CHASING HIS GLORY

Amsterdam testimonies

2012-01-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

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!

Stories from Amsterdam and beyond...

2011-11-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

Hallo again from Holland,

It is difficult to summarize the past four weeks in the Netherlands, but I have become convinced of God's desire to use prayer to reveal Himself to others. Here are a few stories to share how God has used some of our prayers here.

A few weeks ago during the homeless ministry we have been serving every Monday and Friday night, a women named Clare came. I was playing some worship songs outside when I started a conversation with her. From Poland, she had landed in Amsterdam without a job or a home. I shared what I had been doing in Amsterdam and some of who Jesus is. By the end of the conversation, she said that she did not believe in God, but I offered prayer anyway. She was looking for a job, so I simply asked God to provide her with one. I did not see her for two weeks after this conversation.

The next time I saw her, she looked much happier than before. In the two weeks after getting a chance to pray for her, she did find a job and a place to stay, at a Christian hostel! In that time, other fellow believers had shared the love of God and the Gospel. She was resistant, but the love of God broke through her doubt. She had asked for God's Spirit to fill her and everything changed in that moment. She was now convinced not only that God was real but that His Holy Spirit was amazing. After introducing her to some of the girls on the team, they met with her a few times. The discipleship process had begun. Unfortunately she had to return to Poland, but not without coming to meet the Lord. Now we must continue to pray!

This past week, my team has been partnering with a church in the city of Groningen, about 2.5 hours outside of Amsterdam by train. While partnering with a local church, we were meeting college students during the day to share the Gospel. Wednesday afternoon, I approached a group of students with Amanda, a student from California. After sharing what they were studying we shared why we had come to Holland. A couple became interested as we shared. Rebecca was a Christian but her boyfriend, Yenz, was not a believer. He said he believed there was "something out there" but could not be sure of a one way. We continued to share the Gospel and listen to who he was. He was open for us to pray for him at the end of the conversation but not ready for life with Jesus. We prayed for the love and Presence of God to reveal itself to him and left.

Rebecca had invited us to her Bible study the next day. I went with Amanda and Elizabeth to the Bible study. When we got there, Rebecca shared how Yenz could not get the prayer out of his mind from earlier in the day. She said he was more open to Jesus and interested in God than at any point in their relationship. It was so encouraging to see the way God moves after our simple prayers. Who knows how many have been impacted through prayer here in Holland?

There are many more stories and testimonies of God's goodness here in Holland and I cannot wait to share more on the next update! God bless, and keep praying!

Amsterdam Update!

2011-10-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

Hallo from Amsterdam,

the first four weeks here in the Netherlands have been quite busy, and finally I have a chance to give a short update. I hope it is encouraging and I will be doing more frequent updates now that I know when I will have time. Blessings from Amsterdam!

Off to Europe!

2011-09-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

After spending 11 life-changing weeks with over a hundred friends in Kona, Hawaii, I am now en route to the Netherlands. While most of my friends are from Kona are dispersing across the globe to spread the light and love of Jesus, I have the joy of continuing on with a family of 7. After three months, eleven teams will return to share the testimony of God's faithfulness across the nations.

As I currently await a 10 hour flight from Houston to Amsterdam, the anticipation for this journey with the Lord only grows. What part of God's story will we witness? How will He use us to display His glory? What parts of His heart will we discover in Amsterdam? Will God change an entire city in just months? Will lifelong friendships continue to grow? These are just a few of the questions that have stirred my heart in anticipation and expectation. The coming weeks will reveal the plans of God's heart for this family and my friends around the world.

May God's love and goodness capture hearts in Amsterdam.

"Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Isaiah 60:3

(Next update will be from the Netherlands!)

Awakening and Amsterdam

2011-09-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

The time is nearing for a 3 month outreach to Amterdam and the love of God to change the people of the Netherlands! Enjoy the update. The light of Jesus is shining upon us!

Freedom, Prayer, and Preaching God's glory. Week 6 of Awaken DTS

2011-08-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

God continues to love us and bring our hearts closer to His as we enter into the 6th week of the Awaken DTS. Enjoy the update!

Laying Down Your Rights

2011-08-02T16:51:00.001-07:00

Aloha from Kona!

This past week, we had the honor of hearing from the founder of our mission, Loren Cunningham, and his wife, Darlene Cunningham. Though each day was powerful, Wednesday afternoon was spent with Loren Cunningham on laying down our rights. Starting with Mark 8:34-38,

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me..." (34) There is a cost to following Jesus. Understanding his immense love is the key to weighing the cost of following Jesus, but their is a cost.

