Say No To Fear

Fear. Let’s talk about it.

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All of us experience fear in one way or another. Maybe you are afraid of the dark or failing a test in school. Maybe you are afraid to share your faith with unbelieving friends, classmates, or co-workers. Maybe you are afraid of what sacrificing a summer to go on Royal Servants will mean for your five-year plan.

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There are many legit fears. But the Bible says a lot about fear too.

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Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” NIV

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Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” NIV

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Luke 12:7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” NIV

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When considering a Royal Servants trip, you might have some hesitations, some fears about signing up.  Let’s talk about just a few of them…

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Fear #1: Support raising is intimidating

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We get it. Writing up a letter, mailing it to everyone you know, and then following it up with a phone call is scary! What we want you to remember as you face this fear:

1. You aren’t alone. Your fellow students, your Summer Staff and Senior Staff, and your trip leadership all raise support for their summer too.
2. You are equipped! Your prep packet, which will be mailed to you after you complete your registration, includes all the information you will need to jump into the rollercoaster of support raising. Templates, advice, deadlines, and so much more, all at your fingertips. Still stuck on something? Reign Staff and your Trip Leaders are ready to help and answer any questions, pray with you, and encourage you as you fundraise.
3. Support raising can be one of the most significant faith-growing experiences you’ll have before your mission trip even begins. We have seen God work in amazing ways to provide for the needs of students and staff alike. So while it can be an intimidating experience, trust that God has something for you to learn in this just as much as He has something for you to learn overseas.

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Fear #2: I’m afraid to come alone

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Hi. My name is Beka! I’ve been on staff with Reign for almost 4 years. But before I joined staff, I was a participant on Royal Servants just like you! I first came as a student at 17, then as a Summer Staff, and then twice as a nanny. I still remember that first summer and the fear I had leading up to my trip. I didn’t know a single person on my team. I was incredibly shy and had never been away from my family for any length of time.

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But as my first summer came to a close, I found myself in a completely different frame of mind. Over the course of the summer, the strangers I met at the airport in Chicago had become family. We grew together, we adventured together, and we walked through the fears of returning home- together. I’m still friends with some of them on my team now, 15 years later.

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A couple of years later, I went on a short mission trip through my church denomination, and I was the only one from my church signed up to go. At first, I was very nervous. But then I remembered my Royal Servants summer, and it encouraged me that I could do this even if it meant going alone and traveling with strangers. Royal Servants paved the way for my future fight against the same old fear.

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Fear #3: What if my trip leader or team doesn’t like me?

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While we can’t promise you’ll become bff’s with everyone on your team, we can promise this:

1. Your trip leadership is passionate about your personal discipleship - that’s why we do what we do! We want to see you thrive on Royal Servants and are there for you to talk through and process the things you are going through.
2. We are also passionate about unity. We so deeply desire you to have an incredible summer where you grow in your faith and connect with your team. We have systems in place that we hope will help you connect with everyone on your team, giving you all the chance to become friends. No one likes a clique!

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Fear #4: I’m afraid of what I’ll miss out on back at home

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We can’t promise that coming on Royal Servants won’t come without personal sacrifices. In Luke 14, Jesus talks about the cost of discipleship and compares it to a King going to war or someone wanting to build a tower. Look at vs. 28: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

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There is a cost to saying yes to Royal Servants. Maybe it’s missing out on the family vacation or hanging poolside with your best friends. Maybe it’s missing out on a summer job and saving up money.

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Here’s why we believe that cost is worth it…

• A summer to grow in your faith through daily Bible study, small- and large-group teaching, and actively sharing your faith with the people you meet.
• A summer to experience a community of like-minded people your age all committed to the same mission.
• A trip of a lifetime, experiencing a new culture or two and seeing what it’s like for people to live in various parts of the world.

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There’s so much more, but why spoil all the surprises? ;)

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Fear #5: As an alum, the next trip might not live up to last year’s

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This might sound silly at first glance, but we have met countless alumni who are afraid to come back on Royal Servants because their first summer was just THAT good. This is such a great problem to have. It proves that Royal Servants did what it was intended to do in your life. Praise God! But why stop with just one? Let’s say that, okay, yes, next summer isn’t going to be like your first trip. Maybe there’s a dynamic on your team that makes things harder than you expected. Even if that's the case, we believe God can still use the hardships to teach us something new and help us grow in our faith journey with Him. Don’t let the fear of a summer not living up to your expectations based on past experiences stop you from all that God has planned for you next summer!

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If you are experiencing fear in any area of your life, we encourage you to take some time to pray today. Tell God your fears and ask for His help in overcoming them.

If you are afraid of what saying yes to Royal Servants will cost, or of the various dynamics of a summer mission trip, we’d like to challenge you to actively fight those fears today. Those fears might be what's keeping you from the next step God wants to make with your life.

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