There is a Louder Shout to come!

It has been an action packed couple of weeks. I'm quite wired at the moment, experiencing a bit of an adrenaline hangover. Last week I worked as late as 11.30pm on Tuesday, 10.30pm on Wednesday and past midnight Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Whew!

But it was for a GREAT reason. One of my big projects this year has been as part of the planning team that coordinated our ISMNZ national conference. It was an important celebration, marking our 10th Anniversary since God called a group of people to establish the organisation.

But before I get into that, the week of 18th October started with a VERY special Lord's Day service. Two of the Overseas Christian Fellowship (OCF) students originally from Malaysia who fellowship at our church were baptised. What a wonderful day. In this picture are MANY of the OCF students who came for the celebration. As a gift to YY and Eugene, they sang Amazing Grace (my chains are gone...) - and one of the students from China become a follower of Christ that morning. It was hard to keep a dry eye that day. Please pray for YY and Eugene as they grow in their walk with Christ and serve Him on campus and at the church, and of course for their STUDIES, because the next three weeks are the final assignments and exams for the semester.

LABOUR WEEKEND (23-26 OCTOBER) in Rotorua! Peeeyuuu! Sulfuric Thermal capital of NZ!

Thank you to all who prayed for me to have the strength and endurance to give God my best in serving everyone at the ISM conference. I'm still a bit numb from it all - but words can't really describe my joy. God provided me with so many great team members to make it possible. The beauty of a conference where everyone belongs to Christ is that everyone serves one another, so the 'burden' of the work was never too much for me.

Our great worship team coordinators (Kenneth Koo and Joel Wicks) pulled together a nationwide team of gifted musicians and prayerfully chose the songs that would enhance the them of the conference: "Reaching the nations from our doorsteps - Impacting lives for eternity".

One song we especially sang from our toes and out our mouths was Anthem of the Highest Praise.

There is a louder shout come,
there is a sweeter song to hear,
all the nations with one voice,
all the peoples with one fear.
Bowing down before Your throne,
every tongue and tribe will be,
All the nations with one voice,
all the peoples with one King.

And what a song we'll sing upon that day...
O what a song we'll sing and
O what a tune we'll bear.
You deserve an anthem of
the highest praise.
O what a joy will rise and
O what a sound we'll make,
You deserve an anthem of the highest praise!

Gotta go to You Tube and listen to this one. It'll have your heart leaping. It truly represented the reality we were experiencing. 16 nations were represented at this conference - all singing with one voice. During one of our prayer times, everyone was asked to pray aloud in their mother tongue - but there was such a spirit of unity that it sounded like one voice.

Our main sessions speaker was Craig Barrow (principal of Pathways College of Bible and Mission who we partner with for our ministry internship). Wow... that is a 'dude' on adrenaline shots. Seriously... he is a 'mountain runner' and based on the energy with which he delivered inspirational and challenging messages, I know why. He inspired us from Hebrews 11 & 12, but I'd say the pivotal passages were these:

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. 3 Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. (NLT)

The way to live a life of faith is to: strip off every weight (busyiness, service, work, etc.) that has slowed our relationship with Jesus; especially the sin that trips us up all the time (confess, repent and get back in the race - you are not disqualified); run with endurance (the Christian walk is not a sprint to the finish); and always keep our eyes on the One who ran before us and who already holds the victory! He finished, and He promises that we'll finish in His power (not by our own strength).

So, we were challenged to get it right! Face the realities that have kept us from great fellowship with Christ, weighed us down and tripped us up. He asked each of us to think about what we need to keep our eyes on Jesus.

That afternoon I took a few people to Okere Falls who wanted to have a nice time connecting to the Lord through enjoying His creation. We had miraculous weather over the weekend! So, we all scatttered for a couple of hours and had quiet time. My place to catch up with the Lord was by the trout stream, listening to a little Third Day ("Show me Your glory, send down Your presence, I want to see Your face!")..

my retreat time...

Enjoying some sunshine with Jingxiu

Claudia offering up McDonald's 'chips' to the sea rats

Japanese schools don't teach students how to drink from a bottle!

A lovely sushi lunch at Lake Rotorua

Some of the other conference highlights included mini-olympics (as created by Alan from Vanuatu and Yuki from Japan). Nothing like a little coconut cracking and ten pin bowling using a pumpkin and milk bottles. My country team, Turkey, took the overall gold medal!

We also had great workshops on Storytelling the Bible, thinking through how to minister to international students at every stage, how to reach out through international family hostels, and sharing with more of our staff and volunteers how they can be involved in the ministry internship programme.