There were times in Loren's life where God challenged him to lay down a multi-million dollar job, his office as an ordained pastor in the Assemblies of God denomination, his wife and his own life. As Loren shared the stories of walking out these trials, my heart was gripped when he shared on surrendering his wife, Darlene, to the Lord. Years ago, Loren and Darlene were traveling in Mexico and the vehicle they were driving spun out of control. Both were flung from the vehicle and injured severely. As Loren came to his senses, he saw Darlene lying unconscious. As he looked into what appeared to be his wife departing to be with Jesus, Loren heard God ask if he would still follow him. With tears in his eyes, he realized that he had nothing left but Jesus. His commitment to following Jesus was unwavering in his heart. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived saying that she would not make it through the night, but she recovered over the following days!

Do I think God restored Darlene based on Loren's obedience to surrender her? I don't know, but I know that Loren learned the secret of giving your life to Jesus. After each of these stories of laying down good things for the sake of the Gospel, there was an obvious freedom and thankfulness flowing from Loren's words.

The day ended with a challenge from Loren. Would you surrender your right to food? sleep? your money? your possessions? a family? marriage? your life? As the Lord challenged me, I realized that freedom lies in surrender to Jesus. For

"what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36)

As the entire class was laying down personal right the Lord was highlighting, an obvious joy was resting on everyone's heart. The less we hang on to the things of this world, the more we can know Jesus. Isn't it good to lay down our rights?

Please check out the podcasts from all our lectures online at http://www.awakendts.com/podcasts/

Awaken DTS Outreach Locations

2011-07-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

Hallo! (the Dutch greeting!)

The Netherlands and more specifically Amsterdam will be my new home in just 3 months! The Lord has called a team of 9 young people in love with Jesus to shine on the streets of Amsterdam. It is a joy to release this news as God has been stirring my heart with expectation for this journey! God loves Amsterdam and He certainly loves the team of nine I will be co-leading to Amsterdam!

To all of my friends who have blessed me in prayer, this is the new target in my life for God's love to reveal itself. Please keep praying! God has a lot in store for us and the city of Amsterdam for the three months we will be there.

The video below shows the locations of the other Awaken DTS teams. May His glory cover the Earth!

Day before arrival day!

2011-07-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. The 2011 Summer Awaken DTS starts tomorrow!

Awaken DTS 2011 is Coming!

2011-06-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

Aloha, the last few weeks I have been in training for the Summer AWAKEN DTS 2011. Check out te highlights! Sorry my face is a little dark!

A Maui visit!

2011-05-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have had the amazing privilege of returning to the Maui base where I did my own DTS 4 years ago. Check it out!

Men of Glory

2011-05-10T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hello, it has been far too long since sharing on God's goodness from Kona, but God has definitely been revealing His goodness!

Psalm 27:13-14

"I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

This has been a theme for me as I work in the student services office communicating with hundreds of prospective students. Many have been accepted in the last two weeks and the AWAKEN DTS has grown to 40 plus students already! God is good.

The other aspect of life I wanted to share on and encourage men to do is a small group I am now meeting with on Sunday nights called "men of glory." We are now meeting Sunday nights to learn how to preach and teach, but mainly preach right now. The first night I went, we were told to share 5 minutes on something we are passionate seeing conquered in life. After 2 zeal-filled messages, I couldn't control my anticipation to go and volunteered. After releasing my desire to smash the fear of man forever, God was clearly showing up in my heart and the room continued to stir with passion for God. For 2 plus hours we all preached, encouraged, convicted and blessed each other! I cannot wait to see what God does in this group in the coming weeks and the revelation we get on preaching His Word with zeal and passion!

Let's preach the Word!

California and Community

2011-04-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hey all, an update on Good Friday.

Arrival Day April Quarte 2011!

2011-04-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

Take a look at welcoming and registering 340 students this April! It has been very encouraging to see many of the students arrive that we have been working with the past month in Student Services. Enjoy,

Student Services

2011-03-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! I am currently working in the Student Services office in Kona, Hawaii with YWAM. Here is a look at life in the office here. Enjoy!

Why do you eat with sinners?

2011-03-09T17:17:00.001-08:00

Aloha from YWAM Kona once again. It turns out that Jesus has had a few surprises in store for me this first week back. First off, the box spring I slept on turned out to be an upside down mattress. I am moving from a dorm of 6 fellow staff to 8 or 9 next month. The 24/7 prayer and worship room on campus now has AC. There are about 5 times the amount of students on campus compared to the summer DTS... And, I was just reminded that Jesus would eat and drink with tax collectors and "sinners".

After just one week here in Kona, I have been so encouraged and refreshed by being around friends from the past summer and others here on base. However, Jesus also gave me a challenge I want to share. It is not a groundbreaking revelation, but a call to be more like Jesus.

