It might be a hard week. Spending 9 months without them and then spending 5 days straight may take a toll on you.
You may struggle to lay down boundaries so we can have quiet time daily. It is important to voice daily expectations.
You will be leading more than you expect. Sessions and worship are all Racer led.
Parents took the time to write heart felt letters to you. When you are asked to write a blessing, really take the time to make it one.
Meals are mandatory. You won’t get very many meals alone with your parents. Plan ahead and make them count.
It was difficult mixing our families with our current squad family. It was kind of socially straining, especially for introverts.
Prepare to tell your parents what you need and why. Just like you had to learn with your squad.
They may be late. It is still the World Race.
It is completely possible to be excited, overwhelmed, confused distinctly and/or all at once
Parent(s) may also be nervous after my being away for awhile, in a new country, and around complete strangers they don't know - give them grace!
You may have to walk your parents through a role reversal of sorts. It’s awkward on both ends, don’t worry.
At the end of each PVT, we ask participants to fill out a feedback form. On this we ask a few specific questions to help future Racers and Parents. Here are some of the answers from previous Racers.
It allowed my mom to meet the people who’ve been influencing me the past eight months. She also got a sneak peek of who I am and the things I am walking through.
Personally, I struggled with PVT because I wasn’t homesick or missing them and it made my journey more difficult. I think the overall idea of the ministry is fantastic, but I would encourage future racers to really consider the journey they’re on, sit with the Lord and not feel like they’re missing out if they don’t invite their parents.
It gives you the chance to work with your parents in ministry. You’re able to invite them into this new lifestyle. Pray, pray, pray before doing that though.
It helps you prepare for interacting with your family when you get home. It also gives your parents a chance to experience a very small taste of the life you’ve been living.
This experience invites your parents into all that God has done in your life and it also creates space for your parents to experience God in new ways.
It’s a chance for your parents to see a tiny glimpse into your life on the field and you also get a little glimpse into what going home is going to be like.
There were some hard parts and some fun parts, but it was overall a great experience. This time has gotten me excited for the next 2 months. My dad being here has deepened our relationship and has helped him understand a little more about this whole thing and my relationship with the Lord.
Depends on your relationship with the people you invited. If you struggle with communication probably not.
I would recommend it if they asked the Lord about it and he either said yes or you choose. PVT is hard and I think there’s definitely a certain point with the Lord you need to reach before you invite your parents to stay with you a whole week. If you’re willing to do what it takes to make it good then it’s so worth it.
It’s tough and hard for sure. But the way it’s impacting my family dynamic is something that I will never forget. My parents weren’t supportive of my decision to do missions and after these 5 days now they fully support me!
It’s good for the parents who have stepped away or just didn’t have faith at all. Some don’t have relationships and have been living in religion. They come here to PVT and they don’t have to read about this. This doesn’t just bring some parents to faith and relationship but encourages the ones who are strong in their faith and the racers to strive for more of the Lord and the change that he does within.
Without a doubt, while circumstances are challenging it opens up the chance for your parents to step into this journey.
I would encourage racers to be prepared for it to be really good but also really hard. I thought it was all going to be happy sunshine and just all in all a beautiful reunion, but I was frustrated at my parents a lot! So I would just prepare them to be patient, and to just walk in a lot of grace because they have been through a lot too, in these past 6 months.
I loved spending this week with my parents. It was the most alone I’ve felt the whole race because they know me best. They were encouraging and supportive and prayerful with me. It was nice to be able to talk in person.
PVT has the potential to be a little overwhelming in some ways, but the opportunity for you and your parent to do the WR life together is priceless and worth it. Opened the door for good quality conversations with my mom.
If your parents are divorced and both come, prepare yourself for a hard week.
Hard but good. Experienced so much freedom and closure. Loved showing them the culture we have created here.
It was not just an experience for me, it changed their lives. I learned stuff about them I never knew before. I thought they were going to be put off by all the spiritual things, but they loved it and they are trying them too!
I learned some more triggers. I had breakthroughs with my mom in ways I didn’t expect at all. I got a taste of what it means to go home, and I got to share the Race with my mom, which overall was awesome.
