Unstoppable

1. Life is a divine relay where everything hinges on the exchange zone

In a relay, everything hinges on what happens in the exchange zone.

The divine relay. The Christian life is not a solo sprint but an interconnected relay race spanning generations. Just like in the Olympic 4x100-meter relay, individual speed and talent do not guarantee victory if the baton is dropped. The church must operate as a unified team where the passing of the baton of faith is prioritized above individual accolades.

The exchange zone. The exchange zone is the critical 20-meter window where the baton must be passed from one runner to the next. In spiritual terms, these zones represent moments of transition, mentorship, and generational transfer. If we fumble these crucial exchanges, the entire team suffers, and momentum is lost.

Collaborative power. Working together as a team produces results that far exceed individual capabilities. The author highlights a striking Olympic statistic to illustrate this synergy:

• A unified relay team runs faster than a lone champion runner.
• The 2012 USA women's relay team completed their race 6.78 seconds faster than the individual 400-meter world record.
• Success requires perfect synchronization, trust, and a willingness to release what is no longer ours to carry.

2. Seemingly impossible situations are God's chosen starting points

Impossible is God’s starting point.

Divine readiness. There is a vast difference between feeling ready and actually being ready in God's eyes. Biblical heroes like Moses, Gideon, and Mary felt completely inadequate when called, yet God chose them because of their availability rather than their perceived ability. When God calls us into the exchange zone, his presence guarantees our readiness.

The front lines. The author shares the story of Kalli, a former homemaker who joined the fight against human trafficking through A21. Despite feeling entirely unqualified to combat a multi-billion-dollar global crime syndicate, Kalli's willingness to answer a 3:00 a.m. call saved a young woman named Katja. This demonstrates that God's call often meets us in the ordinary, messy realities of life.

Overcoming hesitation. Many believers remain on the sidelines because they are waiting for a perfect, clear calling. The author urges Christians to wake up, stop waiting, and simply start serving where there is a need:

• Find a local need and fill it immediately.
• Pray, fast, and run with those who are already moving.
• Trust that God will reveal the next steps once you are in motion.

3. God qualifies the broken and multiplies our meager offerings

What should have disqualified Kalli from the race was the very thing that qualified her for it.

The multiplication factor. We often disqualify ourselves from God's service by focusing on our limitations, brokenness, or lack of resources. However, the miracle of feeding the five thousand demonstrates that God intentionally uses our "not enough" to create more than enough. When we place our meager resources into his hands, he blesses, breaks, and multiplies them.

Beauty in brokenness. The breaking of the bread on the hillside reveals a profound spiritual truth: the miracle is in the breaking. Our painful pasts, broken relationships, and personal failures are not disqualifiers; instead, they are the very tools God uses to bring hope to others. Kalli's background of abuse and exploitation uniquely positioned her to manage a safe house for rescued sex slaves.

The uncounted count. God delights in using ordinary, overlooked people to accomplish extraordinary things. Just as the young boy with the loaves and fish was uncounted in the crowd, God counts on those whom society ignores:

• God values and utilizes our ordinary, everyday talents.
• He promises that nothing offered to him will ever be wasted.
• Your broken pieces, when surrendered, become a source of nourishment for a hurting world.

4. True growth requires embracing your current place and preparation phase

In order to thrive in the exchange zone, we must learn to embrace our place.

Embracing the mundane. Serving God often looks less like a spotlight and more like wiping up vomit on a youth center floor. The author's early ministry experience cleaning up after a drunk teenager taught her that we cannot rank the status of the work God calls us to do. Every menial task is a holy preparation for the larger assignments ahead.

The darkroom process. Spiritual maturity is a slow development process, much like developing film in a traditional darkroom. If we try to bypass the darkroom of obscurity, trials, and character building, we risk destroying the image of Christ being formed in us. David spent fifteen years tending sheep and serving as an armor-bearer before he was crowned king.

Trusting the Coach. We must trust that God, our divine Coach, knows exactly where we fit best within the body of Christ. When we feel misplaced or overlooked, we must resist the urge to transplant ourselves:

• Recognize that obscurity is God's training ground for future leadership.
• Understand that God's promotions are based on character, not charisma.
• Commit to serving faithfully in your current season, regardless of the challenges.

5. Never stand still in the exchange zone of life

Just as you cannot steer a ship that isn’t moving, batons cannot pass between those who are not running.

Active momentum. In a physical relay, the incoming runner cannot hand off the baton if the next runner is standing completely still. Similarly, God passes new assignments and opportunities to those who are already actively running in service. We must maintain spiritual momentum by constantly engaging in good works, even when we feel inexperienced.

On-the-job training. The story of Kristen, who started raising funds for A21 as a sixteen-year-old high schooler, illustrates the power of active obedience. Because she was already running, she was handed an internship, which eventually led to her managing global high school curriculum initiatives. God did not wait for her to get a college degree; he qualified her on the run.

Stretching your capacity. Stepping out of our comfort zones is the only way to expand our spiritual capacity. When we accept tasks that seem beyond our current skill set, we invite the Holy Spirit to demonstrate his power:

• Accept responsibilities that stretch your current abilities.
• View intimidating situations as opportunities for divine empowerment.
• Remember that God's grace is fully sufficient in our moments of weakness.

