Traveling with Jesus

The months of November and December continue to mark a year of travel with Jesus.

If you had told me in January that there would have been as many plane flights as 2012 has held, I would have laughed, but God tends to surprise me.

In November, I had the joy of teaching for 3 days in a Kansas City DTS (Discipleship Training School)  with 20 students and around 10 staff.

The first day I spoke, a Wednesday, was on how to practically preach the Gospel. After teaching on the joy of sharing the greatest news the world has ever known for about an hour, I had the students practically apply the teaching by preaching to each other. It is a simple 60-second exercise to practice sharing our faith in Jesus as the crucified and risen Son of God.

As we began, I noticed one student without a partner who slowly approached me. Her name was Rebecca."I'm not sure I can do this," she said. Having my own bouts with fear, I understood her reluctancy and encouraged her to share a few seconds on the love of Jesus with a classmate as a warmup. She agreed.

After this 1-on-1 exercise, the class split into groups of about 5 or 6 to practice preaching while raising their voices in a proclamation style. Rebecca and a few others gave some looks of "Are you serious?" I smiled knowing the fear about to be overcome. God's love then broke out of each student in a roar of Gospel truth.

The next 20 minutes turned into some of the most joyful moments of the entire week. Why? Every one was reminded of the goodness of Jesus and what He did, every one realized they could share this with anyone, and some realized they could do something they did not think they could 20 minutes prior, including Rebecca... Also, I think Jesus likes it when we declare who He is.

As the class returned to their seats with smiles on their faces, I eagerly waited to tell them the last exercise of the day, my personal favorite. Once more the joy of breaking through fear would be challenged as I asked for a few volunteers to come preach the simple Gospel to the whole class. After some quick teaching points and encouragement, two students eagerly preached, but I knew God had one more in mind. I asked Rebecca to preach.

After a few nervous seconds, the Gospel burst forth from her heart as she declared the love of Jesus, the significance of who Jesus is and the grace available to all who desire to know Jesus for minutes! The class erupted in celebration. Rebecca had dominated fear and learned to share her faith. I knew at this point that I could not keep the students from preaching. Every single student then took 1-2 minutes to preach the Gospel with zeal. Again the joy of sharing the good news hit every one in the room.

With outreach later that night, the students went to local neighborhoods and shared the simple Gospel they had just been learning to share. Some received the salvation of Jesus, many were loved, and Jesus received glory as the Gospel was preached.

I was convinced on that Wednesday that anyone who has known the love of Jesus can share it with confidence and joy and power.

What a joy to follow Jesus!

Montana and New Zealand update

Hello all! What an amazing month it has been with Jesus. Check it out...

California Update!

Hey everyone! I am in Huntington Beach. Jesus is amazing!

California Update!

Hey everyone! I am in Huntington Beach. Jesus is amazing!

London CR update!

God is doing powerful things in England! Check out some of the highlights the past two weeks!

The good news in Orlando and now LA!

The Gospel is good news. It is really good news.

Is there anything as good as people meeting Jesus and giving their lives to Him? In just two weeks in Orlando, God used the 200 plus students and staff to bring 100 plus locals into a saving relationship with Jesus. Along with that, the students and staff were equipped with how to share the Gospel of Jesus as a lifestyle, how to bring people to freedom in Jesus, and how to live a life of worship and prayer. Many were healed. Others gained personal freedom from sin inside and outside of scheduled meetings.
 
Personally, I had the joy of leading a young man from Brazil, Pedro Turra, to the Lord with some friends of mine. We met him at a food court in a mall and shared the Gospel with him. He was open and joyful about following Jesus. He also confessed some of his struggles that we prayed through afterwards.

In LA, Jesus has been using this second school of the Circuit Rider to impact the West coast of America as well. As more people come to know Jesus each day, it feels as though we are at the beginning of a mighty move of God in America. Though I do not know what it will look like exactly, I have such hope and expectation of many coming to know Jesus in the coming months here in America. My own heart has been opened to the necessity of the simple Gospel to be preached again and again in America, and I look forward to being a part of God's plans for America!

Orlando Circuit Rider

In just two days, the School of the Circuit Rider begins in Orlando, Florida.

