Melchizedek in the Old Testament is God's way of letting us know He is the Father of all peoples. He created everyone and has interaction with every people in every culture. The depth of revelation or understanding that other culture have about their Father in heaven obviously varies and they still need a revelation of Jesus to be saved. However, Abraham, who was God's chosen, who was going to bear us the Levitical priesthood through Isaac and then Jacob, actually tithed to Melchizedek. In the Jewish culture the Priests were tithed to, but Abraham recognized that Melchizedek actually knew God as well, and considered him a high priest. This is very significant, its not just us as Christians who have a connection with God. If God is really the Father of all nations then the story of the flood and of Babel should be evidenced in other cultures as well as ours.
Furthermore the word El...as in Elohim (God) or Bethel (house of God), El Shaddai (God Almighty) was a Canaanite word before it was a Hebrew word. This means that Abraham actually called inherited and willing used the word that Melchizedek use for God in the future Hebrew generations. He acknowledged that Melchizedek knew the same God he did. This would be comparable to Paul going to Greece and using the Greek word Theos which already meant "God" in their culture and Logos (or word) for Christ. Not comparable to using Zues, who is created, and not in the likeness of the God we know. Even the word G-O-D that we use is believed to have a Germanic origin "gudo".
Anyway, all of this to say, God has called me to study other cultures and find out where God is already there, a pure understanding of a transient creator being, with no barnacles of error. Then use God in that culture and their history to connect in Christ and the rest of the story. As an example of what I want to do, I'm going to tell you a couple of stories.
Firstly a YWAM outreach team was in the Amazon rain forest with a tribe that had never heard of Christ at all and many of the villagers had never seen white people in their generation. The team, wisely, starting ministering to the people by relating and asking a little about their tribal history. The asked where this tribe comes from. The chief replied with an answer that didn't really tell them much, so they asked over and over...the chief continuing to not communicate an appropriate answer. Later on that week they came back to the question. Again the team asked "How did your tribe get here? What is your story?" The chief responded with this story.
"Many years ago, the people of the world were building a large temple that was to reach to the heavens and show the power of men. Then a powerful Spirit struck the temple, confused the people and scattered them around the world. And that is how we got to this place in which we live."
The team, obviously overwhelmed with this amazing opportunity, pulled out a bible and showed the chief (through a translator) how the story of their ancestors was recorded in this book. The chief, overjoyed and teary eyed, cried out "Where...did you get the book that tells the story of MY people." The tribe listened over the days that followed and was taught the message of Christ and came into relationship with THEIR Father...not the YWAM teams Father, but that tribes Father. They knew a God that was theirs, that had already created and had a history with their people.
Their are stories of floods, creator beings who are supposed to come to earth one day, books that tell civilizations how to live and the story of their history that were "lost long ago" and the people are waiting for someone to bring it. God has created open doors all throughout cultures, if we only had the training or discipline to study and find out where God is already at work in peoples hearts, cultures and histories.
The Inca's worshipped the sun god Inti, until one day a bold leader named Pachacuti questioned this reality. Pachacuti asked some questions:
1. If the sun is god, then why can a cloud overshadow it and take its glory away.
2. Why is it predestined to rise and fall? Having no control over itself never mind the lives of those on earth?
3. Inti can't be universal if, while giving light to some he with-holds it from others
Now, Pachacuti's father, Hatun Tupac had a dream where a Spirit from the Inca peoples history named Viracocha, visited him. Viracocha reminded Hutan Tupac that He is the only creator of all things, and is to be worshipped. Pachacuti remember this story and new the history of this God, the Inca upper class, royalty and priesthood were told that this was to be the God that they worshipped from this point on.
Pachacuti's description of this God as summarized by Dr. B.C. Brunage of the University of Oaklahoma is as follows:
"He is ancient, remote, supreme, and uncreated. Nor does he need the gross satisfaction of a consort. He manifests himself as a trinity when he wishes,... otherwise only heavenly warriors and archangels surround his lonliness. He created all peoples by his "word" [shades of Heraclitus, Plato, Philo and the apostle John!], as well as all huacas (spirits). He is man's Fortunas, ordaining his years and nourishing him. He is indeed the very principle of life, for he warms the folk through his created son, Punchao [the sun disk, that was somehow distinct from Inti]. He is a bringer of peace and an orderer. He is in his own being blessed and has pity on men's wretchedness. He alone judges and absolves them and enables them to combat their evil tendencies."
The Spanish conquistadors came across and slaughtered the upperclass and royalty to get the wealth of this nation. This left the Inti-worshipping lower class as the sole inheriters of leadership in the country, thus Inca's returned to their belief in Inti and this one generation legacy of being so close to God is silenced. However, some of the spanish priests translated the songs written to Viracocha in the Inca language and they sound remarkably similar to Christian hymns still sung today. In reading the book "Eternity in Their Hearts" by Don Richardson, I had a revelation that with hundreds of stories like this from all around the world, sharing Jesus with people is so easy, while serving them, teaching english, practically helping or living amongst people, I am going to dig in and get to know their culture, finding out what revelation of God they already have, whether as small as having a value of saying thankyou or having a village elder who had a vision of Christ. This is my vision, it means a season of schooling, studying Anthropology and History. But its a clear vision that God has birthed in my heart and He is going to help me fulfill!
Bless you, hope you enjoyed reading...please contact me with comments or questions. I have so much more I could say about this topic and share with you! Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
I am Adam
God is absolutely brilliant...go figure. And He has done so much that I am thankful for in the past years and especially months. God has given me some amazing vision for my future over my time working in Australia and Asia! It comes in two parts, He has revealed to me who I am and what He designed me for. I'm so thankful for His amazing faithfulness to speak. How often do we get stuck thinking we are praying to a God that is billions of miles away who is hard to connect with. But in actual fact faith is just acknowledging and realizing He is sitting across the table from us, living in us, we open our mouths and He immediately hears and touches us. We can speak to Him and He speaks back, because He loves and wants relationship with us.
Anyway, I want to update everyone on what God is doing in me, and what He has prepared me for over the past few years. First I'm going to update you on a very significant word God spoke to me about who I am. Then share with you next week about what God has spoken about my future!
I AM ADAM
And Adam in the bible was not created for what He could do, for worship leading or doing missions or evangelising. Adam was created for intimacy, made with God's own hands, breathed into by the mouth of God. Adam was designed to walk with God, to know Him, holding hands and walking through the garden together. While others would hide, Adam was created not to, but to rejoice in the Glory of God, shameless and free.
Adam was created for leadership, he was the first of his kind, and the first and only one who walked with his Creator. Therefore, he was the only one who could introduce every other being to that Creator. He was meant to lead civilization and was given authority.
Adam was created to take dominion, he was designed with authority over land, over his destiny, the choices he made. That is, whether he partners with God or with the works of evil. He was told to name the animals and be a steward of the environment. He was God's manager on earth and was given God's authority, as an ambassador, or representative of God on earth. When the animals saw Adam walking in the garden, and Adam is created in the image of God, or in the "illusion of God" the animals should have been confused and wondered whether it was God or Adam they were seeing. This is obviously pre-fall. The glory of God was with Adam.
Now I am far from being this, but this is my identity, its what was intended for me. And for us. God has been speaking to me about how He created me to lead others into intimacy with Him by authority and strength. Integrity and a thirst for justice for the nations. God has given me an identity to aim for a journey to be a part of, He has shown me what He intended for me and its exciting.
I always had struggles with identity. I'm quite good at many things, but not especially good at any one thing. So while other people are "worship leaders" or "trade workers" or "writers" I always felt left out, like God didn't give me an identity. But over the last years and specifically last three months, God has told me I have an identity and if being His son, the one to inherit His kingdom isn't enough, then nothing will be. I'm a son of God, designed to know my Father intimately, and thats enough for me, thats who I am. Maybe this message resounds with where you are at. Maybe you are a "jack of all trades master of none", well, be a son, there is nothing more powerful than knowing your Father and receiving the spirit of sonship.
I am Adam, son of God, my Father. I am designed for intimacy with the Lord and to lead others there. Are you an Adam as well?
Be Blessed this Christmas, I will be in touch next week to share why I am coming home in February!
Anyway, I want to update everyone on what God is doing in me, and what He has prepared me for over the past few years. First I'm going to update you on a very significant word God spoke to me about who I am. Then share with you next week about what God has spoken about my future!
