J.R. Briggs

The most Amazing Race. Ever.

May 5, 2009

My brother and I are about to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time: officially apply to be on the hit reality TV show The Amazing Race. We love the show, as do millions around the country, and have watched several seasons. We love Phil (and his accent) and we have found ourselves saying many times, “Man, that would be so much fun! We’ve got to apply for that one day!”

So we decided to stop talking about it and actually do something about it. We’ve printed out out the eligibility paperwork, we started filling out the application and have brainstormed ways to film our required three-minute video (which we will do when we are together next month in Colorado).

Some of you are thinking: Yeah right. Thousands of people apply for that show. You’ve got no shot. What makes you think you have a chance of being picked?

Sure. We know our chances of getting picked to be contestants on a future season of the Amazing Race are about as good as winning the lottery – seven times. We know that full well. But part of the fun is at least trying (The math never changes: you don’t get picked to be on a reality show 100% of the time you don’t apply). So, what the heck – why not at least give it a shot, ya know? If we apply and don’t get picked at least we will never have to worry about that nagging thought of regret in the back our heads thinking, ‘We’ll never know…’ (Plus, the anticipation will be fun – as will shooting the video and enjoying the whole application process. That in itself is a memory maker with my brother right there. It’s a great excuse to build a memory).

Why us?

Alan is three years younger than me. We have a close relationship, but we couldn’t be further apart in terms of personality. We love traveling and new adventures. We get on each other’s nerves when we’re around each other for a long period of time. However, past – and current – contestants on The Amazing Race have a bit more flair than that. The producers are looking for something different (but not too different) – people the audience can connect with. Contestants on Amazing Race seasons have included teams such as two single moms, NFL cheerleaders, former Survivor contestants, couples with feuding personalities, two middle-aged brothers who work as stuntmen, a mother and her deaf son, gay couples, hippies, etc. We also understand that a label of “two white brothers in their twenties” isn’t an attractive team on the Amazing Race. Those are a dime a dozen. Contestants have to be unique and possess some sort of emotional “hook.”

So what’s our hook?

Well, we think we’ve got something here that’s worthy of at least applying.

Two brothers…

[good]

…who love to travel

[we've been to several countries. Alan was born in Puerto Rico. I've lived/studied in the Middle East during a semester in college. We've visited several countries - both for vacation and for mission trips]

…who are pastors

[Alan is a youth pastor in Colorado Springs. I'm a church planter on the north side of Philly. No three-piece suits for us. Alan has a shaved head, tattoos, a soul patch and piercings in his ears and in (on?) his mouth. And me? Well, a soul patch...past that, I'm just not that cool. We don't believe the show has ever had two pastors as a team, let alone brothers who are pastors. It would be fun to alter the deeply entrenched stereotype of who typical 'pastors' are. But my dad did say that it were gay pastors our chances of being picked would dramatically increase...]

…with two very different personalities

[yeah...if we actually get picked we will both we scared to death to have cameras following us around because we're afraid what we might say and do to each other. Alan told me that it would be a "great sacrifice" to put up with me, his bossy, uptight, upstrung, Type A older brother for the entire race...Idiot.]

…both have adopted two children

[Alan and his wife Julie are in the process of adopting siblings from Ethiopia. Megan and I are currently working with an adoption agency to go through the process of adopting baby #2. If When we get picked for the show we both will have both sets of adopted children in our family. Alan & Julie and Megan & I didn't just adopt. We love adoption and have become huge cheerleaders and advocates for adoption. Alan & Julie are going the international adoption route while Megan & I have gone the domestic adoption route]

…Both know the struggle of attempting to pay for adoptions due to their steep expense

[Adoptions can cost anywhere from $20,00 to $30,000 per child. Expensive. But absolutely worth it. But expensive! Alan and I make pastor's salaries. Enough said...]

…Therefore we’ll be racing to win a million dollars – not for ourselves – but so that we can give every penny away to other couples like ourselves who want to adopt, but don’t have the means to pay for it.

[Sure, it'd be fun to keep the money, but it would be so much more meaningful and purposeful to race for something beyond ourselves. Plus, altruism is in these days, right? Do the quick math: with $1 million, not including taxes, we could have the unbelievable privilege of funding up to 50 adoptions! The Scriptures are very clear that followers of Jesus are to take care of orphans. How cool would it be for people around the country to root for two brothers/pastors who are racing for the sake of orphans? If we were selected, but didn't end up winning the race, our story and our efforts would help to highlight the importance of adoption - a cause that we care so deeply about.]

A race around the world…for orphans around the world.

[Amazing race with amazing grace... By the way, our lives love the idea, too!]

What do you think: Do we have a shot? Are we unique enough? Who knows. But it’ll be fun trying.

Here goes nothin’!

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