20 Years of We Will Go

by David Lancaster, Founder

The afterschool vans pulled up outside my office and students began to line up on the sidewalk. I watched as one of our afterschool educators organized them into a line and walked them into the building. Once inside, students dove into homework, Bible lessons, and reading sessions. This scene is a far cry from what I had envisioned twenty years ago when I said ‘yes’ to God’s call.

I have often been asked the question, “Why did you take this path?” The truth is, there were probably other people who were more qualified, but we simply said ‘yes.’ My wife and I had the opportunity to go on an overseas mission trip years ago which exposed us to a world vastly different than our own. Suddenly, the routines of suburban life seemed mundane, and we yearned for life to be more meaningful. The change we experienced on that first trip was a piece of the puzzle that led us to moving to downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” As we immersed ourselves in serving those in need, the monotony of life began to fade. The mark of a full life to me was the people my life touched. What started as an engineer and a dental hygienist volunteering has grown into an organization that has helped thousands of people have a fuller life.

This past week, a grandmother picked up her grandson from our afterschool literacy program, and commented about how grateful she was for the impact she had witnessed in her grandson. Prior to We Will Go, her grandson did not know how to read and had no knowledge of the Bible. I could not have pictured helping a child learn to read when I moved my family from the suburbs all those years ago. I have been humbled that staff and volunteers have been motivated by my story. This journey has brought fullness to my life but also the lives of others, and that has meant the most to me.

Our journey has brought a series of unexpected lessons and blessings. Yet, amid adversity, we have witnessed the beauty of faith, hope, and love. The journey has also deepened our own faith and pushed us beyond our comfort zones, challenged our preconceptions, and forced us to rely on something greater than ourselves. In answering God’s call, we found the fullness of life for which we were searching.