News, Praise & Prayer July 2010

News

Well it is just over one month until The first semester of CCBI starts, we have at this stage filled 15 of our 20 bed spaces  and hope the rest will fill up too.

As fantastic as it is, the cold hard reality of everything that has to be done is really setting in, there is an overwhelming amount to do and that is before you actual start thinking about preparation for teaching.

In the midst of this fantastic chaos, My heart has been exercised over something significant , a significant realisation, often in ministry we talk about servant hood, sometimes glibly, but the realisation that has struck my heart is this, you cant separate servant hood from sacrifice.

Let me explain, after a while, you try to be servant without it requiring sacrifice on your part, the giving of yourself, the denying of self. Though we try and justify or manipulate circumstances at the end of the day servant hood requires that we sacrifice in the giving  of  our selves and in the denying of self, though never easy or acceptable to our flesh, this is the way of the Master   Mark 10:45

Praise

• We have been offered a van for CCBI – so it looks like the Lord has provided for one of our most significant needs!
• Jake & Tecla have been granted their religious workers visas and will be arriving here in few days.
• One year after arriving we are still here – praise God for his faithfulness.
• For Jordan and Becki as they again serve at kids evangelical camp here at the ranch

Prayer

• Preparations for the arrival of Jake & Tecla – for their transition into ministry  here in New Zealand
• Josh has submitted his visa application, please pray that the Lord would open the door for  him to come and serve with us for the next year. Whitney is completing here medical paper work and will be submitting her visa application soon
• For strength as there is so  much to do before the semester starts
• For the students as they prepare to come , that their journey here would be smooth and there would be  no issue with Immigration.
• For the semester that it would be exactly what the Lord wants it to be and would bring Glory to His name.
• There remain significant financial needs both for the ministry and for us as a family. Please pray for the Lord provision in His way and His time, constantly fighting with finances is a reality but so often it really weighs upon our hearts. At the end of the day it is hard to do ministry without resources.
• For the practicalities here at Lakes ranch as the ranch steps with us in this venture of faith , that the Lord would bless them for their faithfulness.
• For spiritual protection, the enemy resists at every stage  but he is a defeated foe , Praise God!
• We have recently begun to talk to NZ Immigration about recognising CCBI , please pray that we be granted favour with the NZ government and that we would be connected  with the right people in the government,  in order to facilitate this recognition.
• We are making plans for a Calvary Chapel National Womens Conference, please pray for this as we begin  to plan and seek the Lord for what shape this should have.
• For Harvest with Greg Laurie in Auckland in August 13th – 14th

Probably in the last month I have cherished the gift of prayer more than at any other time in my life as believer, truly we have seen the Lord’s  hand as we have asked and so we are so grateful that you are willing to ask with us that He might glorify Himself in this region  and in this work.

In Him
Mark, Gwyn, Jordan & Rebekah

Becki ( now with an I) wants a puppy !

A very late newsletter …. Best Intentions – Kia Kaha !

This is very late newsletter, I can only apologise and say I had the best intentions…

Kia Kaha - Forever Strong

So to pick up where I left off, I was making this grand commitment to blog regularly and cleverly as I made my way around the US and Europe on  my great adventure in March, but the plan stalled on about day 9 and somewhere in the vicinity of new York …. So that where we will pick up.

The Big trip.

The trip was great, I have travelled a great deal , but rarely have I felt so strongly that the Lord’s hand was upon a trip. It was a great time to connect with so many significant people. The time in Hungary was especially significant to me as i was able to share at the speakers week for students at CCBCE. I was able to share so much of what the Lord has been teaching me over the last year from Psalm 23. I also had the opportunity to share about our venture of faith  in Hungary , in the UK and also to students at CCBC at the Murrieta’s campus in Southern California.

Special friends

CCBI

Our  small student body has begun to grow and are moving closer to being maxed out at our capacity 20 students for our first semester, which begins in September. It is encouraging to see God moving on hearts and guiding them to come to school here in NZ, yet with so many things to do in preparation for the semester, it often seems truly overwhelming.

Please pray for God’s resources in all these different needs, in His Way, in His timing.
One area of  need is transportation, please pray with us that the Lord would provide a van for the school, to facilitate ministry in various locations around New Zealand.