I AM ADAM
And Adam in the bible was not created for what He could do, for worship leading or doing missions or evangelising. Adam was created for intimacy, made with God's own hands, breathed into by the mouth of God. Adam was designed to walk with God, to know Him, holding hands and walking through the garden together. While others would hide, Adam was created not to, but to rejoice in the Glory of God, shameless and free.
Adam was created for leadership, he was the first of his kind, and the first and only one who walked with his Creator. Therefore, he was the only one who could introduce every other being to that Creator. He was meant to lead civilization and was given authority.
Adam was created to take dominion, he was designed with authority over land, over his destiny, the choices he made. That is, whether he partners with God or with the works of evil. He was told to name the animals and be a steward of the environment. He was God's manager on earth and was given God's authority, as an ambassador, or representative of God on earth. When the animals saw Adam walking in the garden, and Adam is created in the image of God, or in the "illusion of God" the animals should have been confused and wondered whether it was God or Adam they were seeing. This is obviously pre-fall. The glory of God was with Adam.
Now I am far from being this, but this is my identity, its what was intended for me. And for us. God has been speaking to me about how He created me to lead others into intimacy with Him by authority and strength. Integrity and a thirst for justice for the nations. God has given me an identity to aim for a journey to be a part of, He has shown me what He intended for me and its exciting.
I always had struggles with identity. I'm quite good at many things, but not especially good at any one thing. So while other people are "worship leaders" or "trade workers" or "writers" I always felt left out, like God didn't give me an identity. But over the last years and specifically last three months, God has told me I have an identity and if being His son, the one to inherit His kingdom isn't enough, then nothing will be. I'm a son of God, designed to know my Father intimately, and thats enough for me, thats who I am. Maybe this message resounds with where you are at. Maybe you are a "jack of all trades master of none", well, be a son, there is nothing more powerful than knowing your Father and receiving the spirit of sonship.
I am Adam, son of God, my Father. I am designed for intimacy with the Lord and to lead others there. Are you an Adam as well?
Be Blessed this Christmas, I will be in touch next week to share why I am coming home in February!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I've been healed
Jesus has healed me, and by that I mean the love of Christ through His body, which is all of you! Thank you so much for your prayers and support over the last week and a half, there were some medical bills to be paid and also some hurdles to get over in my physical body. Your prayers and financial support have brought me to my feet again! Thank you so much!
To fill you in, I had a bacterial infection in my lungs and throat that was giving me very bad fevers and tonsillitis. I was in a fair amount of pain and could not function very well for a week. The doctor gave me penicillin for the bacteria and the next day I had already started feeling much better.
In other news, the school that I am currently a part of in preparing for their outreaches to India, Malaysia and Japan. Japan is a new location for us where we are actually trying to break through a heavily materialistic and apathetic culture with the message of the Gospel. They are a very unreceptive culture to the Gospel and it is tough ground. The suicide rates and depression in Japan is the highest in the world. India we are continuing to work with Muslims and street kids in Darjeeling, India (in the Himalayas). Malaysia is pushing in to see Animistic unreached people groups understand the love and sovereignty of God. It is a very Shamanistic culture on the island of Borneo and they really need a revelation of Christ.
I would like to pass out a prayer request for my staff, they are all so hard working and when it comes to the outreaches this time around, they are the ones who are carrying the burdens of outreach, I am not going overseas this time, I have some things that need to be done on the centre. I will be teaching a couple of weeks when they return, which I need to prepare for. I'm also orchestrating a small Australian outreach for the 6 weeks. These are the staff that I am responsible for, where they are going and their prayer needs. They are all fantastic staff and fantastic people, humble and hungry for God, very capable of the task before them, as daunting as it may seem for the first time staff, they are very capable.
Amanda and Bonner are going to India, Bonner still needs a few hundred dollars provided to get overseas. They also need vision and wisdom as they are both first time leaders, usually a first time leader is paired with a second time leader so there is some experience and foresight. They are both extremely wise and strong leaders however, so I have allowed them to go ahead. But there will be many situations being in this extreme culture of India, with billions of people and many different languages and radically different cultures and understandings, where they will need divine wisdom and guidance.
Paul and Erin are leading the Japan outreach, which is by far the most expensive outreach. They both need finances in the thousands of dollars range to make this outreach happen. But God is absolutely faithful to provide. They also need prayer for things to run smoothly as they are having trouble actually nailing down definite plans and contacts. This is common on outreaches and the Lord always provides opportunity to minister to people and places when He calls a team somewhere, however it is stressful for the leaders in these scenarios.
Melissa and Jon are headed to Malaysia and Melissa needs about $4000 at this point for outreaches. They also need prayers for protection and guidance, the spiritual atmosphere in shamanistic culture is intense, there are curses and bondages in these areas that make it difficult for teams to stay focused and in unity. I believe that the enemy has an assignment against this team to stop them from ministering to those who the Lord has for them. Please pray and support these teams, over the next months until Mid-January!
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. This next week I could also use some prayer as I am still a little sick and teaching on two schools in one week, my own school and the Sports school on an islands called Stradbroke Island. Please lend me your prayers if you think of it. That there would be clarity of thought and Holy Spirit power in my message! Thank you again! Bless you all for your compassion as I was sick I appreciate all of your love!
Peace, Love and Prayers!
Adam
To fill you in, I had a bacterial infection in my lungs and throat that was giving me very bad fevers and tonsillitis. I was in a fair amount of pain and could not function very well for a week. The doctor gave me penicillin for the bacteria and the next day I had already started feeling much better.
In other news, the school that I am currently a part of in preparing for their outreaches to India, Malaysia and Japan. Japan is a new location for us where we are actually trying to break through a heavily materialistic and apathetic culture with the message of the Gospel. They are a very unreceptive culture to the Gospel and it is tough ground. The suicide rates and depression in Japan is the highest in the world. India we are continuing to work with Muslims and street kids in Darjeeling, India (in the Himalayas). Malaysia is pushing in to see Animistic unreached people groups understand the love and sovereignty of God. It is a very Shamanistic culture on the island of Borneo and they really need a revelation of Christ.
I would like to pass out a prayer request for my staff, they are all so hard working and when it comes to the outreaches this time around, they are the ones who are carrying the burdens of outreach, I am not going overseas this time, I have some things that need to be done on the centre. I will be teaching a couple of weeks when they return, which I need to prepare for. I'm also orchestrating a small Australian outreach for the 6 weeks. These are the staff that I am responsible for, where they are going and their prayer needs. They are all fantastic staff and fantastic people, humble and hungry for God, very capable of the task before them, as daunting as it may seem for the first time staff, they are very capable.
Amanda and Bonner are going to India, Bonner still needs a few hundred dollars provided to get overseas. They also need vision and wisdom as they are both first time leaders, usually a first time leader is paired with a second time leader so there is some experience and foresight. They are both extremely wise and strong leaders however, so I have allowed them to go ahead. But there will be many situations being in this extreme culture of India, with billions of people and many different languages and radically different cultures and understandings, where they will need divine wisdom and guidance.
Paul and Erin are leading the Japan outreach, which is by far the most expensive outreach. They both need finances in the thousands of dollars range to make this outreach happen. But God is absolutely faithful to provide. They also need prayer for things to run smoothly as they are having trouble actually nailing down definite plans and contacts. This is common on outreaches and the Lord always provides opportunity to minister to people and places when He calls a team somewhere, however it is stressful for the leaders in these scenarios.
Melissa and Jon are headed to Malaysia and Melissa needs about $4000 at this point for outreaches. They also need prayers for protection and guidance, the spiritual atmosphere in shamanistic culture is intense, there are curses and bondages in these areas that make it difficult for teams to stay focused and in unity. I believe that the enemy has an assignment against this team to stop them from ministering to those who the Lord has for them. Please pray and support these teams, over the next months until Mid-January!
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. This next week I could also use some prayer as I am still a little sick and teaching on two schools in one week, my own school and the Sports school on an islands called Stradbroke Island. Please lend me your prayers if you think of it. That there would be clarity of thought and Holy Spirit power in my message! Thank you again! Bless you all for your compassion as I was sick I appreciate all of your love!
Peace, Love and Prayers!
Adam
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Plea for help
Its taking much effort to get out of bed and write this email. But I really need some support right now. I believe my malaria is kicking in and I am getting quite sick again. I really need some money just to get to the doctor, pay for tests and meds. I'm sorry this is a short and impersonal message I am just struggling to get it off, bless you all and thanks for your continued love and prayers!