What is this school? It is a two week time of being established in the Gospel and equipped to share the Gospel. The vision is to see greater revival and awakening in the church, understanding on preaching the Gospel boldly with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, and training on how to make disciples. 

How does this happen? The first focus is the life pursuit of intimacy with God through relationship and obedience to His Word. There will also be an emphasis on intercessory prayer, evangelism, gospel proclamation and community around the Presence of God. There will be regular times of worship, prayer and reading the Word. 

There will be worship, teachings and application nearly every day the next two weeks. My heart has been steadily stirred over what I feel is God's excitement about these schools. They are so much more than schools, and I believe God is going to move significantly over the next two months in America, London and beyond. It's time to go!

Leaning on Jesus... Riding Circuits

What do you do when you have the most difficult month you can remember? How do you respond when life tests your heart? Where do you run when there seems to be little understanding to circumstances?

   In the last month, I have been discovering that in the midst of difficulty, the truth of God's loving intimate character shines. Just a month ago I was engaged to be married, about to help lead in a 3rd DTS with close friends and excited about what the future was shaping up to look like. In a few days, there was no longer an engagement, an unlikelihood of being with the same group of friends and a changing future. As I wept on the floor of my home, I realized there was only one place to run, to hide, to be restored, to find hope and to be filled with faith for the future again. Jesus. I have heard countless times that God is with me, but as I sat asking the question of 'why?' and trying to figure out what was happening, there was a sweet whisper from the Holy Spirit that He was with me and wasn't leaving.

   In the weeks that have followed since everything seemed to change, the 'why?' in my heart has not been answered, and I am learning that it doesn't need to be anymore. For "... the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil.4:7) The peace of God has certainly gone beyond my understanding, yet it has been my constant through an array of emotions. The peace of God is real. It's really real! Life does not have to always make sense. Circumstances do not have to look the way we expect or even want. God is still God. He is still good. He is still what life is all about. There is still an abundant life to live for His kingdom and His glory.

   Daily, Jesus is renewing my perspective by revealing who He is and what is to come. As I lean on Jesus, it has become quite clear that there is still a race to run with God. As of Friday, I have left the island of Kona for a few months. I will be a student at the School of the Circuit Rider in Orlando for two weeks. Following this, I will be on staff with the same two-week school in Los Angeles, London and Kansas City. All of these are still with YWAM, and I will be continuing with YWAM for a while as of now. There are some amazing friends that I have hoped to be able to work with that I am doing all of these schools with, and I am expectant for what God has in the coming months.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Prverbs 3:5-6)

Kona: Leadership Track

Hello all,

I arrived back in Kona, Hawaii on April 3rd. Along with about 60 others, I am participating in the leadership track on campus. What does that entail? Personally, I serve the campus DTS department in admissions and finances for a minimum 12 hours a week. I spend 10 hours a week in prayer and worship, helping lead 4 of those hours. Along with that, I am currently co-leading the campus Monday Night Ministry Night as well. This night consists of 2 plus hours of worship, prayer and anything else the Holy Spirit leads us to do. Our personal work is memorizing the Sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) and reading three books. These are the practical aspects of the next three months. Though it will be busy, I believe these months will serve this base effectively and personally stretch my growth in preparation for what is to come. Blessings

Nepal Video

Highlights from the two and a half weeks in Nepal!

Puma experiences the Gospel

After a long bus ride and a few hour hike up to the village of Puma, our team of eleven had the joy of sharing the Gospel in a village that has heard the story. This was the fifth trip up to this village, my first. Though the day was long, it was such a joy to be able to share the love of God in a transforming village.

The highlight of the four day trip came on the last night. We had spent most of the day serving any in the village who needed practical help. We had spent the day worshipping the Lord in song, stacking wood, shucking corn, carrying jugs of water and teaching the children songs. At our last stop, we were stacking a small stack of wood and helping a widow with her work. She had one son and was in the lower caste of the two castes in the village. After helping, we shared the story and love of God with her. Though she did not jump at the story, her listening son did! After sharing for around a half hour on what he had heard from a few other visits, "Amos" was ready to receive the Lord. Our little circle of joy got better after that. I had noticed a friend of his, Ramos, listening intently. As we celebrated with Amos, it was clear that something was not OK with Ramos. I asked the main translator to ask him what he was feeling. Ramos quickly shared that he wanted Jesus too. Later that night, three more joined making it a group of five that wanted to know Jesus. It never stops being beautiful getting to see Jesus pour out His forgiveness, mercy and love on the lost. Is there anything more powerful than the Father having a son come home? As a leader in a group put it, "Amos, you no longer are fatherless, you have the best Father with you." Amos is now a prince of the King of kings and adopted into the family of God.