Jake and Tecla Wilmoth have submitted their visa application for missionary workers visa, as they look to serve with us here at CCBI. Please pray this application will be approved and that they will be able to join us in early July.

Kelsey visited and served with us for 6 weeks - we were blessed !

Church Ministry

I have had the opportunity to speak at several different ministries  across New Zealand and it has been a real blessing. I recently completed a three week series on worship at Capenwray Bible school in Cambridge, New Zealand. The messages were well received and allowed us to extend our connection with believers across the Christian community in New Zealand. I had the opportunity to teach at The Street in Wellington , a large church from a brethren heritage, that just love the Lord and His Word, this has been joy to my heart.

Gwyn and I continue to serve here in the Calvary Chapel in Rotorua, I work closely with the worship team and Gwyn serves in the Sunday school ministry and helps in the teaching of the monthly Ladies study. One weekend each month, we travel to the Calvary Chapel in Hamilton and lead worship for the Sunday Service, the Friday night Gwyn teaches the Ladies study along with Julie the pastors wife.

Jordy & Becki, have once again been getting involved in ministry, they have been serving at the Lakes Ranch evangelical Kids camp , which takes place every 12 weeks here on the ranch where we live.

Calvary Chapel In New Zealand

In the second week of May, the Calvary Chapel pastors here in New Zealand had their 6 monthly get together, this time at Hamner Springs, a couple of hours outside Christchurch on New Zealand’s South Island. It was a great to see our numbers swell, with David Pham, now pastoring CC Wellington and Miguel Abascal CC Whangarei joining us for the first time.

There is a real awareness of God’s hand being upon the work here in New Zealand and our heart is to  see the ministry of the Word reach an increasing number of believers and unbelievers. One of the outcomes of our time together is that I have taken on the responsibility to work with the Calvary ladies to organise a Calvary Chapel Ladies conference and to organise our next pastors get together in which we  will  extend our time together, so that we can invite key guys who serve in the ministry and invest in them too. Personally, I also have a heart to encourage and develop worship leaders too, so it is on  my heart to organise something for worship leaders, probably a day conference during the next  year.

As  you can imagine the next year will probably be busy one, much prayer, much appreciated Zechariah 4:6

Family

Last but certainly not least, here are a few things that are happening in our family life….

From May 27th Until June 9th, Gwyn will be in the USA attending the wedding of some very dear friends.  Please pray for her to be refreshed, encouraged and spoilt rotten. For Grace and anointing as Gwyn will teach several ladies studies whilst in Southern California.

Alipio & Ashley - soon to be married !!

Jordy and Becki continue to keep going forward  in school and in church life. It has been a tough year for us all but particularly for them, relocating , moving away from all their significant friendships, this is never easy, and this has been very challenging for two very special teenagers. I find myself continually proud and amazed at their willingness to trust God and go through the hurt of literally starting again.

Becki ( now with an I) wants a puppy !

We are coming up on one year here in New Zealand, that strange anniversary will be June 23rd 2010, for all of us their are good days and bad days, yet the Lord has remained ever present and ever faithful.

He is “Kia Kaha – Forever Strong”, this is our Saviour.

God has called us and we are not our own, we value your love,  your prayers and all your care. Please continue to labour with us in prayer for the ministry here in all its facets, asking for an inheritance in many nations for the glory of Messiah- Psalm 2:8

In Him M & G

STOP PRESS – We have just taken possession of the keys to the downstairs property under the church in Rotorua, a step of faith to start a coffee shop and ministry centre central downtown Rotorua.  So please pray the Lord would guide and provide, more in the next update.

Dear Friends Tibi and Timi, whom we miss greatly

Prayer & Praise Requests for May & June 2010

Praise

• For continued blessing as we all settle in more and more in New Zealand as our one year anniversary approaches.
• For God’s provision and the way He has kept us during this first year.
• For the love and care of the saints toward us.
• For a great and blessed trip to the USA and Europe in March & April. For a blessed speakers week in Hungary.
• For Growth in the student body as we now have some 14 students and staff who will be joining us for the beginning of the September Semester 2010.
• For a blessed time teaching the word at Capenwray Bible school in New Zealand.

