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As they say, hindsight is 20/20. This week, John Bailey and Mark Renfroe think back over the decisions they’ve made in the past and talk about the advice they would give to their 20-year-old selves.

Key Points from the Podcast

  • John Bailey shares his experience as a 20-year-old dating and looking for a spouse. He reflects on how he could have done better and encourages young people to be patient, trusting that God has everything under control.

  • Every job you have will not align with your calling. Sometimes God wants us to be faithful with little before he entrusts us with much.

  • You’re never too young to start saving. Giving 10% to God and saving or investing 10% is a great practice to develop at an early age.

  • Delayed gratification is a great discipline to learn because accumulating debt will hinder you from serving and being obedient to God, whether that means having the financial freedom to pick up and go to the mission field or simply being generous and blessing others.

  • Common interests may draw people together as friends, but common values will take friendships deeper.

  • Be careful not to surround yourself with people who think exactly like you do, but with those who are going to challenge you and help you grow.

Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast

Proverbs 22:7; Proverbs 27:17

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

About John Bailey

Pastor John Bailey serves as the Chief Operating Officer at World Challenge. John came to know Christ in jail after some difficult struggles as a young man, and God has done a powerful work of transformation since! Spending 13 years in Next Gen ministry, he excelled in discipleship and helping young leaders discover giftings to serve God. John was called next to serve as a missionary and pastor in Western Europe. John and his family then returned to plant the Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Today, the church is a thriving body of believers excelling in outreach and missions. John has now brought his giftings and vision to World Challenge, accelerating the spread of the gospel in America and around the World.

About Mark Renfroe

Mark married his college sweetheart, Amy, with whom he has four adult children—one girl and three boys. The Renfroes have been involved in field missions work for 30 years. They served in the Arab community of San Francisco for four years before becoming foreign missionaries in 1995. Mark was asked to serve as the Area Director for Assemblies of God World Missions in 2007. As part of his role, he led missionaries and interfaced with national church leaders in the 18 countries of the Arab World. In 2017, Mark created Reaching Africa’s Muslims, an initiative to mobilize, equip, and deploy indigenous African missionaries to reach Muslims on the continent. Mark has graduate degrees in Intercultural Studies and Executive Leadership. He currently serves as the Chief Missions Officer for World Challenge in Colorado Springs.