6. Rely on the power of Christ in you rather than your own strength

The exchange zone is not where I come for more works to do. The exchange zone is the transformation zone.

The glorious mystery. The ultimate goal of the Christian race is not to earn God's favor through tireless performance, but to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. The apostle Paul defined this mystery as "Christ in you, the hope of glory." When we grasp this, our focus shifts from working for God to letting God work through us.

Divine resources. When the author was unexpectedly handed a pager to start a youth center, she had no experience, funding, or real estate. By admitting her weakness and relying entirely on God's power, she watched him provide a building, community support, and government grants. This taught her to rely on God's resources and ways rather than her own intellect.

The self-perpetuating cycle. Allowing Christ to expand within us creates a beautiful, unstoppable cycle of spiritual growth and outward impact. As we are transformed, we naturally love others more, which drives us to do more kingdom work:

• Rely on God's power to accomplish what is humanly impossible.
• Understand that sanctification is an ongoing, lifelong process.
• Focus on who Christ is in you rather than what you are not.

7. Throw off the heavy baggage of your past to run unhindered

You cannot be grabbing new batons if you are clutching old weights.

Lightening the load. To run a successful race, we must heed the biblical command to throw off every weight and sin that entangles us. The enemy actively uses our past hurts, shame, and unforgiveness as heavy anchors to slow us down. We must make a conscious, daily decision to leave these hindrances behind.

The power of forgiveness. Favour, a young Nigerian woman forced into sex slavery by her own cousin, had to undergo a long, painful process of emotional healing. She realized that true freedom required her to forgive her abusive father, her stepmother, and her cousin. By throwing off the heavy baggage of bitterness, she was finally able to pursue her dream of nursing school.

Leaving the past. We cannot step into the future God has prepared for us if we refuse to let go of where we have been. The author, who overcame a past of childhood sexual abuse, emphasizes that our history does not dictate our destiny:

• Identify the specific emotional weights holding you back today.
• Choose to forgive those who have deeply wounded or betrayed you.
• Exchange the garbage of your past for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

8. Master the handoff by shifting from ownership to stewardship

The handoff had always been her goal — she loved nothing more than working herself out of a job so that others could grow as she had.

Generational legacy. A successful relay requires us to master the art of releasing the baton to the next runner. If we hold onto our roles, ministries, or positions out of insecurity, we create a bottleneck that stifles growth. Joshua's generation failed to pass the baton of faith, resulting in a subsequent generation that did not know the Lord.

Stewardship over ownership. Annie, a key leader in A21, demonstrated the power of a successful handoff by repeatedly training others to take over her responsibilities. When she felt called to move to Greece to marry, she had to release beloved ministries in the US. This transition was possible because she viewed her work as a stewardship from God rather than her personal property.

Overcoming handoff barriers. Releasing control requires deep humility and a willingness to see others succeed and even surpass our own achievements. To master the handoff, we must actively combat the common barriers that tempt us to hold on:

• Say goodbye to the need for constant control and welcome change.
• Guard your heart against insecurity and find your identity in Christ alone.
• Intentionally mentor and empower the next generation of leaders.

9. Cultivate a relentless passion to fuel your spiritual endurance

Passion is not a momentary, fleeting emotion but the fuel of God in us, enabling us to be unstoppable as we run our race and finish our course.

The fuel of love. Running a long, grueling race requires a source of energy that goes beyond mere duty or obligation. When we run out of a sense of "have to," we eventually grow weary and quit. True, unstoppable momentum is fueled by a deep, personal love affair with Jesus Christ, running out of joy because we are already accepted.

Relentless pursuit. The author shares how her husband, Nick, passionately and relentlessly pursued her, breaking down the protective walls around her heart. This earthly love story mirrors the way God passionately pursues us. Our spiritual passion is kept alive through daily, intentional decisions to nurture our relationship with Him.

Sustaining the fire. We must actively cultivate spiritual habits to prevent our passion from fading over time. The author outlines practical ways to keep our love for God vibrant and active:

• Read God's Word daily as a personal love letter.
• Express gratitude and praise consistently, regardless of your feelings.
• Channel your love for God into tangible acts of service for others.

10. View trials and opposition as strength-training for spiritual champions

Champions see their weaknesses, then see God’s strength revealed in the face of their weakness, and so grow in endurance and perseverance."

Spiritual warfare. When we actively run the divine relay, we must expect fierce opposition from an enemy who has everything to lose. Phil faced intense spiritual and physical danger when establishing the A21 office in Greece, dealing with corrupt officials and violent traffickers. However, he recognized that these trials were opportunities for God to demonstrate His superior power.

The purpose of storms. Jesus intentionally allowed His disciples to face a terrifying storm on the Sea of Galilee to test and expand their fragile faith. Peter's walk-on-water moment revealed his underlying doubt, but it also allowed him to experience Jesus' immediate rescue. Storms are not meant to destroy us; they are designed to soften our hardened hearts and reveal Christ's deity.

Championship training. We must learn to view our trials through the lens of James 1, considering them pure joy because they produce perseverance. By shifting our focus from the "black dots" of our problems to the "white space" of God's sovereignty, we become truly unstoppable:

• Welcome trials as necessary strength-training for your faith.
• Cry out to Jesus immediately when you begin to sink in fear.
• Trust that the Coach will calm the storm in His perfect timing.

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