I was in a small group of 6 people discussing Luke 5:27-32. Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. He then goes to a great banquet at Levi's house where many "sinners" ate with Jesus. The Pharisees and teachers around complained at this act of Jesus. Jesus responds "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32

As we discussed, my heart was convicted about my plans for the next 3 months. I have been looking forward to running after God with my friends here on base the next 3 months before staffing Summer DTS again, but I have very little considered how I will effect the community here in Kona. It can be easy on a YWAM base to get comfortable, but Jesus put himself in the community around him, and loved those who seemed far from God. I still love community living and being around those who are running hard after God. I am just feeling the call to see the church multiplied around the community of Kona, and my hope is that it encourages any who read this, to get into the community around them.

Joy from JESUS! Picture is of the home base entrance

BIP

Jesus is good

2011-03-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

At 9pm last night, I returned to my home base in Kona, Hawaii. After saying hello to a few friends, I passed out on a box spring from exhaustion.

As I sit at the campus cafe, my heart has been flooded with the joy of the Lord this morning. He is just so good. Jesus never stops being good! He cannot be anyhting but good! As I look back at the trip in Africa, I can see His hand upon the trip and the revelation of His goodness coming to so many, including myself. To be back with friends who are running after God here is another reminder of His goodness. And this morning, as I read Matthew 5-7, I was again blown away by just how good Jesus is. Jesus!

Just a quick overflow from my heart this morning.

I will be in Kona for a few months, let me know if you want to come visit!

Africa 2011 Teaching Trip

2011-02-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

Here is a look at the 6-week trip in Africa with my friends Dan Baumann and Chris Chun. God impacted each of us powerfully, and so many students were touched by the love of God. Thank you everybody for praying for the students, the nations and us. I hope the video is a blessing!

Last stop, Cape Town, South Africa

2011-02-22T01:25:00.000-08:00

Hello from YWAM Muizenberg, just outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

As our 6-week journey in Africa comes to a close, we have finished with speaking in the DTS here in Muizenberg for a week. Again, I have seen the love of God impact hearts in a profound way. We have nearly 2 weeks here, and we have been able to spend a lot of time with the students outside of class. This group of about 30 has responded to the week by sharing their increased desire to walk with God, to go on outreach and to dream big for their lives.

Personally, I have been refreshed by the beauty of Cape Town. The journey is slowing down as we have a few days to relax before we head on our 28-hour journey back to the states. Though the winds can knock you over at certain times of the day, there is a definite peace over the YWAM base here. Yet in the midst of the few days to relax, along with my friends, we had the joy of diving with sharks yesterday! It is good to have friends in South Africa! Honestly, it was a life changing experience, and I hope to show a video of what I saw to everyone soon!

Overall, our time in Africa has been filled with the love and joy of the LORD. To see students impacted at the heart level by the love of God, to step out in teaching by the grace of God and walk out against fear, and to grow in friendship with Nigerians, Cameroonians, South Africans, and YWAMers from around the world has truly been joy to my heart. Thank you to everyone for your support and countless prayers. Your prayers are such a blessing to me and these nations, and I hope that the testimonies of God's faithfulness in Africa have been a blessing to you.

I am finishing up a video of our time in Africa and look forward to posting it this week! The picture is me and Chris on top of mount Muizenberg enjoying some Biltong, the local beef jerkey. May the love of God bless you today!

Cameroon encounters the love of Jesus

2011-02-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

Bonjour from the Cameroonian international airport in Douala!

What an exciting week! Chris, Dan and I all shared on the love of God in DTS this week and spoke on Genesis in another school. We arrived in Cameroon after a 10 hour boat ride from Nigeria on Saturday night. After speaking in a church Sunday morning and night, we headed to YWAM in Cameroon.

As we arrived to the base, we all felt to share on the intimate love of God. There seemed to be a little bit of a heaviness at the beginning of the week, but we all continued to share our testimonies and the love of God. As the week went on, we felt that God's love was truly beginning to impact the students, and Thursday night made it clear. As Dan shared God's delight in His children and the beauty of running to Jesus every day, the students were beginning to be touched powerfully. We prayed at the close of the night, and joy sprang forth from their hearts. Some were shouting with joy to Jesus while others were embracing each other. As Chris led worship, one student named Herman could not contain the love God had revealed to him. He was shouting outside "Jesus!" without a concern of what people thought. Thank you Jesus! Another student said he woke up at 4am the next day and did the same thing! It didn't wake me up, but it was so powerful to see the students being changed by God's love. Praise Jesus I was able to come to Cameroon!

It's time to head to South Africa for the next few weeks. Bless you all!

Here is a look at the first DTS I ever taught to the right.

