The Extra Mile: A 5-Day Devotional on Finding Faith and Purpose by Evan CraftSample

Day 2: The Tent in Tijuana

When I was twenty years old, I took my first mission trip to a small church outside Tijuana. My plan at the time was to teach them what “real” worship looked like. But God, in His infinite wisdom (with gentle slap in the face from the Holy Spirit), had other plans.

I walked into a dirt-floored tent, filled with plastic chairs and buzzing speakers, so very different from my usual setup. And I had one of the most powerful worship experiences of my life. These people weren’t polished, but they were passionate. They prayed like they believed heaven would move. They worshiped like they knew God personally. I was humbled and convicted.

I realized I had come with so much pride in my heart. But they welcomed me anyway.

That week, I saw what it looked like to hunger for God. To live dependent on Him. To love people without condition. They weren’t impressed by my music. They were hungry for Jesus.

That trip changed me forever because I realized that ministry wasn’t about talent or titles. It was about showing up, humbling myself, and letting God lead.

The Extra Mile Challenge: Where is God inviting you to serve with humility? What assumptions or pride do you need to lay down in order to do this?