Saturday night was AWESOME... a "Kingdom Celebration" lasting nearly three hours. One of the groups sharing the camp with us was the AoG Samoan Youth from around the region. If you have never heard a choir of passionate young Samoan's sing... you are truly missing something. Wow... I asked them to open our celebration night before they went to their own session. They sang "Moving Forward" and seriously - it was like riding a freight train to heaven. WOW. Check out my link on You Tube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PilfgFt-S4&feature=related

Not going back! Moving ahead!

Still standing as the evening came to a conclusion...

A Tongan choir is also a heavenly sound!

Sing a long with our Malaysians! (plus a couple of Kiwi's)

We also took the opportunity to honour Terry & Jenny McGrath

Now we see a part of this
One day we shall see in full
All the nations with one voice
All the people with one love
No one else will share Your praise
And nothing else can take Your place
All the nations with one voice
All the people with one Lord

Even now upon the earth
There's a glimpse of all to come
Many people with one voice
Harmony of many tongues

We will all confess Your name
You will be our only praise
All the nations with one voice
All the people with one God

Finally, below is a little video of a worship song and dance taught by our J2 team!

The Following Took Place Between Aug19 - Oct12

HAVING A GREAT TIME LIVING THE MANDATE!
Titus 2 teaches that us 'older' women are to train the younger women to love their husbands and childnre, to be self-controlled and pure, to run a household, to be kind, and to teach them to submit to their husbands so that God's word would not be maligned.

God has given me some great younger women to meet with and mentor in these past few months. I am thrilled to be able to spend time doing some Skypleship with Mai in Tokyo! It makes for late nights but is such a blessing. Please pray for Mai-chan. One of the passages that we can pray for her is "Teach slaves (workers) to be subject to their masters (employers) in everything, to make effort to perform work that pleases them, to not talk back to them but rather show they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching of God our Saviour attractive" (Titus 2:9-10).

Since my last update, I've had the joy of continuing to meet with YY (Malaysia), one of the leaders of OCF and organisors of Camp Chica. She's a third year Vet student with a full heart to serve God. During her mid-semester break, she asked me for books to read - so I gave her lots of choice. She ended up completely connecting with "The Holiness of God" by RC Sproul and read it more than once. I knew before that she was a kindred spirit, but now I am certain! Please pray for YY as she is getting baptised on Sunday, 18th October at our church! And pray that she will continue to grow in her faith, as well as succeed in her studies... "commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3) & "So do not worry, saying, 'what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we wear?' or 'what shall we drink?' For those who do not know Christ run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and your needs will be met as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt 6:31-34).

Minami-chan (Japan) came to me and said she wanted to live for God and not be distracted by things in this world, but that she struggled to keep her focus when she gets depressed. We're going through "Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth that sets them free." Please pray that she will learn to hear God's voice above the lies, and that she will know, "Since you've been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden in Christ in God... put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature" (Col 3:1-5a).

Nane (Tonga) gave me a text and asked if we could start meeting together for accountability. She's been very busy working full time as an accountant, planning a January wedding, and while she has seen God moving in their relationship and wedding planning - she misses her close fellowship with the Lord and wants to revive her heart and passion for God's word and God's people. I am so excited to meet with her. Please pray as we do a study on the faithfulness of our Lord who desires that we "go disciple all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, to the very end of the age" (Matt 28:19-20).

The Cardiff girls having tea before their Friday Night Girls bible study, Nonoka & Mana

Cardiff Street continues to be a blessing. Miyuma returned to Japan for a little while, and Nonoka moved in. Both came to faith this year through the foundations laid in Cardiff Street by Mai-chan last year, and the continued support of J2. Nonoka is growing heaps in her relationship with Christ, and will face returning to Japan for the holidays in early November. Nonoka is studying nursing at Massey university, and is a very busy girl. Our best hours are between 10 and midnight for talking about life and ministry and God.

Mana will be with us until March, when she returns to Osaka. Mana-chan has truly grown during her months here in NZ. I met her in 2006 during our mission trip in Osaka, and it's such a blessing to see the young woman she is becoming. This year she's learned how to cook, and is the main chef in our house now because Nonoka and I are often working. Please pray for Mana as she seeks God for direction in career and ministry back in Japan.

JingXiu is our part-time Cardiff lady... (with her own garden in the back). She's still looking for work since her graduation last year. Even though she hasn't found a job, she is ministering full time - serving the church, ISM and the OCF students. Please pray for her that she will see God's perfect plan for job and future, whether in NZ or in Malaysia.

GRACE CITY CHURCH CONTAGIOUS STUDENTS
The fellowship on Sunday nights with the youth and university students continues to be a highlight to begin my week. We have completed two series of teaching by RC Sproul and have now launched into the final one called "Ultimate Issues". It is amazing seeing how God is moving in each heart in a very deep and profound way.

Please pray for Kenny, Ian, Jingxiu and I as a 'leadership team', that we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in guiding this group. There is a sense in which this year was a seed, and next year something incredible with come to fruition to reach many students for Christ in the local high schools and uni's. Pray too for Vincent, who has recently become a follower of Jesus and is himself contagious!