You're not Alone

2011-02-04T09:20:00.001-08:00

The Africa adventure continued this week in Nigeria. After speaking in DTS with my friend Chris for a whole week, it was time to go to a DTS without my friends. Again, fear told me I would have a hrad time traveling in Nigeria and apeaking on my own, but the Lord is faithful.
Upon saying bye to Chris and Dan for a few days, the peace of God was with me that Sunday morning. I was still thinking hard about what to share and how I could "get through the week," but the Lord did not want me to try and just survive. I was reminded that Jesus came that we would have life and have it to the full. My spirit was challenged to either live life to the fullest while I spoke for 3 days, or I could try and survive. I wrestled with the Lord on what to share, but again the love of God became the topic. So I spoke on the love of God again as well as the book of Ephesians.
It went really well, and I can feel the Lord's Spirit leading as I speak. The challenge of speaking alone was answered by God's faithful Presence in my heart. I am now back with my friends Chris and Dan.
Tomorrow morning (at 3 am) we get on a ship for Cameroon. We will speak in DTS and on the nook of Genesis. Thank you for your prayers, and please keep praying! God is Immanuel!

Perfect love casts out fear

2011-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

As I stood up to speak to 9 students for a week of lecture with my friend Chris Chun, my heart was racing. I had prepared for speaking and sharing what God put on my heart, but I was still nervous. As my heart beat faster, I opened with a word of prayer and gave the week to the Lord. My heart did not stop racing, but the love of God became my focus. I spoke the first and second day on the love and mercy of God, as well as the holy Spirit. The Lord truly was casting out fear each day as I spoke on His wonderful love. Myself and Chris made great connections with the 9 students and I truly feel we were used by god this week. Praise God!

I have always had a great fear of speaking in front of others, especially for a long time. I tend to speak fast too, so I did not know how I was going to share God's love with them. At the end of the week however, one student named Paul said that he was "truly encouraged by our testimonies and thought we were walking with God." He shared that His heart had been turned from church after witnessing so much religiosity, but that our coming encouraged him to be sold out for God again. Thank you JESUS!

Amazing week of sharing in DTS. I will be speaking on my own Monday-Wednesday this coming week. Please keep praying. Bless you all!

God loves Nigeria

2011-01-20T08:27:00.000-08:00

Our first week in Nigeria has been an open door to share the love of God. After a long flight to Lagos, NIgeria and a short one to Port Harcourt Nigeria, we got started right away teaching in the YWAM DTS. I have had the opportunity to share on the love of God for 2 days. It has been amazing stepping out in this with God, and the students are hungry to know more of God. It is quite a challenge for me too, but God has been faithful and blessed me with words to share with the students. Thats all for now.

keep praying for us in Nigeria! Love you all

Nigeria with Jesus awaits

2011-01-14T18:35:00.001-08:00

Dan Baumann, Chris Chun, and myself are waiting to board for Nigeria. As we wait for quite a long flight, our hearts are stirred to serve the people of Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa. God has orchestrated our trip so far, and we eagerly await the doors he opens.

Personally, I feel that Nigeria is highlighted as a place where God wants to touch hearts powerfully and intimately. Please pray for open hearts and that the love of God transforms hearts forever. One of my greatest desires is to see people set on fire to pursue God with no hesitation or restriction. I long God impact hearts in such a way that they are changed by His love forever. Please pray that I am used by the Holy Spirit according to the will of jesus as we hope to impact Nigeria and see God's kingdom come.

Our first DTS starts Monday in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Come Lord Jesus...

Awaken DTS 2010

2011-01-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

God blessed my time being a part of this Summer DTS. I hope you all are blessed by what God did through our school. It is amazing to look back on the faithfulness of God, and recognize how unrelenting He is in His love for us. I look forward to going deeper with God in 2011, and feel that God's Spirit is challening us all to surrender to know Him...for me, it starts with a teaching trip to Nigeria this Friday. And may we see His glory cover the Earth.

Off to Nigeria, and a few other stops

2010-12-31T14:22:00.000-08:00

As a Jesus-filled 2010 comes to a close, 2011 is already looking like a great year to serve in God's kingdom. After a short rest at home, an amazing door has opened to go to Africa on January 14th to spread the love of God!

I am going on a 6 week teaching trip in Africa with 2 friends of mine. One is a fellow staff friend, Chris Chun, from the Awaken DTS, and the other is a a YWAM staff member Dan Baumannn, who has been discipling myself and Chris over the past 7 months. Dan speaks in many YWAM Discipleship Training Schools around the world, and Chris and I have an amazing opportunity to travel with him and step out in teaching as well. My heart is stirred at the thought of pouring out all that God has been putting in my heart.