I’ve seen the goodness in my parent's relationship and my faith and hope has increased on them giving their lives to the Lord.
My dad and I grew deeper with God together.
I have been able to grow mine and my dad’s relationship. The Lord did some great things with him. This trip has also shown me though, that I don’t think I will be living with my parents at home.
It’s been fun to see my dad fall in love with the people I’m with and what I’m doing. I think it was definitely more for my dad than me. It’s been great to watch the interaction of it all.
I think my parents are finally beginning to see me for who the Lord is calling to me to be.
It’s made me realize slightly what it will be like after the Race, and it’s given me the opportunity to step out and make a real relationship with my parents. My parents are being poured into and choosing for the first time to listen to the Lord, and it’s been so beautiful and encouraging to be a part of.
Depends on who they are. PVT can be amazing or terrible depending on multiple different factors. Overwhelming but good to get a taste of re-entry and learn how to create boundaries in a loving way.
It has gotten me excited for the rest of the Race and has given me a taste of what life with my parents will be like. It has been refreshing yet draining. It has given me an excitement for where the Lord and my future are going to take me.
I don’t think I can say all that it has done in/through me. It’s opened my eyes more to who I am. It’s deepened my relationship with Christ. It’s shown me what living missionally looks like. It’s taught me how to live community and given me my best friends and so much more!
It has impacted me in many ways. This trip has shown me how both me and my parents have grown and changed so much. It’s also brought my family closer.
It got to experience parts of Jesus through my dad that I hadn’t seen before.
It has allowed me to see my mom step out and embrace a new side of herself that I’ve never seen. I showed me how even when I am 50 something I will never be done growing or searching.
It gave me a taste of what life will look like when I get home. The Lord taught me a lot through doing ministry with my parents.
I got to share the gospel with my mom and I think things are really stirring in her heart.
I think I’ve grown closer with my parents because they now know what my life has been about the past 7 months. We’ve had some good conversations and I believe it will make coming home a little easier.
It’s shown me how much my dad really wants to be in my life, and it’s been so great to see him grow and see how he feels the Holy Spirit. It’s been so great to share what my new life looks like with my dad.
I would say it has stretched my faith exponentially and has driven me to pray bold prayers. It has stretched me in making sure I extended grace to my parents in knowing they haven’t been on the WR for the past nine months. I think in a way it has set the tone for my return home.
My parents are not really believers, so I was terrified when they decided to actually come. But my parents have talked more about the Lord now than ever. And they have gotten to see what I want to do with my life. The WR has opened the door for me to share what I previously wasn’t comfortable sharing. It’s changed my family dynamic and it’s helped me and prepared me to talk to them about things when I get home.
I’ve learned a lot about how to respond with grace when people don’t understand the Race and I have received a lot of love and support from my parents to take into the last few months.
It made me realize how hard it will be when we return after being gone for so long. It was a nice reality check that some things change, but also that their love is still constant.
It’s give me time to verbally process, to show my dad where I am at/apply what I’ve learned and talk about where he’s truly at with the Lord. I’m glad I’ve gotten the time to speak to him face to face. There are qualities I didn’t even realize about him until I had this time on the Race.
It helped me to switch the role my parents have in my life. They had time to see how this opportunity has changed me and how their role has switched as well. It has been huge for my relationship with them.
It allowed me to see my mom in a different light and to better understand her. I have seen how much my parents have grown since I left in August. It’s incredible how God has used my journey to spark change and hunger in them back home and on the field here at PVT. This trip is not about me, it’s so much bigger. God is bringing revival to my family!
Better suited for go, go go people. Exhausting for some parents, but beneficial.
Helped to restore the relationship I have with my dad.
My parents who were NOT supportive of the race whatsoever, got to see me pray and worship and minister to people. They also got a support system of parents.
I was able to spend a week with my parents for the first time in 7 years. They were able to see my relationship with Jesus for the first time.
My parents are slowly changing because of this trip. My mom, who doesn’t know the Lord, opened her heart to him this week and it was incredible.
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