Bless ya
Adam
Bless ya
Adam
Sunday, August 24, 2008
AFFWAN
The new school has started since I last updated you. They are an amazing bunch, and are already bonding very well! They get along great. We had our first week on Hearing the Voice of God, which everyone loved. Our usual speaker came and lectured/ran workshops for this. They loved it and learned a lot while also being inspired hearing what prayer does globally, stories so big that people read the answers to their specific prayers in the newspaper!
After just one week we went off and had some training on reaching out to Muslims and then did some evangelism to Muslims. These are the most beautiful, gentle and amazing people I've ever met. At the same time this is one of the few times I feel very comfortable being quite confrontational in evangelism. Muslims LOVE talking about faith and religion and will bring it up easily with you. They will talk about heaven...hell, judgement, things you can't talk as easily with other people about. They love an intense discussion and will comment that you must not believe in your God, or be very passionate about what you believe unless you get into the discussion as well. So we had some good debates and discussions with them, learnt a lot about apologetics to Islam, etc... What is even more amazing is at the end you are still able to laugh and joke with each other and get a coffee...I talk to one group for over an hour, it was intense, about Jesus as the Son of God and the Trinity. Then afterward I gave them hugs and said "I don't tell you these things to be right, or win a discussion, but because on judgement day I want to walk through the gates of heaven with you and celebrate for eternity with God. They laughed as I put my arm around them and pretended to walk through the gates of heaven.
The entire school was amazing considering it was their second week, they engaged in conversation and really shared Jesus with the people. They also had a lot of mindsets about Muslims shattered, seeing as most of them came from America. They loved the week.
At one point I was praying about the week and felt like God wanted us to pray into the night more and have prayer and worship going on downtown during the outreach. So we went downtown and while some were sharing their faith, a small group of other were praying and worshiping. I started at the prayer station and at this point no one had got saved and relatoinships were still just being built. But tonight as we prayed I had a man come up to me and say "I like your drums, we have hand drums like that where I am from in Persia, I want to be a Christian".
This man escaped the Islamic government in Iran and lived in Auckland, NZ for two years. He was vacationing and I bumped into him. He said that he has seen what Islam does to a nation and has thought about being a Christian before, but watching us worshiping and sharing with people he said that he has never seen such love and he said "they are such good people, YOU are such a good person.." So I shared with him what accepting Jesus meant and the gospel. Then prayed with him. I told him to find a church when he gets home and he said that he will, but he is moving to Brisbane in 6 months and wanted my number. Then he asked if when he came to Brisbane I could find him a church. I said yes, I actually work with churches and he got so excited and said "really? that is great, you will find me a good one then?". I told him I definitely would then he gave me his number and said if I come to New Zealand in a few months, he will quit his job early and travel New Zealand with me and I can stay at his home anything I need or want he will take care of it. He is married and has three kids. That was pretty exciting and powerful to hear what us worshiping in public did for him.
Also, I met a Sikh named Ravi, we are good friends now, and God is moving in huge ways in his life. He needs Jesus, but already knows God is out there. My friend Justin and I prayed for him and got words for him, after both he got teary eyed and we know God had spoken to him through us. Then we gave him a bible and prayed for him and again he cried. This was over 4 or 5 days! I am still keeping in touch with him. He promised that he would read the bible seeing as I gave him my personal one. Then he will email me with questions about what he is reading.
I guess there are two main things that were really powerful this week. One is that countries that get brainwashed by their governments and religions finally had their theology shaken by outside sources. We constantly have people opposing Christianity in the West, and so we have a check and balance to some degree. But these countries only get fed propaganda and dogma. They will admit this, but when they leave their country we can share with them without any threat of death. And they can choose to know God and return to be lights in their own nations, no matter how closed, God can impact EVERY nation on earth.
Secondly, 20 people on this new school were inspired to go deeper with God, to love nations and cultures more than ever before and their hearts honestly broke for people who don't know Jesus and can't have any assurance of salvation! It was a powerful week all round, one I won't soon forget!
Thanks for all of your prayers and support! Love you all!
Adam
After just one week we went off and had some training on reaching out to Muslims and then did some evangelism to Muslims. These are the most beautiful, gentle and amazing people I've ever met. At the same time this is one of the few times I feel very comfortable being quite confrontational in evangelism. Muslims LOVE talking about faith and religion and will bring it up easily with you. They will talk about heaven...hell, judgement, things you can't talk as easily with other people about. They love an intense discussion and will comment that you must not believe in your God, or be very passionate about what you believe unless you get into the discussion as well. So we had some good debates and discussions with them, learnt a lot about apologetics to Islam, etc... What is even more amazing is at the end you are still able to laugh and joke with each other and get a coffee...I talk to one group for over an hour, it was intense, about Jesus as the Son of God and the Trinity. Then afterward I gave them hugs and said "I don't tell you these things to be right, or win a discussion, but because on judgement day I want to walk through the gates of heaven with you and celebrate for eternity with God. They laughed as I put my arm around them and pretended to walk through the gates of heaven.
The entire school was amazing considering it was their second week, they engaged in conversation and really shared Jesus with the people. They also had a lot of mindsets about Muslims shattered, seeing as most of them came from America. They loved the week.
At one point I was praying about the week and felt like God wanted us to pray into the night more and have prayer and worship going on downtown during the outreach. So we went downtown and while some were sharing their faith, a small group of other were praying and worshiping. I started at the prayer station and at this point no one had got saved and relatoinships were still just being built. But tonight as we prayed I had a man come up to me and say "I like your drums, we have hand drums like that where I am from in Persia, I want to be a Christian".
This man escaped the Islamic government in Iran and lived in Auckland, NZ for two years. He was vacationing and I bumped into him. He said that he has seen what Islam does to a nation and has thought about being a Christian before, but watching us worshiping and sharing with people he said that he has never seen such love and he said "they are such good people, YOU are such a good person.." So I shared with him what accepting Jesus meant and the gospel. Then prayed with him. I told him to find a church when he gets home and he said that he will, but he is moving to Brisbane in 6 months and wanted my number. Then he asked if when he came to Brisbane I could find him a church. I said yes, I actually work with churches and he got so excited and said "really? that is great, you will find me a good one then?". I told him I definitely would then he gave me his number and said if I come to New Zealand in a few months, he will quit his job early and travel New Zealand with me and I can stay at his home anything I need or want he will take care of it. He is married and has three kids. That was pretty exciting and powerful to hear what us worshiping in public did for him.
Also, I met a Sikh named Ravi, we are good friends now, and God is moving in huge ways in his life. He needs Jesus, but already knows God is out there. My friend Justin and I prayed for him and got words for him, after both he got teary eyed and we know God had spoken to him through us. Then we gave him a bible and prayed for him and again he cried. This was over 4 or 5 days! I am still keeping in touch with him. He promised that he would read the bible seeing as I gave him my personal one. Then he will email me with questions about what he is reading.
I guess there are two main things that were really powerful this week. One is that countries that get brainwashed by their governments and religions finally had their theology shaken by outside sources. We constantly have people opposing Christianity in the West, and so we have a check and balance to some degree. But these countries only get fed propaganda and dogma. They will admit this, but when they leave their country we can share with them without any threat of death. And they can choose to know God and return to be lights in their own nations, no matter how closed, God can impact EVERY nation on earth.
Secondly, 20 people on this new school were inspired to go deeper with God, to love nations and cultures more than ever before and their hearts honestly broke for people who don't know Jesus and can't have any assurance of salvation! It was a powerful week all round, one I won't soon forget!
Thanks for all of your prayers and support! Love you all!