We will start our trip in Nigeria for the first 3 weeks. The last two weeks will be spent in Cape Town, South Africa. Most of the time we will be speaking in DTS's in these countries and anywhere else that the Lord allows us to pour out His love. Though I have never stepped out in teaching like this before, i feel an encouragement from God to lean on His words and trust what He wants to do in each DTS.

Please be praying for us (especially Monday through Friday as we speak). Again, this is something new for me, and I will be in great need of prayers. I feel the Holy Spirit is going to use this trip to truly impact hearts in Nigeria and South Africa. Thank you for your prayers!

Bless Africa Lord!

Home for the holidays

2010-12-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

9 flights, 11000 miles, 40 hours of travel time, a quick stop in Hawaii, a quick stop in California, and I am back in my hometown of Bradenton, Florida. (where I fell asleep for about 2 days). It has been amazing to slow down to spend a few days with family.

The past few days, I have been thinking a lot about the last six months of life. It has been quite a task for me to sum up my months staffing Discipleship Training School with YWAM, and I am not sure I am done processing all that God has done in the nations around the world and the 55 students that came to Kona 6 months ago. Nations have been truly i

mpacted with the love of God as we heard of many from almost every team coming to know Jesus. More importantly, 55 students have hearts that have been impacted for the rest of the

ir lives with the love of God. For example, one of the students who went on outreach with me, is now re

turning to YWAM (along with around 10 more students) to begin a life dedicated to reaching the lost in the nations of the world.

As for a more complete look at DTS, I will put up the video summarizing DTS tomorrow as well as give an update on an exciting, and fast approaching, 2011. An opportunity has come that I cannot wait to share with everyone. I hope everyone is having amazing times with their families for the holidays and stirred about what God has for you in 2011! (I know I am)

Happy holidays

Last days in Mumbai

2010-12-08T23:40:00.000-08:00

The bittersweet goodbye to India is only a day away. As we have taken the day to look back at God's faithfulness, power and love at work over the past 3 months, I am at a loss for words. It has been such a humbling experience to share about the kingdom of heaven with so many, and see so many come into His eternal kingdom.

More than what has happened in India, I am blessed to see all 6 students on this outreach hungry for more of God, and expectant for their futures to change cities and nations. Not one is leaving unchanged or ready for God's love to bring revival wherever they go. Some will continue in missions for years, while others return home with changed hearts and a testimony of God's love.

I look forward to sharing much more soon about the overall aspects of outreach and what God has taught us all. Bless everyone!

Chase

Indian thanksgiving and house churches

2010-11-27T02:09:00.000-08:00

Oh Turkey Day... pumpkin pie... sweet potato casserole... and gravy, sweet gravy... how I missed you this past Thursday. I am a simple man, and I simply love Thanksgiving. I would argue that there is no sweeter or more delicious holiday in the year. As I awoke this past Thursday morning, there was no smell of Thanksgiving, but we praised the Lord anyway. :)

And then the Lord blessed us... myself and my team were treated to a surprise Thansgiving dinner that certainly was unforgettable. There was actually turkey on the menu! (but it was out of season, haha) But there was also steak on the menu! (which was in season and also surprising being in India) So, myself and the team had traditional steak thanksgiving meals! haha, it was a surprise and a blessing.

As for this week, we continued to see the Lord show us how hungry the people of India are for God. more have come to know the Lord in house churches and we continue to see freedom and love move people's hearts closer to the Lord each night. I love sharing the Lord's love with each and every hungry soul. There is such a need for servants in this city and country, but the Lord is moving in so many ways here. Blessings and love, and happy steak thanksgiving!!!

Only two weeks left and we want more from God!

Our time in Wardha

2010-11-20T08:17:00.001-08:00

Here is a video I put together of our time in Wardha. It was my first time editing anything like this, but I will get better. Hope it blesses you!

2010-11-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Bustle is Back

2010-11-13T05:17:00.000-08:00

After cramming into a local train Monday, waving down some taxis, meeting a variety of people in the city of 20 million, sweating while eating some chicken masala, and visiting a Muslim district with a mosque on every block, I knew I was back in Mumbai. It is good to be back in this city and full of opportunity.

We have had a blessed week serving in a new community of Islam known as neighbors to the locals. There is a need for open doors there, and for a commitment. We have met some amazing contacts for this field if any are interested long term.

I have a video summarizing our time in Wardha, central India, but my comnputer froze and is not working. So I will try my best to find a way to get it up for everyone to see the amazing time the Lord gave us in Wardha. Bless y'all and see most in a month.

I'll be in Florida a few days before Christmas and will be visiting with as many as I can. For now, we keep our focus and continue to bring the kingdom of love.