ISMNZ MINISTRY INTERNS' MINISTRY RETREAT &
Planning for upcoming ISMNZ National Conference

In mid-September our seven ministry interns (Joel/UK, Allen/Vanuatu, Victoria/Scotland, Claudia/Mexico, YangYang/China, Yuki & Koyo/Japan), along with our operations manager (John Wallis) and his wife (Reena), and one of the intern's wives (Lauren) set off on a five hour road trip to Lake Rotorua (some call it 'rotten-rua' because of the very heavy sulfur smell from all the thermal activity in the region). We stayed at Keswick Christian Camp on the lake.

The purpose was two-fold: to have a focussed time of prayer for the world and for our disciples, and to plan the upcoming ISMNZ national conference which is being held at Keswick.

What a great time! One of the biggest blessings was the morning we each spent with the Lord. In all the busyness of work and study, even when you're serving God and teaching and studying God's word and about God -- your relationship with Him can get lost. Suddenly you find yourself doing it all in your own strength and according to your own plan, and lose sight of His will, His wisdom and His purpose. Not to mention, you really miss those intimate times with your marvelous Creator and Saviour. We forget the reality that "He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6)... Therefore -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose" (Phil 2:12b-13).

As I sat with the Lord by the lake, I saw a storm moving slowly towards me. It was so warm sitting there, but I knew it would only last for a moment. Still, the song by MercyMe came to mind, and with my iPod handy I turned on "Jesus, Bring the Rain"... "I can count a million times, people asking me why I can praise You with all that I've gone through. The question just amazes me, can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in you. So I pray - bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free, bring me anything that brings You glory. For I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus - bring the rain!"

COMBINED 'FATHER'S DAY' SERVICE AT GCC...
One of my favourite things at our church is when the Chinese congregation that usually meets for service in the afternoon combines with our international family for a full service. This time it was to celebrate Father's Day (which is in September in New Zealand).

The service is conducted in both Mandarin and English, and for the first time, we had both pastors take a part of the sermon. Thank you to EVERYONE who has been praying for my church. God HAS answered our prayers for leadership, unity, healing and we continue to covet your prayers in that regard. Our heart is to continue to be a reflection of the kingdom of God as people from many tribes, tongues and nations worship, serve and reach out together in the name of Jesus!

The prodigal son story... KungFu Panda style!

FINALLY! AFTER SIX YEARS IT'S OPEN!
THE WAIORA (Living Water) CENTRE

One of the first projects I was a part of when moving to New Zealand in late 2003 was the planning of the new Christian chaplaincy centre to be built at Massey University. It was in the early planning stages, and the architects had submitted their first draft to the committee.

Well, after six years and God's raising of a million dollars, the construction is completed and the Waiora Centre is officially opened to serve the students. It brings to mind the verse, "God is able to do immeasureably more than you could ever ask or imagine."

Sesimani Havea, one of our ISM Pasifika ministry leaders and a chaplain for Pacific Island students (and of course any student) commented, "I have to pinch myself that God really gave us this amazing gift to serve the students with".

The old chaplaincy was a donated house on campus, that was definitely stretched in terms of meeting the needs of the various Christian groups on campus. But this new Centre is a fresh beginning, and Friday nights at Massey University are bursting with praise and outreach in the name of Jesus. Not just at the centre through the Overseas Christian Fellowship group, but with Pasifika "Fresh Zeal" fellowship, the Chinese 'Oddfellows" fellowship, and the MU Christian Fellowship meeting all over campus. Please pray for all who are involved in these student-led ministries, that God would continue to raise up labourers to mentor them. It is such a privelege to care for these students, who serve God with such zeal even in the midst of studies and part time work. They chose to lay down their lives to reach out to their classmates with the love of Christ.

The 'two Daniels'. Next year's OCF & MUCF ministry presidents, carrying the painting done by students from the old chaplaincy to the new centre.

The 'grand' opening blessing day! Overwhelming JOY

The rooms open out onto a deck into a lovely 'forest' sanctuary. Wow - did you say LEATHER couches? That are NEW? And wireless internet? Wow.

"You mean we can fit the entire fellowship in ONE room?"

J2 CAMP AT FOXTON BEACH...
Jesus taught us a lot about discipleship. He was very clear in telling his disciples to "go and disciple everyone (all peoples, all 'ethnos')". And He taught them how... "teaching them My words, teaching them to obey My words, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, casting out demons, loving one another, loving your enemies, blessing those who persecute you, doing good to those who hate you... and He also said... "Baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".

I think what blesses me most about spending time with J2 is the way the model discipleship. Sure, they do Bible study, and they share the gospel, and they teach others what Jesus said and how to live according to His word. But, other people who have met the J2 students and leaders "know that they are Jesus' disciples by the way that they love one another."