Adam
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
An Article: Enjoy and Pass Around
Thursday, January 10, 2008
LA Times Article About YWAM
The following article is from the LA Times, released after the shootings occurred in Denver. This is a wonderful article, and gives about as good a description about YWAM as there could be. It's long, but worth reading.A religious movement with an edgeYouth With a Mission takes in just about anyone -- even an unstable young man who would later shoot and kill 4 in Colorado.By Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer December 18, 2007COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Paul Filidis thought little of Christianity as he backpacked through Afghanistan in the early 1970s, searching for top-grade hashish and Eastern enlightenment.Then his passport was stolen and he took shelter with a group of missionaries who had moved to Kabul to help wanderers on the hippie trail. "They looked just like me," Filidis said.The missionaries took Filidis in and helped him get a new passport. Filidis, who had believed Christianity was only for old people, eventually became a convert. He has spent the last three decades with that group, Youth With a Mission. His 20-year-old, tongue-pierced daughter, Noelle, just finished a YWAM mission to India, where she nursed sick villagers and was attacked by a mob of Hindu fundamentalists.The mission "gave an opportunity to kids to go out," Noelle said. "Like kids can impact the world."Youth With a Mission is a nondenominational Christian network that takes in just about anyone -- punk rockers, misfits, retired engineers, schoolteachers, fresh-faced teens. After a little training, they are sent to preach the Gospel in some of the most dangerous parts of the globe.That nonconformist approach brought tragedy to the group last week when Matthew Murray, who had been expelled for apparent mental health problems, fatally shot four people -- two at the Arvada Youth With a Mission office near Denver and two at New Life Church in Colorado Springs -- before killing himself.The attack exposed what Youth With a Mission members acknowledged was the group's greatest vulnerability and its greatest strength."YWAM has been known as a mission that believes in young people and gives them a chance," said Jarod Marshall, 32, a staffer in the Colorado Springs branch. "You believe in people, and there's a risk in that -- but it's a risk worth taking."Youth With a Mission is considered avant-garde, on the "bleeding edge" of the evangelical movement, said A. Scott Moreau, a professor at Wheaton College in Illinois who studies mission programs."They are passionate, they are a bit wild," Moreau said. "A lot of agencies are wondering how they're going to mobilize this generation. YWAM has figured it out."One veteran calls YWAM (the acronym is regularly pronounced Why-Wham and members are known as YWAMers) a Christian Peace Corps. Projects include working with prostitutes in Holland and orphans in Mexico, and providing clean drinking water or dental care in Third World countries. Youth With a Mission also launched the Reconciliation Walk, a 1,500-mile trek through Turkey and the Middle East to atone for violence perpetrated in the name of Christianity during the Crusades.In places where Christian missionaries are typically not welcome, such as Afghanistan or the Middle East, Youth With a Mission operates under other names and does not publicly proselytize. The group believes that doing good works is the best way to save people's souls, members say.Youth With a Mission is non-hierarchical, allowing any of its 16,000 staffers or the 3 million people it estimates have gone through its training programs to develop their own mission and go anywhere to pursue it."There's this growing sense among younger people that they want to be part of something that's bigger than themselves," Marshall said. "YWAM's in a position to say, 'You want to do something? We can help you go abroad and make a difference in somebody's life.' "Marshall joined the group when he was a teenager after taking one of its trips to the Caribbean. "I was smacked in the face by the huge distance between people in the world -- our affluence and their extreme poverty," he said. Marshall and his wife, Carly, also a missionary, are leaving for Thailand next month to work in refugee camps along the border with Myanmar, also known as Burma. Another YWAMer they know invited them -- a typically informal way for a mission to start.The mission group was the brainchild of Loren Cunningham, who was a Pentecostal college student on summer break in the Bahamas when he had a vision of waves of young people crashing onto the shores of all continents. He founded Youth With a Mission after he graduated in 1960. He still works out of the group's main office in Hawaii."He wanted to reach young people, especially college-age people, before they got stuck with a job," said Filidis, 57, who works in the group's communications office.Filidis took a break from the mission in the late 1970s to get his degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He also worked at Christian ministries in Glendale and Seattle. But the experience drove him back to Youth With a Mission.It was "the attitude in YWAM that wants to serve, that wants to take the lower road rather than the higher road, that will do the dirty work," Filidis said. "I'd rather take those attitudes than those of organizations that want to be on power trips."Filidis recounted one mission that he views as emblematic of YWAM's hands-on approach -- working in refugee camps in Southeast Asia after the fall of Saigon, since renamed Ho Chi Minh City. YWAMers volunteered to take care of the latrines and spent hours standing in human excrement. A U.N. report noted the group's commitment to doing practical work, no matter how unpleasant. "I hope we never lose that," he said.Mark Lang dropped out of college in 1983 to join Youth With a Mission. Raised in a Lutheran household, he had longed for missionary work. "If I was going to become a Lutheran missionary, I would have had to go to four years of college and four years of seminary," said Lang, 43. "Would you like to do that or go to school for three months and go out and do something? You go make that choice when you're 18."Lang joined a theater troupe that performed allegorical religious plays. He moved to Europe, traveled with the company through Greece and Italy camping on beaches, then worked in the Youth With a Mission branch in Amsterdam, which ran a nightclub on a houseboat that featured a band called No Longer Music."YWAM kind of pioneers a lot of things in ministries that are later replicated or perfected by other groups," said Lang, who is based in Colorado Springs. He oversees health projects in a central Asian country he would not name for fear that the Muslim nation would shut down the operations if it realized they were directed by missionaries.The intention is not simply to rack up converts, he said. "We can't provide a spiritual solution" to poor people, Lang said, "unless we can come into their lives and provide practical solutions as well."The group's 1,000 bases are linked solely by the three-month training course consisting of lectures and workshops on biblical principles, plus an official set of shared values. The bases independently stage missions."It's so decentralized that it's very difficult, even for them, to tell you everything they're doing," said Jonathan Bonk, executive director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center in New Haven, Conn.The bases are a cross between Christian crash pads and college dorms. The Colorado Springs branch is in a former hotel. The dining room has been converted into a coffee bar -- fixed up with worn couches, tables and board games -- that is the scene for all-night discussions. Many of the 120 staffers live in the hotel rooms, as do the few dozen students who cycle through every three months.Andrew Williams, 23, is the campus barista. He prides himself on mixing new blends of teas. He heard of Youth With a Mission at his church in Sonora, Calif., in 2005 and has stayed partly because of the sense of community. "Just the relationships I have with people here is amazing," Williams said.Gil Datz, the base's worship coordinator, said that the emphasis on communal learning and living means YWAMers learn a lot about their colleagues. "It means a guy like Matt cannot hide," he said.Murray enrolled in 2002 at the base in Arvada, about 80 miles from here. Staffers there decided he should not finish the program because of unspecified health problems that would have made it "unsafe," so he left.He returned five years later, just after midnight on Sunday, Dec. 9, and asked to stay the night. Staffers said no. He opened fire, wounding two and killing Philip Crouse, 24, and Tiffany Johnson, 26. Twelve hours later he killed two teenage girls at New Life Church in Colorado Springs before being shot by an armed volunteer security guard. Murray then killed himself.Crouse and Johnson embodied Youth With a Mission's edgy approach. Crouch was a former skinhead who hoped to reach angry teens; Johnson had started a skateboarding ministry to help alienated youths.Many YWAMers point out that Murray was the sort of person they would want to help. "That's what makes the issue with Matthew so painful," said Jeremy Pyhala, 33, a Colorado Springs staffer. "We look at him with potential."
