Jessie Vs. NZ Round 2!

It seems like just yesterday I was getting on the plane to leave for NZ for the first time. Here it is, almost a year later, and I am planning for my next missions trip. I have an array of mixed emotions from being excited to being overwhelmed knowing that I am taking yet another step towards the dream and call God has placed on my life, but also making plans to leave everything I have ever known. 

During my first trip to NZ we saw many youth come to know Christ, new youth ministries planted, and in depth discipleship take place. While that an incredible testimony I left with much more...I left with knowledge. Spending time in NZ allowed me to get a glimpse into their culture, mentalities, and views of God. It is easy to assume that God moves the same way and responds to the same things everywhere you go. It is easy to put Him some box in which you think you have all the answers and ways to "make God move." It is easy to think that the way you perceive Him is the only correct way. The more I travel, the more I prove myself wrong and learn that God cannot be put into any kind of box...no matter the shape or size!

NZ is a non-Christian nation where only about 5% of the population believes in Christ. So out of the 4 million people that inhabit NZ only 200,000 claim Christ as their savior. They hold an apathetic mentality towards Christ...they don't believe and they don't care that they don't believe. Unlike in the Bible belt where just about everyone is affiliated to a certain denomination, NZ have no problem giving their reasons as to why they have no desire to be apart of anything pertaining to Christ. 

My heart has continued to break as I have gotten to know more about this nation. The fact that it holds the highest suicide rate in the world is enough to bring me to my knees in prayer on their behalf. The thoughts, the pain and the brokenness so many must have endured for their to be so many self inflicted deaths is a thought that I am cannot escape from. My conclusion in my last trip was that there was no hope. That this was just the way life is and how it is going to be. And without hope in a broken situation it is no wander so many have taken their lives. 

I have spent nights crying out to God for the youth of NZ. Interceding on their behalf, and seeking wisdom on how to approach ministry as a return. God has placed a vision in my heart to start More To Life Ministries in which I plan to teach them who they are in Christ, what they can have, what they can become as they follow Him. This is a country where in depth teaching of the truths of God and what Christ death on the cross provides is absolutely crucial. They must know the truths of freedom, love, grace, healing, etc. By focusing ministry in this direction I know that God is going to not only save many from taking their own lives on this earth, but also save their lives eternally!

I will be returning to NZ at the end of this year for four months (unless God opens a door for me to stay longer!) to work with C3 once again. C3 is a large church movement that was begun by Phil Pringle in Oxford Falls, Australia and has grown to have over 200 churches all over the world. I will be working directly with South Primal. This is a youth ministry in South Auckland, NZ. The majority of kids in this area are from unchurched inner-city backgrounds. When I was told I would be working with this ministry I immediately became excited b/c I knew that these were the kind of youth I worked with the majority of my life. I will also be working with C3 Leadership College to help train young adults seeking to be a part of ministry. We will teach them theology, strategies in ministry, evangelistic approaches, and many other necessary tools to becoming a well rounded pastor. Through out this training we will be doing Primal tours around the country. During these tours we will be planting new youth ministries as well as strengthening existing Primals by street evangelism, speaking in high schools, and strategic outreaches. The vision is to have a Primal (youth ministry under C3) in every major city by the end of 2013. 

I am continually honored that God has trusted me with His children on the other side of the world. Only He knows why He has placed this call on my life. One thing I know with out a doubt is that this IS God's call on my life, and that He is going to use me to help lead this country into a true relationship with Him! Even though it means that I literally may have to leave everything I have ever known...family, friends, ministries...I am willing to follow Him where ever He leads me. When God called me to NZ I never dreamed that I would be entrusted with such a large ministry. There have been many nights of brokenness for this country and intense prayer for revival throughout the nation. I am humbled that God would choose me to do His work. I will need your prayers more than ever. God is expanding my territory and as we all know, with expansion comes opposition from the enemy. Just knowing that you will be praying for me brings assurance that God’s hand will be protecting and guiding me through this next journey of my life.

Beyond your prayers, if you are led to join me by financially supporting this mission, I would be grateful. In addition by contributing you will be directly responsible for spreading the gospel in New Zealand! I need to raise $6500 to cover the total cost of the trip. I will have to be creative to raise this money, and I want to extend an invitation to you to participate. To make it as easy as possible, I have included information below that explains the process for giving for this trip. This is a journey that God has called me to, and I would greatly appreciate any level of support you are able to offer.

If you would like to know more about how God called me to New Zealand and keep up with my upcoming missions trip, please visit my previous blogs at http://jessie-vs-nz.blogspot.com/. I have also posted a video of my previous missions trip to the link provided: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7byiUJMVG80. 

Thank you ALL for your love and support! I could not do it without you! 

Ways to contribute financially:

All donations should be made payable to the Knoxville Christian Center designated to Jessie Jenkins’ New Zealand missions trip. You will be eligible to receive tax credit with any donation given.

To pay by check:

Checks must be made payable to the Knoxville Christian Center designated to Jessie Jenkins’ New Zealand missions trip.

Mail to:

Knoxville Christian Center

P.O. Box 50490

Knoxville, TN 37950

To pay by credit:

Contact the Knoxville Christian Center office and have credit card number available. Or fill out the form provided below.  Information can be taken over the phone @ 865-690-0855.

To pay cash:

Cash may be designated to Jessie Jenkins’ New Zealand missions trip and mailed or brought to the Knoxville Christian Center office.

Mail to:

Knoxville Christian Center

P.O. Box 50490

Knoxville, TN 37950