Walk It Out

It is amazing how the older I get the quicker time seems to fly by.  There are times that it still does not feel real that I am living in NZ pursuing the call God laid on my heart so many years ago.  We want and cry out to God to get us to our dreams and when they come it feels as if it is actually a dream we are living in!

Ministry in NZ has continued to go well. South Primal had one of it's best nights yet as we ventured into our series Walk It Out. We have been teaching the kids both sides of the game. Jesus as well as satan. We feel it is important to give them a balanced understanding of who they are in Jesus, but also know who is trying to keep them from becoming who they were created to be. Last week we based our sermon off of 1 Peter 5:7-10. I have found that in this culture they take on the spirit of guilt quite quickly. If they have one weekend of mistakes they feel as if they cannot even step into the church for weeks. I will see kids coming hard out for weeks and then all the sudden they disappear. The next time I see them their heads are hung down low, they will barely look me in the eyes, and hardly say two words to me. They assume that me being the pastor I will shun then and disapprove of their attendance to the service. They could not be more wrong!!

If anything those are the moments they need to "walk it out" and refuse to let satan keep them in that low place. 1 Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you." We cannot think it strange or abnormal when crap comes into our lives! As if Jesus is only targeting one or two people! v5:8 reads, "Be sober, be vigilant; b/c your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Satan is constantly looking for a kid in a vulnerable place that he can pounce on and devour. That is such strong terminology. I think we tend to forget just how much he wants to steal, kill and destroy our lives (John 10:10)! Our enemy is brutal and he is brutally coming after my kids at South Primal!

The hope lies in 1 Peter 5:7, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. I love this verse cause is has no condition attached to it. It does not say cast your cares if you are of a certain race, have a particular background, or if you have prayed the "perfect" amount of hours each day. No it simply says cast your cares upon Him cause He cares for YOU. You are His love, your are His concern, You are what He gave His life for. This too is very strong terminology. But more than just words....He gave His life for these kids.

Our battle currently is breaking the religious strongholds that have been gripping them by their necks and tossing them in every direction. If they can just understand that any progress is good progress. Even if it is only a half step as long as it is forward then it's great!

Teaching them that they are not the only ones that have suffered abuse, loss, confusion, and depression is a vital step as well. The fact that God sent me from the other side of the world, I am white and from America are three very big things that play in my favour. Maybe not immediate favour, but will help teach them a few things: 1) Being from somewhere else having gone through the same issues lets them know that is not just "South Auckland" going through tough times; 2) Not being Maori and knowing I have faced some of the same issues lets them know God loves and favours them just as much as the white man; and 3) Coming from the country that is idolised in their music, on their tv's, and in their brains as the land of dreams and yet STILL I have undergone some of the same hardships they face daily allows them to know it is not based on their location as to whether or not God wants to use them. Being from South Auckland, they are just as important, just as beautiful, just as capable to be amazing men and women of God that help led this world to Christ and can have prosperous families and lives. But...they have to learn to "walk it out" through everything satan throws at them. Each little step at a time.

On a whole note, we launched a new Primal in New Plymouth just a couple weeks ago. I am pleased to say that now there is a thriving youth ministry in New Plymouth and 14 kids got saved on the first night!! Whoo hoo!!! Please keep Yvette in your prayers as she steps up to take on this new ministry. I know that God is going to do amazing things through her!

I will be returning to the States at the end of May to visit and so excited to see my family and friends! Love you all!!!