LA Times Article About YWAM
The following article is from the LA Times, released after the shootings occurred in Denver. This is a wonderful article, and gives about as good a description about YWAM as there could be. It's long, but worth reading.A religious movement with an edgeYouth With a Mission takes in just about anyone -- even an unstable young man who would later shoot and kill 4 in Colorado.By Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer December 18, 2007COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Paul Filidis thought little of Christianity as he backpacked through Afghanistan in the early 1970s, searching for top-grade hashish and Eastern enlightenment.Then his passport was stolen and he took shelter with a group of missionaries who had moved to Kabul to help wanderers on the hippie trail. "They looked just like me," Filidis said.The missionaries took Filidis in and helped him get a new passport. Filidis, who had believed Christianity was only for old people, eventually became a convert. He has spent the last three decades with that group, Youth With a Mission. His 20-year-old, tongue-pierced daughter, Noelle, just finished a YWAM mission to India, where she nursed sick villagers and was attacked by a mob of Hindu fundamentalists.The mission "gave an opportunity to kids to go out," Noelle said. "Like kids can impact the world."Youth With a Mission is a nondenominational Christian network that takes in just about anyone -- punk rockers, misfits, retired engineers, schoolteachers, fresh-faced teens. After a little training, they are sent to preach the Gospel in some of the most dangerous parts of the globe.That nonconformist approach brought tragedy to the group last week when Matthew Murray, who had been expelled for apparent mental health problems, fatally shot four people -- two at the Arvada Youth With a Mission office near Denver and two at New Life Church in Colorado Springs -- before killing himself.The attack exposed what Youth With a Mission members acknowledged was the group's greatest vulnerability and its greatest strength."YWAM has been known as a mission that believes in young people and gives them a chance," said Jarod Marshall, 32, a staffer in the Colorado Springs branch. "You believe in people, and there's a risk in that -- but it's a risk worth taking."Youth With a Mission is considered avant-garde, on the "bleeding edge" of the evangelical movement, said A. Scott Moreau, a professor at Wheaton College in Illinois who studies mission programs."They are passionate, they are a bit wild," Moreau said. "A lot of agencies are wondering how they're going to mobilize this generation. YWAM has figured it out."One veteran calls YWAM (the acronym is regularly pronounced Why-Wham and members are known as YWAMers) a Christian Peace Corps. Projects include working with prostitutes in Holland and orphans in Mexico, and providing clean drinking water or dental care in Third World countries. Youth With a Mission also launched the Reconciliation Walk, a 1,500-mile trek through Turkey and the Middle East to atone for violence perpetrated in the name of Christianity during the Crusades.In places where Christian missionaries are typically not welcome, such as Afghanistan or the Middle East, Youth With a Mission operates under other names and does not publicly proselytize. The group believes that doing good works is the best way to save people's souls, members say.Youth With a Mission is non-hierarchical, allowing any of its 16,000 staffers or the 3 million people it estimates have gone through its training programs to develop their own mission and go anywhere to pursue it."There's this growing sense among younger people that they want to be part of something that's bigger than themselves," Marshall said. "YWAM's in a position to say, 'You want to do something? We can help you go abroad and make a difference in somebody's life.' "Marshall joined the group when he was a teenager after taking one of its trips to the Caribbean. "I was smacked in the face by the huge distance between people in the world -- our affluence and their extreme poverty," he said. Marshall and his wife, Carly, also a missionary, are leaving for Thailand next month to work in refugee camps along the border with Myanmar, also known as Burma. Another YWAMer they know invited them -- a typically informal way for a mission to start.The mission group was the brainchild of Loren Cunningham, who was a Pentecostal college student on summer break in the Bahamas when he had a vision of waves of young people crashing onto the shores of all continents. He founded Youth With a Mission after he graduated in 1960. He still works out of the group's main office in Hawaii."He wanted to reach young people, especially college-age people, before they got stuck with a job," said Filidis, 57, who works in the group's communications office.Filidis took a break from the mission in the late 1970s to get his degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He also worked at Christian ministries in Glendale and Seattle. But the experience drove him back to Youth With a Mission.It was "the attitude in YWAM that wants to serve, that wants to take the lower road rather than the higher road, that will do the dirty work," Filidis said. "I'd rather take those attitudes than those of organizations that want to be on power trips."Filidis recounted one mission that he views as emblematic of YWAM's hands-on approach -- working in refugee camps in Southeast Asia after the fall of Saigon, since renamed Ho Chi Minh City. YWAMers volunteered to take care of the latrines and spent hours standing in human excrement. A U.N. report noted the group's commitment to doing practical work, no matter how unpleasant. "I hope we never lose that," he said.Mark Lang dropped out of college in 1983 to join Youth With a Mission. Raised in a Lutheran household, he had longed for missionary work. "If I was going to become a Lutheran missionary, I would have had to go to four years of college and four years of seminary," said Lang, 43. "Would you like to do that or go to school for three months and go out and do something? You go make that choice when you're 18."Lang joined a theater troupe that performed allegorical religious plays. He moved to Europe, traveled with the company through Greece and Italy camping on beaches, then worked in the Youth With a Mission branch in Amsterdam, which ran a nightclub on a houseboat that featured a band called No Longer Music."YWAM kind of pioneers a lot of things in ministries that are later replicated or perfected by other groups," said Lang, who is based in Colorado Springs. He oversees health projects in a central Asian country he would not name for fear that the Muslim nation would shut down the operations if it realized they were directed by missionaries.The intention is not simply to rack up converts, he said. "We can't provide a spiritual solution" to poor people, Lang said, "unless we can come into their lives and provide practical solutions as well."The group's 1,000 bases are linked solely by the three-month training course consisting of lectures and workshops on biblical principles, plus an official set of shared values. The bases independently stage missions."It's so decentralized that it's very difficult, even for them, to tell you everything they're doing," said Jonathan Bonk, executive director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center in New Haven, Conn.The bases are a cross between Christian crash pads and college dorms. The Colorado Springs branch is in a former hotel. The dining room has been converted into a coffee bar -- fixed up with worn couches, tables and board games -- that is the scene for all-night discussions. Many of the 120 staffers live in the hotel rooms, as do the few dozen students who cycle through every three months.Andrew Williams, 23, is the campus barista. He prides himself on mixing new blends of teas. He heard of Youth With a Mission at his church in Sonora, Calif., in 2005 and has stayed partly because of the sense of community. "Just the relationships I have with people here is amazing," Williams said.Gil Datz, the base's worship coordinator, said that the emphasis on communal learning and living means YWAMers learn a lot about their colleagues. "It means a guy like Matt cannot hide," he said.Murray enrolled in 2002 at the base in Arvada, about 80 miles from here. Staffers there decided he should not finish the program because of unspecified health problems that would have made it "unsafe," so he left.He returned five years later, just after midnight on Sunday, Dec. 9, and asked to stay the night. Staffers said no. He opened fire, wounding two and killing Philip Crouse, 24, and Tiffany Johnson, 26. Twelve hours later he killed two teenage girls at New Life Church in Colorado Springs before being shot by an armed volunteer security guard. Murray then killed himself.Crouse and Johnson embodied Youth With a Mission's edgy approach. Crouch was a former skinhead who hoped to reach angry teens; Johnson had started a skateboarding ministry to help alienated youths.Many YWAMers point out that Murray was the sort of person they would want to help. "That's what makes the issue with Matthew so painful," said Jeremy Pyhala, 33, a Colorado Springs staffer. "We look at him with potential."
Friday, July 04, 2008
Temporary
I was reading 2 Corinthians today and came across this verse:
"while we do not look at things which are seen,
but at the things that are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporary,
but the things that are not seen are eternal."
- 2 Cor. 4:18
This is SUCH a powerful verse, just prior to this Paul is talking about the excitement of dying to his desires so Jesus can live through him, that "we are pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned", explaining the victory we have. That God loves us so much not matter what our circumstances He is never distant. Then Paul writes "therefore we don't lose heart" and we enter into talking about how everything is fading away.
Our bodies are decaying, but daily we are experiencing God in new and powerful ways, we are only further on our journey with Him than the day before. And then Paul takes this imagery and moves the metaphor into every other area of life. Everything that is seen brings momentary pleasure, but what is unseen will last forever. I have an unorthodox friend, one of the most bizarre poeple I have ever met, he is brilliant and funny, but socially awkward. I love the guy, he gives me amazing insight sometimes. And he was sharing with me this profound revelation the other day. It was this:
"Everything in life is just crap. Our bodies decay into fertilizer, like crap. We eat and it turns to crap. We save money and eat and that turns to crap..." etc...
I laughed and then realized God was trying to get my attention. I have been really worried about my finances lately. Never in my time here at YWAM have I been this tight financially. It is quite stressful. God is providing every month just enough to cover my house bills, but for food I haven't been able to make ends meet a couple times.
And I was thinking about this and realizing that this toil is putting me in a situation where the unseen is magnified. I am relying on God like never before. How temporary all of the physical things in our lives are and how powerful and eternal the lessons I'm learning, the impact of the ministry I'm involved with is in peoples lives, how eternal their impact on the nations of the world is.
But most importantly I've been thinking how eternal God's word and promise is. And I am called here by God and God's call does not pass away, I stand on that in faith. In faith because it takes a lot more balls to stand on the unseen than the seen.
I invoke a challenge to all of us, to stand not on our things, on our money, on our security's, but on the unseen. How powerful it is to stand in God's marvelous light and walk in His ways! Not by strength, nor by might...but by His spirit do we live and move and have our being. We do not live on bread alone! Praise God for that, haha.
The other revelation I got from this train of thought was the power of prayer. Seeing lives changed is exciting, and as well it should be. Seeing someone breaking down and forgiving their father who abused them in unimaginable ways, or seeing someone laughing and weeping free from depression and experiencing Christ's love for the first time, or even the simple first time each student experiencing hearing God's voice and receives direction from Him. These are exciting things for us, however, what are these but the physical signs. What happens when these students leave this centre, a greenhouse of spiritual growth. Am I committed to the unseen? To praying for their well-being. Or even my staff who I am responsible for, do I pray for them? Am I committed in faith to them, or do I live moment to moment on the physical manifestation of God in their lives. Never sowing in the unseen. I am guilty of relying on the seen. How many of us can say the same.
