I have realized that Asking the Lord is a new concept for many, but also so many people Ask the Lord without even realizing it. A big takeaway from the World Race is when we do ATL time. I realized that I never explained what ATL means or what it is, so I wanted to share a little bit behind ATL and how those days have looked like while on the Race.
ATL was shared with us back in training camp. We were told that one day of the week, we would have ATL days and that during the Race we will have more ATL time. The time we ATL, it means we look outside of our scheduled ministry, if we are partnered with a ministry, and Ask The Lord what our focus ministry that day should look like. Our prayer time for ATL looks like listening for the Lord’s voice and guidance. Many times during listening prayer, the Lord has given me visions or words or even desires.
In Romania, we had about two weeks of ATL time, where we stepped out of the assigned ministry and seeked the Lord. While asking the Lord where or what my team should be focusing on, He put Ukranian refugees to my heart. And this time is so amazing because He speaks to us in different ways. My whole team got differnt words, visions, or desires. But, the Lord ultimately knows what kind of people, experiences or locations we will encounter. For our ATL time in Romania, the Lord led us to Timisoara, Romania. The Lord connected us to Harvest Church and we were able to be blessed by their staff and experienced revival in Romania. It was so sweet and this all happened when we seeked the Lord and took the time to listen to His voice.
About a week before we ended our time with our ministry host in Albania, we were told that each team would enter into ATL time for 10 days. As our team prepared for ATL, we took time to pray and seek the Lord. We each asked the Lord which location we should focus on, what kind of ministry we should do, and what our time during ATL should look like. This time during listening prayer, for me, the Lord gave me several words. “Boldness.” “Boulder.” “New and Near.” “Prayers for Strangers.” “Seek.” “Discomfort.” And a vision of a mosque where several Christians enterd in and were seen worshipping and praying, but their prayers sounded like “All Hail King Jesus.” CHILLS!! (Ask me more about that vision, it seriously wrecked me). Another time we did listening prayer, I saw the letter “V”. Our team shared with one another what the Lord placed in their hearts and as we seeked the guidance and direction of the Lord, we knew that He was calling us into a pilgrimage. Something really interesting about Albania was the the Apostle Paul actually walked through what is now Albania in order to get to Greece to preach the Gospel. His missionary journey was highlighted to us and we wanted to walk (literally) in obedience to the Lord. So, we found the road where Apostle Paul began his journey and knew that the Lord was calling us into uncomfortablity and to lean on Him. We packed the necessities for the journey, including a tent and sleeping bag because we were ready to be uncomfortable and dependent on the Lord. So, took a van to Durres and really did not make any plans, except the starting point and walking alongside the coastline towards South of Albania. Now let me tell you what the Lord did during this time!!
We were ready to sleep in our tents, but within moments of stepping out of the bus, He provided a place for us to stay. We had gone out for lunch, when by divine intervention, the Lord showed us the Whitehead family. They were a family of 7 that were missionaries in Italy. After sharing that we all were Asking the Lord where we should go and were walking in obedience, the Whitehead family invited us to stay in their home. We stayed two nights and we were able to worship, pray, rejoice and encourage each other during this time. We went onward with our pilgrimage, and walked for 6 hours total on Valentines Day. With our back hurting, we still allowed for the Spirit to move and be interruptible. So, even though we knew we had to get to a safe location for the night, we stopped to talk to people and to share the Gospel. We finally stumbled into a hotel town in Durres, so it felt so empty because it is winter time. We were able to rest our bodies and eat a deliciously prepeared meal.
For me, this ATL time was being bold about my faith. The Lord spoke to me and He wanted me to lean into every conversations and make every second count. He told me not to leave any conversation without speaking His name. While we were in the hotel, I spoke to two staff members One of them was Muslim and the other was a Jehovah Witness. I had a copy of the books of John and Romans in Albanian, so I opened my Bible and read a verse in Romans with one of them. I ended up leaving the copy, so praying that the Lord touches her heart. With the other, I read Genesis 16:13 and told her that the Lord sees her. Both conversations were so touching and I walked away knowing that the words I spoke where not of my own, but the Spirits because I usually get anxious speaking to people. So each encounter, I asked the Spirit to use me and to give me the words to speak the name of Jesus.
As we continued on our trek, we meet Kyle and Lacey. A young couple traveling around the world, but in the middle of Albania in a divinly orchestrated moment found us, a group of missionaries. They recongized my universities name, and asked if I had gone to CCU. After talking to them, they were also believers and we spent two nights with them as well. We got to open up the Word, pray together, and laugh with each other.
After a little sickness in the team, we decided to take a van to our destination Vlore. There we spent more time during outreach and following the Spirit. The Lord led me into a conversation with a Jehovah Witness and we both got to open our Bibles and asked the question of “What is the name of the Lord.” This interaction put a fire in my heart to learn more about Jehovah Witnesses, in order to defend myself and to help lead conversations.
ATL is so important in every believers life. We should be slow to action, quick to listen to the Lord, and guided by the Spirit. We should ask the Lord where He is leading us, what our desires are, and look for guidance for Him. Even outside of ministry, we should still ask the Lord, and be ready! This ATL time was special because we got to see the Lord’s hand in it all. Whether it was providing a roof over our heads, meals in our stomachs, being encouraged by strangers, preaching the Gospel, or handing fruit out to people on the streets. It was encrouaging to receive words and visions from the Lord and walk in obedience.
I made a litttle video about our time during ATL. If you would like to watch it, here is the link https://youtu.be/v3MbhB3McG0.
Blessings,
Joana Quintana