Goodbye villages, Hello Mumbai

2010-11-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

The time has come for our team to leave the beautiful plains in central India. Wardha, our current city, has been nothing but an orchestrated blessing from Jesus. Friendships with the workers in this ministry are certainly not temporary and I look forward to seeing freindship with this organization grow. (myself and brother Kishur, who pastors village house churches and smiles constantly, after church today)

After visiting many unreached villages, my heart leaves full of love and expectancy for the future in these lands. At the pastors conference this week, we spent 3 days in prayer and joyful worship concluded by the pastors washing each others feet. God is truly blessing them in love and unity. Brother Ashu, the director of the local Dinbandhu outreach ministry in Wardha, has been an amazing servant and I hope to see more teams come to bless this organization...maybe I will come back one day too. :)

And now we head back to the city of crazy transport and people everywhere. We hope to minister in slums through preaching, bless orphanages with available hands to work, and see God reveal Himself to workers in Bollywood. These are going to be some busy weeks in Mumbai where the lost desperately need the love of Jesus. Lord, open the doors...

Update in central india

2010-10-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

I tried my best to do this video many times, but it turns out there are around 1.3 billion people here and not a lot of places to hide. Hope you enjoy and know that there is a more detailed update coming on Saturday! Joy!

Wardha has seen a great light

2010-10-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Hello from Wardha, a small city in the heart of India.

From before the beginning of this outreach, God was putting His lost children on my heart. I felt He would be leading our team to call people to His loving arms. In the past two weeks, I have been blown away by the love God has for the people of India. But before I share some stories, let me tell you about Dinbandhu ministries, the friend of the poor.

Dinbandhu was started about 15 years ago to reach the unreached villages and slums in Central India. Now having 3 training centers, I am convinced the Lord will continue to bless this ministry. A basic outline of ministry starts with building friendship with unreached villages. A team then comes in and preaches the gospel of Jesus as well as pray for the sick. With those interested, a house church is started in one night! Dinbandhu then sends their team back to each village once a week for discipleship as well as to select leaders to attend their training center for one year. These centers focus on making disciple of Jesus, but they also teach each person a trade for work when they return to their village. I have been personally blessed to see such dedicated servants serving to bring change to hearts first and communities too.

In almost every village we attend, there are some who are captured by the love of Jesus and all that He offers. For example, we visited an unreached slum tonight and saw 22 desire to follow Jesus. It makes me want to rejoice and dance every time God's grace and love brings His children home. I am trying to post a video with a short update too, but it is taking a while...

I will share more soon, but for now I must sleep.

Love you all and keep praying for open doors to share the gospel! ... God truly loves His children

The colors of India

2010-10-09T00:12:00.001-07:00

We are now in the lands of central India. We have taken a train from the largest city in the country for 12 hours to the city of Wardha in central India. Upon arrival, my spirit was refreshed with the peace of country lands and fewer honking horns. Our expectancy of God to move powerfully in the villages grew as we met with the leader of this church-planting group, Ashu. His vision to see God's love invade the villages through mercy ministry and the gospel is inspiring. They have planted many churches and we look forward to helping a few more get started.

I shared at a house church of about 20 people last night. Already there members are traveling to other villages to start house churches to spread the gospel, and it was a true honor to share with them a word of encouragement. I felt great destiny on many in the room and was humbled to share what I felt was on God's heart for their church.

I am continually blown away at the doors God opens for our team and eagerly await the next opportunity to share His kingdom of love. How good is our God?

Until next time...

Mumbai, the city of many cities

2010-10-06T01:43:00.000-07:00

Hello blog-following friends,

I have a quick minute here in Mumbai (site of slumdog millionaire and bollywood). Stepping out of the airport, taxis and rikshas are flying everywhere. Crossing one street seems to be an impossible task, yet as we depart for New Mumbai (our current place of stay) there is an obvious method to the chaotic traffic of this city of 20 million. In fact, to this day, I have yet to see one accident, and there are usually 6 cars lined up in 3 lanes with motorcycles in between them.

Getting settled has been smooth with the help of our amazing contact Sitaram. Please bless him with your prayers. The food is something that will probably keep me coming back to Mumbai. Chicken curry with roti any meal.

This past weekend we served a youth festival with teams from Indonesia, Korea, USA, Malaysia and Sri Lanka and saw many commit there lives to missions following the preaching of the word. We have been able to hang with and bless some folks in Bollywood and are looking forward to more open doors soon.

We are leaving for Wardha tomorrow to work with a church-planting group. Our team is very expectant and excited about the upcoming months to serve villages and share the loving gospel of Jesus.

Thats all for now, bless y'all

BIP!