70 - 80 years seems long, but I assure you we can be excited that it isn't. That can't be measured in comparison to eternity. In fact infinity divided by anything is 0. Therefore our lives on earth are nothing, but they hold eternal worth. Simply because the eternity we hold can be given to someone else, or several others. While this life is nothing, we hold in our hands in this 70-80 years several eternity's.
I'm sorry that this may be a confusing update, but I am trying to be concise, because I love tangents. I'm trying to impart a revelation I have received to others as linear as possible. Having said all of this I have been committed to praying for many of you though you may not have known it. I have been praying more than ever in my life, for friends, family, individuals who are sick at home (I'm sure they know who they are). And I thank all of you for your support. But I petition you on these lines for your prayer and support in this time. With this new school starting, my staff arriving, finances being tight. I would love to have my family from home sowing into the unseen of my life and ministry. It is the single most significant contribution I get.
Thank you so much for the blessings you shower on me. I love you all greatly! Be assured, my prayers are with you, and I know I am enabled completely by all of you! Thank you, and Bless you!
Peace, Love and Prayers!! ;)
Adam
"while we do not look at things which are seen,
but at the things that are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporary,
but the things that are not seen are eternal."
- 2 Cor. 4:18
This is SUCH a powerful verse, just prior to this Paul is talking about the excitement of dying to his desires so Jesus can live through him, that "we are pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned", explaining the victory we have. That God loves us so much not matter what our circumstances He is never distant. Then Paul writes "therefore we don't lose heart" and we enter into talking about how everything is fading away.
Our bodies are decaying, but daily we are experiencing God in new and powerful ways, we are only further on our journey with Him than the day before. And then Paul takes this imagery and moves the metaphor into every other area of life. Everything that is seen brings momentary pleasure, but what is unseen will last forever. I have an unorthodox friend, one of the most bizarre poeple I have ever met, he is brilliant and funny, but socially awkward. I love the guy, he gives me amazing insight sometimes. And he was sharing with me this profound revelation the other day. It was this:
"Everything in life is just crap. Our bodies decay into fertilizer, like crap. We eat and it turns to crap. We save money and eat and that turns to crap..." etc...
I laughed and then realized God was trying to get my attention. I have been really worried about my finances lately. Never in my time here at YWAM have I been this tight financially. It is quite stressful. God is providing every month just enough to cover my house bills, but for food I haven't been able to make ends meet a couple times.
And I was thinking about this and realizing that this toil is putting me in a situation where the unseen is magnified. I am relying on God like never before. How temporary all of the physical things in our lives are and how powerful and eternal the lessons I'm learning, the impact of the ministry I'm involved with is in peoples lives, how eternal their impact on the nations of the world is.
But most importantly I've been thinking how eternal God's word and promise is. And I am called here by God and God's call does not pass away, I stand on that in faith. In faith because it takes a lot more balls to stand on the unseen than the seen.
I invoke a challenge to all of us, to stand not on our things, on our money, on our security's, but on the unseen. How powerful it is to stand in God's marvelous light and walk in His ways! Not by strength, nor by might...but by His spirit do we live and move and have our being. We do not live on bread alone! Praise God for that, haha.
The other revelation I got from this train of thought was the power of prayer. Seeing lives changed is exciting, and as well it should be. Seeing someone breaking down and forgiving their father who abused them in unimaginable ways, or seeing someone laughing and weeping free from depression and experiencing Christ's love for the first time, or even the simple first time each student experiencing hearing God's voice and receives direction from Him. These are exciting things for us, however, what are these but the physical signs. What happens when these students leave this centre, a greenhouse of spiritual growth. Am I committed to the unseen? To praying for their well-being. Or even my staff who I am responsible for, do I pray for them? Am I committed in faith to them, or do I live moment to moment on the physical manifestation of God in their lives. Never sowing in the unseen. I am guilty of relying on the seen. How many of us can say the same.
70 - 80 years seems long, but I assure you we can be excited that it isn't. That can't be measured in comparison to eternity. In fact infinity divided by anything is 0. Therefore our lives on earth are nothing, but they hold eternal worth. Simply because the eternity we hold can be given to someone else, or several others. While this life is nothing, we hold in our hands in this 70-80 years several eternity's.
I'm sorry that this may be a confusing update, but I am trying to be concise, because I love tangents. I'm trying to impart a revelation I have received to others as linear as possible. Having said all of this I have been committed to praying for many of you though you may not have known it. I have been praying more than ever in my life, for friends, family, individuals who are sick at home (I'm sure they know who they are). And I thank all of you for your support. But I petition you on these lines for your prayer and support in this time. With this new school starting, my staff arriving, finances being tight. I would love to have my family from home sowing into the unseen of my life and ministry. It is the single most significant contribution I get.
Thank you so much for the blessings you shower on me. I love you all greatly! Be assured, my prayers are with you, and I know I am enabled completely by all of you! Thank you, and Bless you!
Peace, Love and Prayers!! ;)
Adam
Friday, June 06, 2008
How Exciting!!!
I'm just so very excited right now. I have all of my amazing staff for this next school showing up within the month. I have God speaking to me quite clearly about my future at the moment. I have the Joy of the Lord upon me this morning. And, I am (as usual) learning new lessons about who God is and who I am everyday.
God is really stirring something in my heart about this next school that I will be involved with. I feel like after last time and being given room to experience who I am in leadership, room to make mistakes so that I can learn and develop, that I have learned so much. And I think God is really giving me amazing vision for this next school. By the way any of my staff who are reading this, pretend you didn't, you aren't supposed to know this yet! (AMANDA!)
So, for example, this next school we are having the opportunity to go on an outreach called AFFWAN (Which means welcome in...Arabic or Urdu I believe). Its an Islamic outreach to an area in Australia where Arabic people come to vacation when the hot, desert summer months of the middle east kick in. Yes...they come to Australia to cool down. And we go down and share about Christ. Now they come down here to a heavily touristy area, with lots of sex, clubs and scantily clad beach culture. And in the middle East, their worldview would cause them to think like this "oh, you are from Australia, then you are Christian". So they see sex and clubs and drunk people and think..."Oh my Allah! These Christian's are terrible"
So even just from that stand point, its a great opportunity to show that not all westerners are Christians and that Christians are, or should be different. But the really amazing thing is that while this school will be receiving lectures on Character and Nature of God (who God is and what He is like), they will also be learning:
"Who is God vs. Allah"
"Who is Jesus in to Islam"
"Apologetics in Islam" (Misconceptions Muslims have and how to defend your faith to a Muslim)
etc...etc...
SO, God is equipping our school to really be involved in Islamic communities! Therefore our outreaches are going to look a little like this:
East Malaysia (Borneo) --> With an Islamic government (which even 99.9% Muslim Indonesia doesn't have) Malaysia had a culture that is heavily entrenched with Islam. And is really needing Jesus, and freedom. There are probably 40% Malay (Islamic people) in East Malaysia, and 30% Animistic, 30% Chinese Buddhist. This outreach will be getting into Islamic communities and serving where they need it, working with children, teaching english, etc.. And through that reaching out in relational evangelism.
Thailand --> Thailand is heavily Buddhist, but from Phuket south is mainly Islamic. They are specifically Malay people, as south Thailand borders Malaysia. This is a great advantage because Thailand is very open for evangelism, you can easily talk to people about your faith and relate on any level without worrying about what you say. This to me is so exciting, what an opportunity to reach those who need Christ. Thailand is known as the door to South East Asia because it is one of the most open nations in Asia and from there you can get into Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, even over to Vietnam.
Darjeeling, India --> In Darjeeling a little less than half of the 150,000 people in this amazing city are Muslim and they are the most hospitable and open people I have met. They love to make friends with you, invite you into their home, you get to know their family and culture and learn from their love, while hopefully giving them Jesus as well. There will also be a couple from our base heading to Darjeeling to work with the team that is already there, and their focus is going to be getting connected in the Muslim community. This is an amazing opportunity for us to get involved in the community through long term connections who can really follow up relationships we make (which we have in the other locations as well).