Prayer requests

Family

• For Gwyn as she travels to the USA for a friends wedding, that the Lord would bless her trip and bless the women’s  studies she will teach.
• For Jordan and Becki as they continue to adjust to Life in New Zealand. Particularly for the development of deep and significant relationships. For God to bless their ministry as they serve in the kids camp here at the Ranch.
• For God’s continued financial provision, finances remain an area of difficulty.

Ministry

• For preparations for the September semester of CCBI, there is a great need for all manner of resources from financial resources , computer resources.
• For a vehicle for Bible school, that we can use to transport students on outreach and to ministry opportunities.
• For Jake & Tecla, Josh and Whitney as they pursue missionary visas to serve here with CCBI, that God would grant them favour with NZ Immigration.
• That God would prepare those He wants to come here for study.
• For opportunity and contacts with NZ Immigration and NZ Accreditation bodies to discuss the needs and requirements for CCBI.
• For protection from the disruption of the enemy.
• For wisdom and guidance from the Lord, for the many decisions that need to be made as the ministry grows and becomes established.
• For the ministry of worship as Gwyn and I serve along with the worship teams of  Calvary Chapel Rotorua and Calvary Chapel Hamilton, that God would anoint, bless and glorify Himself in the ministry of worship.
• For God to grow the ministry of Calvary Chapel in New Zealand.
• For wisdom and anointing, as we seek to arrange and plan for a National Ladies conference and Leaders conference to serve and bless the body in New Zealand.
• For relationships in ministry to develop as we plan potential outreaches to Tonga and Australia. For the development of relationships with the Calvary Chapel brethren across the Pacific Rim.

We appreciate your love and prayers and cannot express how significant it is that you all support us in prayer.

In Him

Mark , Gwyn, Jordan  and Becki

There are flying days and none flying days at the moment – Sunday 7th March was a non flying day. I spent the day at CC Modesto, in the morning Pastor Damien Kyle shared from John 14:6  a great message.

CC Modesto

Next week, Normal Geisler will share at the Veritas seminar , but  Sunday night it was me, in such auspicious company , pretty much the Dancing monkey . It was  such a great privilege, for which I am grateful to the Lord and the tram at CC Modesto.
I had opportunity to share from Psalm 37 about trusting the Lord and through that share about the ministry and God ’s calling upon us in New Zealand.

I had some great fellowship with Pastor Matt & Pastor Franz from CC Modesto, I was grateful for their fellowship and love, the unique connection for Franz is that he is a New Zealander, Wellington born and bred, having left the at the age of 17 for the USA, a small world in God’s Kingdom.

Pastor Matt & Pastor Franz - Two key men in the Pastoral team at Modesto

Monday was a flying day – back to Orange County, I got chance to catch up with a dear friend who i haven’t seen for nearly 7 years , Mr Eddie. Very special indeed.

Tuesday -  I had opportunity to share the devotion for the student body at CCBC Murrieta, sharingan with them about vision and the need to not give up half way, something which seems relevant in the desire to pursue the vision of CCBI in New Zealand and the Pacific Rim.

CCBC Murrietta - Auditorium for morning devotions

Some of the students seem to have a heart to visit intern and even study with us in New Zealand, please pray that the Lord would lead them  as He desires.. not just the spirit of middle earth.

Later that evening I was able to share a meal with Jake and Tecla Wilmoth , who will be joining us on staff at CCBI in July , a great time and encouraging time. Please pray for them as they raise support and submit the paper work for missionary visas.

Guess what today is flying day ….. heading for New Jersey.

Please pray that the Lord would build, not man as we seek to share regarding the ministry in the South Pacific Rim, there is such need for resources, financially, for students, for so many things, please pray  that the Lord would simply glorify Himself

More after the  next flight or two ….

Mark

Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about March 5th
It was a good day of meetings looking at trying to get more resources into New Zealand, some good ideas we can work on.

March 6th – today I flew from John Wayne international airport to Sacramento and Sunday night I will be speaking at CC Modesto, a great honour and privilege, please pray  that the Lord would speak and glorify Himself in the teaching of His word.

Spoke to the family back Home in NZ , it was great to talk to them , Jordy came runner up in the junior singles in a tournament Rotorua , very cool, Gwyn had a sad day…

You win some you lose some and then you go to bed – Tomorrow is another day  and there is grace enough for it.

