact.

On the Race, many participants wrestle with the same question: “Who am I when I’m not in charge?” For Allyson, it took losing her role to find what mattered most: “I began to see myself as the Lord did… not this world, not even the Race.”

She learned to rest.
For the first time in her life, Allyson wasn’t under pressure to meet expectations or achieve something to prove her worth. Instead, she encountered a God who said, “Rest is holy.” The Race invites you into a rhythm of being with God, not just doing for God.

She found identity in Christ, not accomplishment.
Titles and roles are temporary but who God says you are is eternal. That’s what the Race teaches: that your value isn’t measured by how loud your voice is or how many people follow you. It’s found in your quiet yes to the Father.

The Unexpected Lessons of Not Leading

In her season of not leading, Allyson learned:

• How to encourage others from behind the scenes.
  
• That leadership is a heart posture, not a position.
  
• To find joy in her Kingdom role, not her squad role.
  
• To sit in silence and wait for God’s voice, without needing to prove anything.
  
• That even the unseen, unnoticed acts of love are part of advancing the Kingdom.
  

This kind of inner transformation is core to what makes the World Race more than just a missions trip. It’s a crucible where God burns away the labels we’ve clung to—and replaces them with something better: beloved, chosen, known.

Redefining Leadership on the World Race

Leadership on the World Race isn’t just for the people with the title “team leader.” It’s for anyone who chooses to serve, love, listen, and surrender. Allyson says it best:

“Leadership is a place of heart, of courage, of empowerment, of love. God doesn’t look at the outward appearance like man, but He looks straight to the heart.”

Whether you’re leading worship under a mango tree or washing dishes at a ministry base, leadership on the Race is measured by faithfulness, not status.

Step Into Who God Made You to Be

You don’t have to be the loudest, the most outgoing, or have a leadership title to be used by God. The World Race is a place where He breaks down the pressure to perform and rebuilds your identity in truth, grace, and quiet strength.

Ready to see what God might do with your surrendered “yes”?

Explore Upcoming World Race Opportunities:

Expedition Route 3 | August 2025
Traveling to Guatemala, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Nepal, and South Asia
Ages 21–30

Gap Year Routes | August 2025
Traveling to Colombia, Vietnam, Philippines, South Africa — or choose routes through Ethiopia, Guatemala, Eswatini, and more!
Ages 17–20

Let God surprise you. Let Him rewrite your story.
Start your journey today → worldrace.org