Answered Prayer

"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

2 Timothy 2:13

For all those of you who have been praying faithfully, let me take you on a journey with me. Before I came to Australia, I was reading in John one day, and God began- out of nowhere- to speak about the importance of joining a local church here in Australia. He spoke some things clearly to my spirit about having eyes open for a church with people grounded in truth- A faith family committed to teaching the sovereignty of a loving God and upholding the authority of the Scriptures. I knew that I didn’t need a church that would give me a “feel good” experience, just one that taught the Bible and sought to live out what it said with all their heart.

I held onto this thing God had spoken and asked you to pray for God’s leading and direction. Before we moved, when we still lived in Shellharbour, I started to feel discouraged because I didn’t see those things realized in the way I felt like God had spoken. “God, did you really mean I would find a church like that? Maybe, I am being too picky and idealistic... No, you said I would know when I saw these things fulfilled. But when God? I don’t see it happening.”

After the move to Port Kembla, I felt God calling me to run after the things He had spoken, and I randomly found a Baptist church online called Wollongong Baptist Church. I went and was immediately overwhelmed with the fingerprints of God on that place. It’s probably the most diverse church I’ve been to, in culture and in age. There are over 25 different nations represented there, and they have worship services in Chinese, Greek, and Burmese. The church has such a missions heart and focus on reaching the nations!

“God, could this be you? I see you at work here.” There is nothing glamourous about the worship, but they teach truth and are faithful to the authority of the Scriptures. “God, I am seeing the things you spoke that day about. I am watching to see what you are doing...”

That first Sunday I visited, I sat next to an 87 year old woman. She told me she came to know the Lord when she was in her thirties and has walked with him since. She and her husband started a church in their home, inviting people off the streets of Wollongong. She wants to share a meal with me and hear more about what God is doing in the nations through YWAM!

The next Sunday, I met a family from El Salvador! I spoke Spanish with this couple a little older than my parents’ age. They were so refreshed (and I was just plain giddy!) to speak with someone in their native tongue. They have a daughter who is my age. Later that night, I went to another service, and she introduced me to a lot of her friends who are students at the university in Wollongong.

I met another couple who have had a ministry to university students for years. They have opened their home to university students for months and years at a time and have had over 200 university students in their home over the years from tons of different nations! They have even gotten the opportunity to travel to some of their home nations with them because of this ministry. God is working in this church. His heart for the nations is evident in this place...

Today was my third Sunday to visit, and God solidified the stirring up in my heart about being a part of this faith family. I went to lunch at the pastor and his wife’s house after the service. They have three kids- ages 8, 5, and 2. I felt like I was back in Birmingham with my church family... right at home in the kitchen as I helped prepare lunch over good conversation and was taken into the 5 year old girl’s room, as she showed me her treasures! At this point, I am thinking... “God your grace is more than I imagined.” I enjoyed an amazing meal of breaded chicken, potatoes, and caesar salad... finished with an amazing desert of lemon pie and ice cream AND.... a latte made using an espresso machine! Heaven? Maybe. Haha.

I had such a good conversation with Rod and Christine about the church’s history of mission and God’s continual drawing such an international body together. We talked about all kinds of things. I spoke with them about how encouraged I was by today’s message on Ephesians 2... it was such truth proclaimed, glorifying God to the max. We talked about how we are saved only by grace, and nothing we done on our own. We talked about the strength knowing Christ provides in all circumstances, even in suffering, knowing that He is sovereign and in control and His character is good. So refreshing. This church is totally committed to the truth of God’s Word. God completely confirmed that in my spirit through my conversation with them in their home! Praise His glorious Name!

I’m humbled and thankful. Even in my doubting, God still proved Himself faithful to me. He spoke, and He answered the cry He put in my heart more than I could have pictured or imagined! Even through I doubted and questioned whether it would come to pass, He continued to work on my behalf.

"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." (2 Tim. 2:13).

Even when I was faithless, He remained faithful. What a great God we serve! Thank you all of you who have continued to pray about this. I believe I am seeing the answer to prayer because you prayed! What a tangible example of you truly being on the journey with me!

The beginning of a journey... DTS starts!

It’s been a while since my last update. You might expect me to say that things slowed down after the big move and Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Nope, just as crazy- just in a different way!

January 4, we began our second week of staff training where we continued to get ready for the January DTS. We continued getting closer as a team and doing all the little things we needed to in order to welcome them to their new home. Our base leader, Bruce, spent some time as well equipping us with truths about New Testament discipleship. His talks freed me up a lot with the reminder that the Holy Spirit disciples those seeking Him, and my job is simply to point them to Him.

Last Saturday and Sunday, we welcomed 8 students from 6 different nations to the YWAM Wollongong family for the next 6 months. We have 8 amazing students, hungry to know God more and dive into this crazy adventure from the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Malaysia, and Australia. I’m so excited they are finally here and I know God has really incredible and specific purposes in store for this group of students.

If you have heard me talk about DTS, but still are unsure of what it is we do here... check out YWAM Wollongong’s website... http://www.ywamwollongong.org. Here’s a little bit about DTS taken from the website:

“Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) aim to prepare messengers of the gospel, helping students to know God in depth. The goal is to form Christian character and establish Biblical relationships while developing a daily walk with God. The intensive Christian training course begins with an 11 or 12 week classroom phase followed by a typically 12 week outreach.”

So... we have a different international speaker every week teaching on topics like how to hear God’s voice, how to study the Bible, the Fatherheart of God, spiritual warfare, Biblical relationships, a Biblical worldview, prayer and intercession, mercy and justice, etc. It’s an amazing time of God refining the students’ hearts, burning their hearts with the things that His heart burns for and then sending them out to make disciples of all nations.

Before every group of students arrives, we spend time praying for them individually and for the school as a whole. When praying before the school, God led us to Jeremiah 17:5-8 as a theme verse for the next 6 months for this group.

This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, 
 who draws strength from mere flesh 
 and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 
That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; 
 they will not see prosperity when it comes. 
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, 
 in a salt land where no one lives.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, 
 whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water 
 that sends out its roots by the stream. 
It does not fear when heat comes; 
 its leaves are always green. 
It has no worries in a year of drought 
 and never fails to bear fruit.”

I’m excited to see what God does in this school. Already I feel challenged to really depend completely upon God for strength and wisdom. He is responsible for growth and everything that happens. I am just a vessel and a tool in His hands. I really want to remain humble and teachable during this time and embrace everything He has for me to learn in this season. I also want to step out and take risks and not shrink back because of fear.

We’ve just about finished our first week, which was basically an orientation week. We’ve talked about YWAM’s history and YWAM Wollongong’s history, along with some of our values and vision. Bruce has been sharing with us some teaching on discipleship, and we are spending a bit of time this week sharing the stories of each of our lives with each other. It’s been great so far. Next week, we are jumping in fully and will be learning about hearing God’s voice.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and for being on this incredible journey. I can’t wait to share more of what God says and does!