Thanks for the love and prayers for the grace of God, without which we couldn’t do anything.

Mark

God Ordained moments…

OK… for the next month this blog is actually going to be a blog site , you get to follow along on my epic trip , but with out the travel part and frequent flyer mileage.

Today is day one in California – What a day !!!

Proverbs 25:25
Says “As cold water to a weary soul so is good news from a foreign land”

I had opportunity  to meet many friends some  new and some old at the Murrieta bible school campus.

Alipio & Ashley

Our first intern committed to come to school and i get to share  with student body next Tuesday

I will tell you about the second day in the next excerpt , – got to fly to Modesto , please Pray God would bless the word.

Phil attended Vision for life in Hungary

Generations, Alipio was in the first semester in Austria with us , now a pastor , getting married to Ash and moving on the mission field. Phil we met in our last vision for life in Hungary , heading for the mission field too/

Twelve years of God being faithful – refreshing  to the soul

Mark

February & March News & Prayer

Just a quick, short but  hopefully enlightening up date

A Month of Travelling!

On the 3rd  March I begin travelling to share about the ministry here in New Zealand and look forward to connecting with as many of you as I can.

March 3rd – 9th  California

I will be visiting CCBC in Murrieta and I will be teaching the Sunday night service at CC Modesto.

March 10th – 14th  New Jersey

I will be fellowshipping with the saints on the east coast and leading worship for CC North Plainfield in their Sunday Morning service, before flying out to Hungry CCBCE for their speakers week.

March 15th – 20th Hungary

I will taking part as one of the guest speakers at  the speakers week of CCBCE in Vajta , alongside Pastor Ken Ortize and Pastor Bill Goodrich.

March 20th – 24th England

I will be teaching the morning service at Church on the Way, Bradford, before returning back to Hungary.

March 26th – 29th  Southern California

A quick stop off in So Cal to visit a last few people have an open house for our supporters and then head home for New Zealand, arriving back March 31st !!!!! in Auckland

CCBI – New Zealand & Capernwray

We are now one of the residential campuses worldwide that are fully affiliated with CCBC in Murrietta, we are currently taking admissions for the September semester. The website is fully updated with details of prices, classes and dates. Please keep us in prayer as we pioneer this work in this area of the Pacific Rim.
I have been invited to teach a series on worship at Capernwray Bible school, here inNew Zealand, I will teach the three part series at the Cambridge campus in April.

Prayer & Praise

• Please pray for safe traveling mercies, for the family as we  will spend the next month apart that God would just keep us all encouraged  in the  faith.
• Please pray for a fruitful time of ministry, speaking in so many different locations, for anointing and fruit.
• Praise for God’s continual blessing in the transition into the  ministry down here in New Zealand.
• Please pray for provision for all the needs over the next month , both for the family here at home and myself as I travel.
• That the Lord would raise up labourers to serve down here in the South Pacific Rim.

Thanks for all the prayers, love & care

M & G

What more seasons… I thought we were past this ?

Christmas in Summer - it is just wrong

Funny how we think that because we are ready  It is the right time for something eh?

Sorry for the silence during December and most of January.  December as you can imagine was just busy , but there is reason and method in madness in delaying our news update until late January.  In brief, just a few days ago, we made the decision to postpone the inaugural semester of CCBI until September 2010, as a result of lack of students. It was waiting for this decision to be made by the board of CCBI, that has delayed our update.

As you can imagine, it is an interesting time, after 9 years getting here and 6 months on the ground , pretty much everything is in place, we have a full schedule of classes all live, all taught by Calvary pastors, we have accommodation, we even having hot springs  and horse riding, for goodness sake  !!!… But just two students, both precious and both Kiwi. It is a bit like the old adage , “Here’s the church, Here’s the steeple , look inside , there’s no people ” SMILE!

Many of the personal lessons for me during our time here in New Zealand, have been about the character of God, not so much trusting what God can do, but trusting who God is, in His character. Recently in the midst of these decisions, the disappointment and to some extent the discouragement  that comes with these decisions, it is the words of Hebrews 11:6 that have been resonating in my heart and mind.  Faith is required to please God, in fact  it is impossible  in the absence of the expression of faith to please God, it is the words that follow that have been the subject of my thoughts.