Though some did not agree with the Gospel, some were not sure yet and some were ready to go head first, it is clear that the love of Jesus continues to move forward. Thank you for helping me go on this short journey to Nepal!

From Kathmandu to trekking

After a little over a week here in Kathmandu, I will be heading up to two villages from Friday through Monday with a team of 10. We will be sharing the Gospel through a display of the Jesus film on a projector, preaching and praying for any with needs. It looks to be a powerful time in the coming days and i am so thankful to be a part of His kingdom her in Nepal.

This past week, a highlight for me has been two meetings with a man named Nischel. The first day that we met him was at the end of a day of evangelism on the streets. We were getting tired but we felt the Holy Spirit tell us to stay where we were. Within a minute a smiling man approached us for no apparent reason. After getting to know him and sharing why we were there, he responded, "It sounds like it is my lucky day to hear about Jesus." It really was for a journalist who spoke some English. We joyfully shared the Gospel with him and prayed for him at the end of the conversation. The prayer was clearly impacting him and he said he felt the love of God. Though he has yet to come to know Jesus personally, we met with him again to share more on Jesus and what it means to follow jesus. Keep praying for Nischel as his time to know Jesus personally is clearly nearing!

Also, please pray for the villages this weekend! Cannot wait to send an update when I get back in 5 days!

God loves His children

Part of the joy of ministering here in Nepal, is getting to spend some hours with the kids at the full time orphanage (adoption center). These kids are some of the most joyful young people I have been around. God truly is the Father to the fatherless and loves to fill His children with joy. There are around 25 kids at this particular ministry, and each one of them has revealed the nature of God's love no matter the situation.

Here is a look at a picnic we had for most of the day two days ago. They were so thankful to play, eat and spend time with us all. The full time workers here are carrying hearts mothers and fathers. There is also such evident power in the ministry that receives God's children and cares

for them.

Today, we hit the streets at the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have met a few people already touched by the love of God, and I am expectant for God to meet with them today! Stories of a few are to come!

Nepal has come

Namaste!

After traveling 30 or so hours to Nepal and arriving yesterday afternoon, I decided to get up early, ignore jet lag and help dig a place for an outdoor baptismal area in a flowing stream. It sounds like I should be tired sitting here at 7pm the day after arrival, and I am! Therefore, I will share just a quick highlight from the day here in Nepal before heading to bed early. Also, I will be here until March 20th with updates to come!

Though I am just meeting some ministries here in Kathmandu, Nepal, my heart was stirred by who I was able to be with today. A South African named Bill has an aquaponics greenhouse area that can be taught and multiplied by locals. What is aquaponics? Well, I am not sure I will be able to give the full picture, but here goes my best effort. It is a greenhouse that can grow plants without soil and develops fish naturally in a mutually beneficial way! The fish, kept in a small tank, produce nutrient rich water for the plants. The plants in turn take the nutrients while giving good water back to the fish. The vision is to see this sustainable and environmentally beneficial farm system reproduced by locals. In short, my heart was stirred to see the Gospel going into another area of society.

After a short tour of the facility, we walked down to the stream right and began digging around the stream to create a baptismal pool. Personally, I like to work with my hands, so today was a great day. We moved earth for most of the day before heading back to home. Pray for this ministry as there is only one Christian in this village. May God use this man and his business!

Thank you Jesus for Nepal!

Also, there is some really exciting new that most of you know about, but I am going to wait to share it along with a 2012 tentative schedule. Blessings from Asia!

2011 year

Enjoy the celebration of 2011! Thank you Jesus. Thank you family. Thank you friends. I am blessed by so many.

Amsterdam testimonies

Here are some testimonies towards the end of our time in Amsterdam. They were definite highlights! Enjoy and I look forward to sharing about 2012 and what God has planned!