The ministry of J2 involves friendship, hospitality, crazy crazy Japanese game show style fun, meeting needs, ministering to those who are weak... even dealing with the issues of spiritual oppression and depression.

And, at J2 camp this is even more highlighted. This semester's camp was again a wonderful display of the fact that our God is still saving souls. This year, there have been so many come to Christ through J2. Pray for all of the J2 leaders, that they will wisely follow up and continue to 'teach them' Jesus' words and ways.

... baptising them.... another highlight of J2 camp was the baptism of one of the students who came to know Jesus while in New Zealand. He wanted to be baptised in New Zealand amongst his brothers and sisters in J2, before he returns to Japan to live. Praise God for this marvelous day!

The seas were rough as the baptism took place. It reminded me of the story where Jesus walked on water, then Peter left the boat to go to him. Everyone who went into the water on this particular day did so by faith in God, cuz for sure it was a crazy storm. Even though the waves were overwhelming, no one drowned and there was so much joy - the joy of the Lord was their strength!

TIME AND TIME AGAIN: QUIZ NIGHT 2009
The Contagious youth poured their hearts into planning Grace City Church's annual trivia quiz night. The theme: Decades of the 20th Century. So, teams were challenged to choose their decade, come in costume, have a song prepared and study up on their 20th century trivia, their Bible knowledge, and know where things are in Palmerston North.

Wait... is this a church? What's with the disco ball?

Another amazing area of growth this year has been with the Contagious worship team. God has really blessed them with talents and passion for praising Him through music. Everyone was so blessed.

Who's the dude with the 'fro? And is that Slash on guitar?
80's RAAWK!

Okay...hmmm... looks more like 1490's than 1990's.

Massey Overseas Christian Fellowship's team at quiz night!

OVERWHELMED!

On the day before I was leaving the states earlier this year to return to New Zealand, my dear friend Erika insisted that I buy a copy of a movie titled: FACING THE GIANTS! I had already seen Fireproof and loved it, and the same folks that made that movie had previously produced Facing the Giants.

Since returning with it to New Zealand in March, I’ve seen it several times, because the students are all keen to see it, and they tell others and so forth. At the end of the movie, the main character has just experienced major blessings as a result of living for God’s glory, and one more word of good news pushes him over the top emotionally… it’s like he’s so filled with gratitude and joy he can barely breath, and he manages to say through tears, “I’m overwhelmed!”

I know exactly how he feels. Overwhelmed! That is the word that most describes what has been happening in the past two months. Sometimes being overwhelmed is a good thing, and sometimes it’s not the best thing. Yet, I praise God because in Him I live and move and have my being, so even the tough situations are not hopeless… there is a plan.

Recently I attended the J2 camp at Foxton Beach. During my morning quiet time before Nonoka and I had our devotional sharing, I asked God to help me put into a word or words why I felt like I was choking on everything as if my heart had grown so big I was having trouble breathing. That’s when the word overwhelmed came into my mind and here’s what I have reflected on since:

• I am overwhelmed with passion for what God has me doing in life. I can see so much potential for ministry and so many opportunities to choose from but don’t know which way to go.
• I am overwhelmed with joy seeing so many youth and university international students coming to Christ or growing deeper in their walk with Him, and in their love for one another.
• I am overwhelmed with the way God has answered prayers for Grace City Church and He is really raising up a family of people who love each other and are ministering together.
• I am overwhelmed with praise for God as I spend time in the newly completed WaiOra (Living Water) Centre at Massey University (Christian centre). It was the first committee I recorded minutes for when I moved to NZ in last 2003 and to see this million dollar facility be completed six years later is a testimony to God’s faithfulness. The students at Massey are already benefiting from it.
• I am overwhelmed by things to do and losing track of the days and weeks and months as a result.
• I am overwhelmed with a desire to have more of my friends, family and supporters be a part of this amazing ministry, to come and visit me and experience the blessing I get to participate in every day.
• I am overwhelmed at all of the labourers God is raising up to work in His harvest field amongst international students in New Zealand.
• I am overwhelmed with compassion for all my friends and family-in-Christ in the Philippines, Samoa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and Tonga as so much calamity has come to them over these past few weeks.

OVERWHELMED –verb (used with object)
1. to overcome completely in mind or feeling: overwhelmed by happiness.
2. to overpower or overcome, esp. with superior forces; destroy; crush: Roman troops were overwhelmed by barbarians.
3. to cover or bury beneath a mass of something, as floodwaters, debris, or an avalanche; submerge: the tsunami from the earthquake overwhelmed the islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.
4. to load, heap, treat, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything: a child overwhelmed with presents; to overwhelm someone with questions.
5. to overthrow.