For He that comes to God must believe He is and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him” Hebrews 11:6

HE is What ? – this is not something about God’s ability to redeem or deliver , but His Character , who HE IS!
To some extent I can believe that, but my struggle is that God wants to be who He is for ME and isn’t that exactly what the next part of the verse requires me to believe? That God wants to be this One, to me in all aspects of His character , His heart is towards ME .

Well… there should  be some  news in this news update!

Teenagers you have got to love them - so I have been told

Family News

Christmas in summer is different, Christmas day was at the beach in the sun strolling on the sand , watching people get our of the sea because of the passing shark, you  know the usual Christmas stuff .
Really quite difficult to adjust to especially light  of  the whole of Europe being held in the icy grip of winter.  There were many many  things and folks we missed, especially family and friends.

We have now have a regular field trip , this has been to the ER or casualty at the local hospital, Jordan has visited several times, Becky broke her arm few weeks ago, before Christmas , I attended last week with a suspected broken wrist  only a day after Gwyn’s trip for a minor surgery. We appear to be their most devoted fans, with at least one of us attending in each of the 7 months we have been in New Zealand. we are hoping for at least a set of towels or even steak knives!!! We are all recovering well, Becky no longer has a cast on her arm, I am healing up and Gwyn too after surgery is well.

The kids recently served at the Kids camp here at Lakes ranch and had the privilege of seeing 13 kids come to Christ , what a fantastic blessing!!!

Kids Camp Craziness - 13 came to Christ - Praise God !

Becky and Jordan will both start a new school at the beginning  of February, at Rotorua Lakes High School. Becky in year 9 and Jordan will attend his first school in New Zealand starting in year 12, with the aim of ultimately going on to study Medicine. Please pray for them as they enter yet another transition and both have to wear a uniform!!!!! – Pictures to follow, Becky will be required to study 2 languages, she has chosen Japanese as one of these, – one more step on the road to becoming a renowned  Ninja !!!!

Ministry News

For a man without  a job I have been quite busy,  I have just finished a series of messages down at CC wellington, covering a few of their Sunday services , whilst they await the arrival of their new pastor from the USA, finishing a season of travelling and speaking which has kept me away for  Rotorua  for about 8 Sundays.

Gwyn and I have been leading worship at CC Hamilton on a monthly basis and having great joy in the service, this  continues to be a blessing and we are seeing relationships deepen.

Over the next few weeks, we will resume leading worship on Wednesday night for the fellowship here in Rotorua  and  Gwyn will again get back in to the ladies studies here in Rotorua.

The Foundations leadership class here in Rotorua will meet again in early February  and we would value your prayers for the deepening of  the ministry of the  word of God in the lives of the men involved in this study.

As a result of postponing our first semester until September 2010, I feel the need to use the  freedom to travel and support the Calvary works , sowing into lives  as the Lord provides opportunity, I will be looking at developing a distance learning option for bible study for New Zealanders and also for use in the Pacific  Islands.

Please pray for wisdom as to how to use this time best for the Kingdom of God, to make wise choices and also for the Lord provision of the necessary resources for the demands of additional travel.

Chrstmas Day with friends at Papamoa

We  appreciate and covert your prayers, thank you for joining with us  in this  ministry, we truly desire that God  would be glorified in all these things.

In Him

M &  G

Hi everyone.
Here are some  points for praise and prayer relating to the ministry here and  to our own family.

Family

Prayer

• For Jordan and Becky as they start in year 12 and years 9 here at Rotorua Lakes High School, that they may settle in and blossom in yet another transition, especially for Jordan as he enters the New Zealand school system for the first time, something he is looking forward to with great excitement and anticipation.
• For the Lord to continue to ground us here in New Zealand as we look forward into the new year to what He may have for us
• A friend Kelsey will be joining us here for 6 weeks, please pray that she would be blessed and encouraged by her time here in New Zealand.
• For health and safety -  and no more field trips to the ER

Praise

• For Gwyn’s successful surgery
• For the continuing healing of Becky’s arm and Mark’s wrist
• For God continuing provision for us here in New Zealand
• For the blessing of serving here at CC Rotorua and in worship and with  ladies studies at CC Hamilton.
• For Jordan’s and Becky’s place at Rotorua Lakes High school

