Journal

Eleven years ago, I finished reading the Gospel of Matthew and opened the book of Acts for the first time. One verse changed the direction of my life.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH." (Acts 1:8)

In that moment, I was struck with a desire, what I believe was God's call to become a missionary.

That calling never left me, but my path didn't always reflect it.

Like Jonah, I spent a couple of years resisting God's call to the nations as I pursued my own ambitions instead of the mission He had placed before me. His calling became secondary while I focused on building a future I thought would be better.

When the sandcastle of my own little kingdom finally collapsed, I thought everything was lost.

But God still had a plan.

The call to missions remained.

So I prayed:

"God, if You can still use me, confirm this calling once again."

I applied for a missionary training program. After months of prayer, I was accepted.

Then came more months of waiting and seeking the Lord.

"God, if Your presence will not go with me, do not send me."

As the months passed, He confirmed again and again that this was where He was leading me. Now, with only two months remaining before beginning missionary training on the other side of the world, I have a confidence I haven't experienced in a long time.

So what exactly am I preparing for? The questions I've asked myself the most on this journey are, " How can I bridge the gap?" and "How can I bring the Gospel to the unreached who have never heard His name?"

I’ve wrestled with those questions for a long time, but God has begun to make my role more clear. My heart has always been for the truly unreached, and this training will prepare me to fulfill that role through learning the skills necessary to engage in cross-cultural ministry, living among unreached peoples, and facing the practical realities of taking the Gospel where Christ is not yet known. I'm excited to learn, to follow wherever He leads me, to be a tree bearing fruit in His vineyard.

So where does Xia Nomad fit into all of this?

The name has been with me since college graduation. It's a shortened form of "Christian Nomad," and it captures something I believe is true of every follower of Christ. We may travel different roads, but wherever we go, we carry with us the fullness of the blessing of Christ. (Romans 15:29)

For years, I used the Xia Nomad name to refer to myself in newsletters that share stories from mission trips and testimonies of God's faithfulness overseas.

Now, with the help of a few friends, Xia Nomad is becoming something more.

Xia Nomad is on its way to becoming a nonprofit apparel brand with a vision to help bridge the gap between the reached and the unreached.

Clothing is simply the vehicle.

The mission is to help fund missionaries, ministries, and Gospel-centered projects serving people who have little or no access to the Good News of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that, over time, Xia Nomad would become a catalyst for Kingdom expansion around the world.

As an apparel brand, I also hope to create clothing that's stylish, durable, and meaningful. Some designs will boldly display Scripture or explicitly display our faith. Others will be more subtle, carrying only the Xia Nomad name or designs that invite conversation. Whether you can openly share your faith or must do so more carefully, my hope is that Xia Nomad will equip you to represent Christ wherever you are.

As for me, I'll continue following the direction I believe God is leading.

I've never dreamed of becoming some kind of CEO for the sake of building a company. My desire is to take the Gospel to unreached and remote communities throughout Asia, then bring back stories of God's faithfulness to encourage believers here at home, and I will pursue that calling as long as God leads me to it.

For a season, I resisted this calling.

But even when we are faithless, God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

By His grace, He has brought me back to the path He planned for my life all along.

Xia Nomad exists to come alongside that mission: to help bridge the gap between the reached and the unreached, support Gospel work where Christ is not yet known, and share stories of what God is doing around the world.

If that vision resonates with you, I invite you to join the journey. Sign up for updates, follow the mission, and help us carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

This is only the first step.

— Z