Team India and some dreams

2010-09-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

As we head to India on Friday, there is a great amount of expectation and nervous excitement. Personally, my heart is stirred and hungry to run after God with the people of Mumbai and surrounding villages. Though I expect India to bring time's of intensity, I continue to feel that our team will cling to Jesus. It may get wild, but our heart is that we keep our Lord at the center of all we do.

Please lift our team up in prayer as we seek to spread the love of God and shine in some dark places. Current prayer requests are growing together in the Presence of God as a united team, to be attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading, and for wisdom as this is my first time leading an outreach.

I love you all so much and cannot wait to share what the Lord is doing in India and how He uses our team to be a part of his plans.

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." Habakkuk 3:2

India here we come!

2010-08-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends,

In just four weeks, I will be leading a team of 9 to the country of India. Though this is my first trip to India, I certainly feel the Lord has been preparing my heart and the hearts of our team for a truly powerful trip to India. Myself and my co-leader Shawna have been working hard to prepare this trip. Now that we are almost done dealing with the struggles of obtaining an India VISA, we have been able to start setting up ministries opportunities. God has been so faithful to open up some amazing doors to share the love of God in India.

First, when we arrive in India, we are hoping to have a few days to a week of bringing Christ's love to the sets and people of Bollywood, India's Hollywood. Following this, we are taking a 10-12 hour train ride (should be an experience) to Wharda to work with a church-planting group for four weeks! There is an opportunity to share the Gospel with very young believers and maybe some who have never heard of the wonderful love of Jesus and who He is. My heart is moved each time I think about this chance to share on the life of Jesus. Followin

g this, we will take the train ride back Mumbai to work in slums, orphanages, and the red light district for a month. This is the basic outline of our trip to India. God is good!

There will likely be a few minor changes to the trip with possibly one major change for our month in Mumbai, but I will be sure to keep everyone updated. Pleas

e be praying that we see the people of India just as the Lord does and that we follow His leading in India.

Here is a photo of our team of 9. (They are amazing!)

There is so much more to share on this team and India. So please call, email and ask any questions you have. Love and joy from Jesus...

Strictly Business

2010-08-17T23:20:00.000-07:00

An heir in Christ Jesus

2010-08-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

What does God see when He looks at me? Does he see a sinner stuck in sin? A slave unworthy of love? an illegitimate child? one too dificult to be helped? one having to earn a blessing from God?... this week in the Awaken DTS, we began to recieve a piece of how God the Father views us, and the importance of receiving His blessing.

John Leach, this week's teacher, spoke on the importance of seeing ourselves as God sees us. Too often, we try to perform or live life worthy of love. We hear that God loves us, but sometimes we still try to earn it from Him. We are "all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."(Coll. 3:26) There is no opportunity to earn love, only to recieve the love Jesus offers through His work conquering death. For "God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." (Coll. 4:7) To walk out life from an identity as a son and an heir in the kingdom of God brings a freedom to run after God with a heart captivated by the Father's love. Hearts become captivated by the love of God rather than trying to avoid sin, and God reveals His beauty as we seek Him. Our school got another taste of the love of God this week, and hearts, including mine, are burning brighter to bring this love to the nations.

The outreach to India is beginning to take shape among our team of 9. One month will likely be spent in Central India with a church planting organization and the other t

ime will be spent in Mumbai. Plans will take more shape soon, but be praying for unity and preparation among our team. We are feeling the Lord wants to move in mighty ways of healing, deliverance, and revealing His Presence among us. Please be praying into our VISA process too. It is quite difficult to get a VISA to India, and we are working hard to get all 9 team mem

bers into India.

Here on the right is a picture of me and my good friend Chris Little (from South Carolina). I just thought this was a classic picture of some southern folk.

Love and blssing on everyone who reads my ramblings. Jesus is alive!

Heaven's Perspective

2010-08-06T00:29:00.000-07:00

"Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."

...on Earth as it is in Heaven...I wonder what the Lord wants the earth to look like? Are there sick people in heaven? is there depression? loneliness?...I dont know exactly what it looks like, but I want everything God has for us before I get there. Lord, bring Your kingdom to Earth.

3 weeks into DTS update!!

2010-08-04T00:56:00.000-07:00

God is love

2010-08-02T00:58:00.000-07:00

Hello hello, its been far too many days since I have been able to share what God has been doing in Kona Hawaii. In short, the love of God love is tearing down walls in hearts, filling empty places, and setting us on fire to spread His kingdom. There is so much to share, so be ready for a video tomorrow or the day after! There are some amazing things happening in Kona!

Cannot wait to share what God has been doing in the Awaken DTS!

Awaken DTS has begun!