Ministry

Prayer

• In light of the postponing of the inaugural semester of CCBI until September, please pray for God’s wisdom,  that He might unfold the work here in New Zealand as He chooses in His time.
• Please pray for encouragement, there  is obviously a degree of disappointment and discouragement in having to postpone the opening semester. 1 cor  15:58
• As we take the next  9 months to prepare the foundation and establish the school, I will need to travel more both within New Zealand  and outside New Zealand, Please pray for Gods wisdom in this season and His financial provision to meet the additional expenses of travelling.
• For Jake and Tecla as they prepare to submit their paperwork for a visa to serve here with the school.
• That the Lord would bring students from within  New Zealand and from wherever He chooses. There is great deal of interest here, but many are reticent to commit to coming to  a new school.
• For wisdom in direction, as we consider developing a distance learning option for those in New Zealand and the Pacific  Islands.
• Pray for continuing development of the leadership studies here in CC Rotorua.
• Pray for the worship team at CC Hamilton and CC Rotorua that we are working with, that we may be able to encourage and equip them to serve the Lord and the body in a way that pleases the Lord.
• There are numerous opportunities presenting themselves to teach throughout New Zealand, Please pray for wisdom to know how to use my time in the best way for the Kingdom.
• As we continue to look into facilitating the distribution of Christian books and materials here in New Zealand, please pray for wisdom to know how to proceed.

Praise

• The salvation of 13 kids who gave their hearts to the Lord at the most recent kids camp here at Lakes Ranch. Becky and Jordan were able to serve at the camp and were blessed by the time of ministry. Please pray for the establishing of these young lives in Christ.
• For God’s guidance  and provsion in relation to CCBI, we have recently been given computers and numerous resources to help establish the school.

Prayer and Praise  – November 2009

Ministry

Praise

Thanks be to the Lord for  continuing to establish us here in the ministry in New Zealand and the great people he has placed around us.
For the completion of the Wednesday night studies through the book of Nehemiah at CC Rotorua.
For God continuing  hand upon the ladies studies that Gwyn is helping out with at CC rotorua  and CC Hamilton.

Prayer

That the Lord would bring more students to CCBI, especially from the Pacific Rim.
That the Lord would provide for the practical needs of finance for the startup needs of the school.
Practical areas of need are two computers, Books for the library  and a vehicle to help with moving students, as we look to have weekend outreaches serving at some of the Calvary chapels here in New Zealand.
For the continuing ministry with the worship team and ladies studies here in CC Rotorua and in CC Hamilton.
For staff to help with admin and the various needs here at the school.
For Jake and Tecla, as they submit their application to NZ Immigration for a one year ministry visa, that this would be granted as the Lord wills.
For Mark as he travels extensively to cast the vision of the school and encourage the brethren, sharing at many of the Calvary chapels in New Zealand over the next month.
For Great vision, Great Perseverance, Great Courage and Great faith.   and GREAT FRUIT!!!!
For an Inheritence for Messiah in many nations – Psalm 2:8

Family

Praise

Thanks be to the Lord that we are still here and still walking.
For the Lord’s goodness and encouragement in placing great people around us.
For the Lord’s continuing provision for us.

Prayer

For wisdom regarding finances, and God’s continuing provision as we move into the Christmas Season and start thinking about university for Jordan
For our Mums back in England that they would be upheld by grace and that God would bless their health with us being so far away.

For Becky and Jordan as they finish the school year here in New Zealand and they face the transition to a new year and for Becky the transition to Rotorua Lakes High School (…and a blue uniform!!!)
For Gwyn as see seeks the Lord as to where to place her efforts and gifts in serving, that the Lord would guide her clearly.
For Jordan as he learns to drive
For Becky as she learns to stand for Christ in the world of High School.
A funny one (as in different !!!) I want to support the worship team here and so I am learning bass guitar, so if anyone has  bass guitar they would like to donate then I could really do with one, just if you have one lying around that you don’t need. Thanks – Mark!!!

Thank you for all your prayers and love, truly we wouldn’t be here without your faithful service to the Lord in prayer and giving, in all the ways that you do give.
We cannot express enough our thankfulness for your heart to serve the Lord.
Mark & Gwyn