Finding Raja’s Compass

In 2017, a young 19-year-old man named Raja, from Northern Virginia, was at the end of himself. Raja had been running away from the Lord for years, carried away by the “college party life.” Flipping burgers and chasing highs, he was aimless. Raja was like a boat drifting off at sea, desperately needing passion and purpose. One day, he shipwrecked. He decided to return home, both physically and spiritually. He started attending his family’s local church.

As he did, the Lord began to work on his heart. Raja began to grow in his love and understanding of the Word, and soon he surrendered his life to the Lord. He was no longer a wayward vessel, but a ship with wind in its sails. Ready to launch on a voyage of purpose, he realized he was still missing one thing: direction.

Raja heard from his church leadership about MAPS Global. He was excited to attend. When he did, he was amazed to be in a church with charismatic worship and a commitment to the Great Commission. The desire to be a part of this spirit-filled family tugged on his heart. Maybe here he would find the direction he needed to pursue his purpose, but how?

Raja was told about MAPS Global’s Open House weekend. Soon, he found himself driving to the December 2021 Open House at MAPS Global with a heart full of anticipation and expectancy. He was able to spend time with many like-minded people with a heart for the Lord and pioneering missions. He was also able to sit down with leaders at lunch and ask many questions. Later that evening, he was overcome with emotion during worship. He knew without a doubt that he was going to apply to the MAPS Global School. He applied the very next day, and his life was set on a new trajectory. 

Thanks to the time spent at Open House, Raja went from aimless to confident in his purpose. Open House was like a compass pointing him to his North Star. He now had the direction he needed to move forward towards all that God had for him. After going through the MAPS Global School, Raja is now serving as a full-time missionary for MAPS Global with his wife and newborn daughter. He has grown in his relationship with the Lord and others and now gets to help ones just like him recognize God’s calling on their lives. 

Today, Raja attributes his decision to attend Open House as the reason that he is currently on his destiny track.