Praise God that we have the opportunity to reach those who don't know him. There is nothing, at all, "in heaven, on earth or under the earth" that hurts Gods heart more than the lost. Those separated from their loving Father, never to spend eternity with Him. If we really grasp the heart of God we will realize that burden and be so excited to be a part of touching lives for Him. God's desire to redeem nations and peoples is the consistent theme from beginning to end of the bible, from Abraham "blessed to be a blessing" to Christ who "came to unite all men under Him", "pour out his spirit upon all flesh" and send us forth to disciple nations and preach to gospel to all creation. Praise God that He is moving globally and there is so much more going on than just my little life, in little Brisbane Australia. From those imprisoned in China to the angels praising Him somewhere out at the edges of the Universe in some spiritual dimension we don't understand, may we all get revelation that there is more going on in this life than what we see where we are at!!
I love you all and thank you for your support and prayers! Be Blessed and love Jesus! He loves you!
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
God is really stirring something in my heart about this next school that I will be involved with. I feel like after last time and being given room to experience who I am in leadership, room to make mistakes so that I can learn and develop, that I have learned so much. And I think God is really giving me amazing vision for this next school. By the way any of my staff who are reading this, pretend you didn't, you aren't supposed to know this yet! (AMANDA!)
So, for example, this next school we are having the opportunity to go on an outreach called AFFWAN (Which means welcome in...Arabic or Urdu I believe). Its an Islamic outreach to an area in Australia where Arabic people come to vacation when the hot, desert summer months of the middle east kick in. Yes...they come to Australia to cool down. And we go down and share about Christ. Now they come down here to a heavily touristy area, with lots of sex, clubs and scantily clad beach culture. And in the middle East, their worldview would cause them to think like this "oh, you are from Australia, then you are Christian". So they see sex and clubs and drunk people and think..."Oh my Allah! These Christian's are terrible"
So even just from that stand point, its a great opportunity to show that not all westerners are Christians and that Christians are, or should be different. But the really amazing thing is that while this school will be receiving lectures on Character and Nature of God (who God is and what He is like), they will also be learning:
"Who is God vs. Allah"
"Who is Jesus in to Islam"
"Apologetics in Islam" (Misconceptions Muslims have and how to defend your faith to a Muslim)
etc...etc...
SO, God is equipping our school to really be involved in Islamic communities! Therefore our outreaches are going to look a little like this:
East Malaysia (Borneo) --> With an Islamic government (which even 99.9% Muslim Indonesia doesn't have) Malaysia had a culture that is heavily entrenched with Islam. And is really needing Jesus, and freedom. There are probably 40% Malay (Islamic people) in East Malaysia, and 30% Animistic, 30% Chinese Buddhist. This outreach will be getting into Islamic communities and serving where they need it, working with children, teaching english, etc.. And through that reaching out in relational evangelism.
Thailand --> Thailand is heavily Buddhist, but from Phuket south is mainly Islamic. They are specifically Malay people, as south Thailand borders Malaysia. This is a great advantage because Thailand is very open for evangelism, you can easily talk to people about your faith and relate on any level without worrying about what you say. This to me is so exciting, what an opportunity to reach those who need Christ. Thailand is known as the door to South East Asia because it is one of the most open nations in Asia and from there you can get into Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, even over to Vietnam.
Darjeeling, India --> In Darjeeling a little less than half of the 150,000 people in this amazing city are Muslim and they are the most hospitable and open people I have met. They love to make friends with you, invite you into their home, you get to know their family and culture and learn from their love, while hopefully giving them Jesus as well. There will also be a couple from our base heading to Darjeeling to work with the team that is already there, and their focus is going to be getting connected in the Muslim community. This is an amazing opportunity for us to get involved in the community through long term connections who can really follow up relationships we make (which we have in the other locations as well).
Praise God that we have the opportunity to reach those who don't know him. There is nothing, at all, "in heaven, on earth or under the earth" that hurts Gods heart more than the lost. Those separated from their loving Father, never to spend eternity with Him. If we really grasp the heart of God we will realize that burden and be so excited to be a part of touching lives for Him. God's desire to redeem nations and peoples is the consistent theme from beginning to end of the bible, from Abraham "blessed to be a blessing" to Christ who "came to unite all men under Him", "pour out his spirit upon all flesh" and send us forth to disciple nations and preach to gospel to all creation. Praise God that He is moving globally and there is so much more going on than just my little life, in little Brisbane Australia. From those imprisoned in China to the angels praising Him somewhere out at the edges of the Universe in some spiritual dimension we don't understand, may we all get revelation that there is more going on in this life than what we see where we are at!!
I love you all and thank you for your support and prayers! Be Blessed and love Jesus! He loves you!
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Getting our act together has many scenes!
I know, I know, I haven't been very diligent with these blogs as of late. But I will be more focused on them this year. Thats one of my New fiscal year resolutions, uhhh, right? So, this is the beginning of change, lets see how my discipline has got since being over here. I have notice that no matter how close we get to Gods heart we can never seem to get rid of all of our issues. There are few ways we end up dealing with them though.
1) We accentuate some we are too lazy to change and it becomes the norm for our life as we hear under a guise of laughter and acceptance, "oh, thats just Adam. Its just the way he is!" even though those issues are blatantly unbiblical. (SLOTH)
2) We pretend we are really better than we are to avoid open hypocrisy and save face. This is probably the most common and comes largely from insecurity I would think. (PRIDE)
3) Or we can pursue God and find ourselves in constant humiliation and floating through transformations until our dying breath, chasing holiness to our grave. Though I'm not always here, I feel this rat race at the moment. (HUMILITY)
In the bible people who were living their lives in humility and absolute abandon for God, chasing that scathing refiners fire to their dying breath were the ones who saw the massive release of the Spirit of God in their life! And if we want a release of God's Spirit, transforming us, those around us and even society we need that reckless abandon.
When I got back to Australia I was giving the opportunity to teach again on a friend of mines school. I taught on the body of Christ and unity. I usually teach on this during the significant "Survivor week". This is when the outreach teams are pitted against each other in competitive games to create friction and allow them to see their issues as open wounds and mend them before getting into the intensity of the mission field. So I always enjoy this opportunity. And Stephen also gave me the opportunity to share with the school on a topic I have had mounting interest in and have began studying on my own time, Greek vs. Hebrew thinking as well as Hebrew culture!
I really enjoyed teaching and I think I communicated the information well enough, but after a plane ride and only pushing into God exclusively with my mind and study at home, I knew I had let the ball drop. There was very little spiritual power in the week, I didn't feel that the Spirit was with me. I was speaking a dry message, a potent informative message void of any application or meaning. I had not saturated the week before hand in prayer, nor had I really engaged the Spirit of God while at home once my opportunities to speak had passed me by.
I learned something after that week, I'm not ok with ok. I really don't like to give God anything less than my best. What do I have to lose, some sleep or energy. This life is a vapour in the vastness of eternity and I'm here worrying about my spelling and grammar as I write this blog entry. Hoping a sleep well tonight, napping in the day if I don't. I think satan has far better ways of attacking us than naps, so I don't think they are inherently evil, however, I only have one opportunity to do this right. And God may have given me authority over this next school because it is one persons one chance to meet God face to face. Or maybe he put you father or mother over your children and you are their one chance to see God's character, or maybe you are put in that science class with all those thugs and burn outs that you don't usually hang out with because you are their one chance at experiencing God.
As I am prayerfully preparing for this next school I will be leading, God is putting it increasingly on my heart to give it all, everything I have and hold nothing back. As a school leader I directly oversee and meet with nearly all of my 20ish students at least once in a fortnight, as well as being specifically in charge of the growth and spiritual development of these powerful staff member that have been entrusted to me. Meeting with them ideally weekly. Logistical nightmares and no weekends or evenings off can make a school leader a little greedy with their personal time. However, I feel God has asked me to use my breakfast time as a bible study with willing and keen students to go through the books of acts (my favourite book and the one I have studied most). To have early morning prayer meetings with my staff regularly. To enter realms of faith and spiritual power with this school I haven't seen before myself. To believe that God will back up the ambitions He has put on my heart with His Spirit. I am excited for this adventure and am really focusing my energy and spirit in these weeks, gaining wisdom and insight from God. Prayer over this next year is essential to the ministry I'm involved in. So thank you all for that.
Now for a couple last important things. I always put the really important things at the end, because I'm so long winded that only those who are really interested in whats going on with me get a little more personal information at the bottom.