2010-07-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

Oh snap! After getting back from a whirlwind trip at home for Christian Leavitt's wedding, things didn't slow down as I began meeting some of our 58 students. On our first ministry night the same day I got back to Hawaii (a little bit jet-lagged), I was so blessed to hear one student say "no one really prays for me like this back home." The first two days have been good as the students and staff are challenged with the fundamentals of Christianity and hearing God's voice. As I shared my testimony on the second day of class (as seen in the picture), I was unknowingly captured in my usual "go gators!" opening as I share where I am from. God instantly opened a door for me to share with a student later in the day too. It seems the good times are just beginning

Thank you to those who have been praying for this DTS. God has only just started what he has planned for this school, and I ask you to please continue praying for the students and staff here. Have some joy from the Lord, and go gators!

Meet the Awaken DTS Staff

2010-07-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to introduce everybody to my fellow staff friends. This is on a hike we took last weekend. We have also decided that our Summer DTS will be called the AWAKEN DTS instead of Classic DTS. The Lord has been preparing us to go deeper into what He is doing in our lives and the incoming students. We want to be truly aware of all that God has for us in this life.

The students arrive tomorrow and lectures begin on Monday July 12th. We have a "final" number of 57 students in our school (that's a lot). I am so excited to get this school started.

Also, a reminder that I will be home this weekend and hope to see as many folks as possible as we celebrate Christian and Cami's wedding!!!

Arrival Day

2010-07-01T20:36:00.001-07:00

Arrival Day for the students is less than a week away! We have spent quite a bit of our time preparing for the coming students, and there is a good amount of anticipation among the staff for the Summer DTS (which we are calling the Awaken DTS) to start. Outreach locations are starting to really take shape, and for me...I will have to wait until next week for a final spot.

The base has emptied out with the spring quarter coming to a close, but it feels like a campuswide family is starting to take shape. There is so much joy in the family of God as brothers and sisters in Christ that my heart has been longing to bring more into this family, whether it be students or locals here in Kona. Psalm 133 sums up my thoughts I think.

I thought everyone might enjoy the video below. Taylor and Julia are in Canada for a few weeks, but it was amazing while they were here. One last thing, Ill be home from July 8-10 for Christian's wedding, so hopefully I can see as many of my Bradenton friends and family as possible!

Fun in the Mailroom

2010-07-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

2010-06-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

After undergoing some jam packed weeks of training and orientation, I am feeling more and more established on staff here in Kona. Our Summer DTS staff team continues to grow (we have 17 members so far), but it continues to feel like a long lost family I forgot existed. We are still busy preparing for the school, incoming students, and working out team roles (sometimes I can sneak in some basketball too), but I am realizing that this is probably going tobe the most restful week before the students arrive. These are some amazing staff friends I am getting to know with Kurt (from Canada) in the middle and Chris (from Cali) on the left.

Also...outreach location is coming soon! (Looks like a nation I didn't expect either!)

Thanks so much everyone for being a blessing in my life. love and miss y'all from Bradenton, Gainesville, and around the world.

"Let God love you, love God, and let others watch"

2010-06-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Here at the University of the Nations, it seems there is always something to do or a meeting to attend. In the midst of all the doing, I have found rest and assurance in what God truly wants from us. In the words of a leader here on campus, "fall in love with Jesus, let Jesus love you, and let others watch." Perhaps your like me, and you find yourself so busy doing, that you forget that God truly just wants to give His love. As I learn to rest in His love, I find joy and strength in each day. With that, may you feel and receive God's love every day, and watch the Lord use you to change the world around you.

First Weeks on Base

2010-06-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, my first weeks on base here in Kona have been amazing. There has been quite a variety of things to do and people to meet, but it has been a blessing to get settled out here.

After a busy first week of getting housing, setting up finances and orientation as a staff member among other things, I decided to take it easy and hike the second highest mountain in Hawaii my first weekend here! Though altitude sickness, cold temperatures

and being slightly out of shape tried to slow me down, here is one reward of the beautiful view at 13500 feet.

As a staff member of the Summer DTS, we have been busy contacting students, preparing for outreach locations, and coming together as a team. Jesus really brought our

team together quickly on our staff retreat as we spent time in worship, sharing testimonies, praying for each other and playing washers (kind of like cornhole). Each of us feel that the Lord has some big plans for our school of potentially 70 to 80 students! There will be much more to come on this.

Blessings

2010-06-11T23:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Kona

2010-06-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I am going to write on this blog pretty regularly as well as send out pretty regular video updates. A fellow staff friend came up with the name, not bad if you ask me. I have only been here a week, but the whole campus is really fired up about what the Lord is doing. It is an amazing atmosphere to experience, and I hope that you all can come visit me at some point!

Ok, thats all for now.