Firstly, I have been asked to speak overseas in the Solomon Islands, which is really amazing. I am so honoured and excited to be stepping into international speaking engagements on schools. But this base is a project we are trying to assist, its always had trouble running and keeping going. So they are asking international speakers to try and find their own financial means to get there. The base has offered to take up an offering for me and help pay for a ticket to the Solomon Islands, which would cost me between 500 and 700 dollars Australian. However your prayer in the bringing in of these finances would be a powerful blessing to me right now. I also would appreciate your prayers in preparation for teaching if I take this opportunity, I will be teaching for possible two weeks on two topics that I have never taught on before, thats many hours of study and preparation.
The second thing is something I don't usually do. And that is promote or advertise YWAM. I am simply a believer working in an organization that fits with my personality and desires in ministry. But I have seen so many peoples lives transformed in so many different ways through this organization that I just have to put a plug. I have seen couples who have been simply existing grasping at the material straws that could get their hands on transformed into passionate and powerful missionaries. I've seen kids come on gap years between university and are giving complete ownership of their faith as their own, the means to defend their faith in their future, a depth of personal relationship with God that challenges me, and guidance and vision for their future...then they have headed off to uni and been released in the fullness of the potential of who they are. I've seen 40 year olds come thinking they missed their chance to make use of their 70 years of life on this earth and they are given a redemption of purpose and fulfillment of the depths of their hearts desire! Or a kid confused and barely saved, he find hope and spiritual power, identity in Christ and was thrown into a world and story bigger than his own. A story that once you are caught up in spoils you for a normal materialistic life. That boy was released into bringing that same experience to others and wouldn't trade it for the world (that was me by the way). I really would recommend doing a Discipleship Training school through YWAM. It can just be to increase your relationship with God, to get healing, to see if God even exists, experience another culture, find out who you are in God so you can actually know his plans for your life. OR it could be to pursue missions, ministry or a degree or diploma through the University of the Nations which is YWAM's training wing and has accredited degree programs!
SO, get the word out and be sensitive to the Spirit in your life and those around you, recommend this to anyone and everyone, or just those you feel led to. But it really is a powerful thing. There are 1200 locations in 173 nations world wide, 150 nationalities involved and 20,000 fulltime staff, with 4,000,000 people having been a part of it over the years. Email me @ marshywam@gmail.com for more info, or check out www.ywam.org to see the many countries you could do this course in. I also encourage you to go to youtube and search "YWAM DTS" or YWAM promo, and watch some videos. And thanks again for being a part of what God is doing globally through me, I love you all and wish you His richest blessings!
PEACE, LOVE and PRAYERS!
1) We accentuate some we are too lazy to change and it becomes the norm for our life as we hear under a guise of laughter and acceptance, "oh, thats just Adam. Its just the way he is!" even though those issues are blatantly unbiblical. (SLOTH)
2) We pretend we are really better than we are to avoid open hypocrisy and save face. This is probably the most common and comes largely from insecurity I would think. (PRIDE)
3) Or we can pursue God and find ourselves in constant humiliation and floating through transformations until our dying breath, chasing holiness to our grave. Though I'm not always here, I feel this rat race at the moment. (HUMILITY)
In the bible people who were living their lives in humility and absolute abandon for God, chasing that scathing refiners fire to their dying breath were the ones who saw the massive release of the Spirit of God in their life! And if we want a release of God's Spirit, transforming us, those around us and even society we need that reckless abandon.
When I got back to Australia I was giving the opportunity to teach again on a friend of mines school. I taught on the body of Christ and unity. I usually teach on this during the significant "Survivor week". This is when the outreach teams are pitted against each other in competitive games to create friction and allow them to see their issues as open wounds and mend them before getting into the intensity of the mission field. So I always enjoy this opportunity. And Stephen also gave me the opportunity to share with the school on a topic I have had mounting interest in and have began studying on my own time, Greek vs. Hebrew thinking as well as Hebrew culture!
I really enjoyed teaching and I think I communicated the information well enough, but after a plane ride and only pushing into God exclusively with my mind and study at home, I knew I had let the ball drop. There was very little spiritual power in the week, I didn't feel that the Spirit was with me. I was speaking a dry message, a potent informative message void of any application or meaning. I had not saturated the week before hand in prayer, nor had I really engaged the Spirit of God while at home once my opportunities to speak had passed me by.
I learned something after that week, I'm not ok with ok. I really don't like to give God anything less than my best. What do I have to lose, some sleep or energy. This life is a vapour in the vastness of eternity and I'm here worrying about my spelling and grammar as I write this blog entry. Hoping a sleep well tonight, napping in the day if I don't. I think satan has far better ways of attacking us than naps, so I don't think they are inherently evil, however, I only have one opportunity to do this right. And God may have given me authority over this next school because it is one persons one chance to meet God face to face. Or maybe he put you father or mother over your children and you are their one chance to see God's character, or maybe you are put in that science class with all those thugs and burn outs that you don't usually hang out with because you are their one chance at experiencing God.
As I am prayerfully preparing for this next school I will be leading, God is putting it increasingly on my heart to give it all, everything I have and hold nothing back. As a school leader I directly oversee and meet with nearly all of my 20ish students at least once in a fortnight, as well as being specifically in charge of the growth and spiritual development of these powerful staff member that have been entrusted to me. Meeting with them ideally weekly. Logistical nightmares and no weekends or evenings off can make a school leader a little greedy with their personal time. However, I feel God has asked me to use my breakfast time as a bible study with willing and keen students to go through the books of acts (my favourite book and the one I have studied most). To have early morning prayer meetings with my staff regularly. To enter realms of faith and spiritual power with this school I haven't seen before myself. To believe that God will back up the ambitions He has put on my heart with His Spirit. I am excited for this adventure and am really focusing my energy and spirit in these weeks, gaining wisdom and insight from God. Prayer over this next year is essential to the ministry I'm involved in. So thank you all for that.
Now for a couple last important things. I always put the really important things at the end, because I'm so long winded that only those who are really interested in whats going on with me get a little more personal information at the bottom.
Firstly, I have been asked to speak overseas in the Solomon Islands, which is really amazing. I am so honoured and excited to be stepping into international speaking engagements on schools. But this base is a project we are trying to assist, its always had trouble running and keeping going. So they are asking international speakers to try and find their own financial means to get there. The base has offered to take up an offering for me and help pay for a ticket to the Solomon Islands, which would cost me between 500 and 700 dollars Australian. However your prayer in the bringing in of these finances would be a powerful blessing to me right now. I also would appreciate your prayers in preparation for teaching if I take this opportunity, I will be teaching for possible two weeks on two topics that I have never taught on before, thats many hours of study and preparation.
The second thing is something I don't usually do. And that is promote or advertise YWAM. I am simply a believer working in an organization that fits with my personality and desires in ministry. But I have seen so many peoples lives transformed in so many different ways through this organization that I just have to put a plug. I have seen couples who have been simply existing grasping at the material straws that could get their hands on transformed into passionate and powerful missionaries. I've seen kids come on gap years between university and are giving complete ownership of their faith as their own, the means to defend their faith in their future, a depth of personal relationship with God that challenges me, and guidance and vision for their future...then they have headed off to uni and been released in the fullness of the potential of who they are. I've seen 40 year olds come thinking they missed their chance to make use of their 70 years of life on this earth and they are given a redemption of purpose and fulfillment of the depths of their hearts desire! Or a kid confused and barely saved, he find hope and spiritual power, identity in Christ and was thrown into a world and story bigger than his own. A story that once you are caught up in spoils you for a normal materialistic life. That boy was released into bringing that same experience to others and wouldn't trade it for the world (that was me by the way). I really would recommend doing a Discipleship Training school through YWAM. It can just be to increase your relationship with God, to get healing, to see if God even exists, experience another culture, find out who you are in God so you can actually know his plans for your life. OR it could be to pursue missions, ministry or a degree or diploma through the University of the Nations which is YWAM's training wing and has accredited degree programs!
SO, get the word out and be sensitive to the Spirit in your life and those around you, recommend this to anyone and everyone, or just those you feel led to. But it really is a powerful thing. There are 1200 locations in 173 nations world wide, 150 nationalities involved and 20,000 fulltime staff, with 4,000,000 people having been a part of it over the years. Email me @ marshywam@gmail.com for more info, or check out www.ywam.org to see the many countries you could do this course in. I also encourage you to go to youtube and search "YWAM DTS" or YWAM promo, and watch some videos. And thanks again for being a part of what God is doing globally through me, I love you all and wish you His richest blessings!
PEACE, LOVE and PRAYERS!
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