I am sitting in Singapore as I write this, but the update I am sharing this month is least of all about me, and more about the wave of God's spirit moving on the earth that I have been privileged to see some pieces of in the past month.
PhotogenX group on the move!
As our traveling group moves from Biblical studies into a new module called "Humanities and Science, a Christian Perspective," God has been rocking us with the way we view the world and relate to people and cultures around us. We had a week on "worldview" brought to us by an amazing guy from Kona, then I taught for a week titled "God's fingerprints in Human History." I've been away from the team for a few days, so when I get back to them at the end of the week I will get caught up on the rest of their studies. But we have a project coming up that I am really excited about, which involves trekking out to Romania to work in a community of "Roma" people, who you probably have heard referred to as "the gypsies." This is a people group scattered all over Europe, universally exploited and marginalized, longing for a hope and a future. I am hoping and praying that our time among them, both researching and identifying, will be the beginning of a move of God's church to reach out in a massive way to these people. I'm sure I will have more to share about them next month.
Some of the wonderful people you will meet when you visit YWAM Bali!
Teaching in a new Bible course in Bali:
I had the privilege last week of teaching the Gospel of Mark for a new Bible school being pioneered in Bali, Indonesia. All Indonesian students, on a campus brimming over with passion for the Lord, and compassion for the lost. Each morning of meeting together, someone was always practically bursting to share a testimony of how they had seen someone radically saved on the street, or in the store, or at the beach the day before. And their hunger for the Word is incredible! I simply brought them a book of the Bible, some background information and some study tools, and they ran with it, Pray for this group as they continue their study and their ministry. They are planning on going to East Timor for their outreach phase, a nation that has some deep-seeded wounds in their history from Indonesia. But God has given his children the ministry of reconciliation in the earth, administering the Revelation 22, leaves of the tree of life, for the healing of the nations.
Bali from the air
Bali: the last Hindu stronghold of Indonesia
cliffs surround some of Bali's most famous surf spots, I went out surfing here on a fairly big day and could tell I was out of practice
Rice farmers work the mountainous landscape
Prayer for Nations: Indonesia
One week in Bali is enough to overwhelm me with the beauty of God's creation, but I know a lifetime there would not suffice to convey the depth of God's love for the hurting and the lost of Indonesia.
I was so encouraged to get to spend some time with the base leaders, Alan and Susie, and to hear about all the things God is doing through YWAM and partners in that nation. But the harvest is HUGE there! Indonesia is the largest (population wise) Muslim nation in the world.
God is raising up a battle tested army there. Religious persecution has tried and failed to stop them, natural disasters have only strengthened their resolve to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and more and more, the hearts cry of the Indonesian YWAMmer is being changed from "Lord send people to us" into "Lord send me!"
Pray for this young warrior movement when you get a minute, it's part of the harvest I would suggest not missing out on.
If you would like more information in order to pray, or if you think Bali might be a place you could visit and be part of what God is doing, check out http://uofnbali.org/ and maybe do a DTS there!
I had the privilege last week of teaching the Gospel of Mark for a new Bible school being pioneered in Bali, Indonesia. All Indonesian students, on a campus brimming over with passion for the Lord, and compassion for the lost. Each morning of meeting together, someone was always practically bursting to share a testimony of how they had seen someone radically saved on the street, or in the store, or at the beach the day before. And their hunger for the Word is incredible! I simply brought them a book of the Bible, some background information and some study tools, and they ran with it, Pray for this group as they continue their study and their ministry. They are planning on going to East Timor for their outreach phase, a nation that has some deep-seeded wounds in their history from Indonesia. But God has given his children the ministry of reconciliation in the earth, administering the Revelation 22, leaves of the tree of life, for the healing of the nations.
Bali from the air
Bali: the last Hindu stronghold of IndonesiaJustice through the arts
God has been challenging me through my students in this area. Their vision is so singular, so focused, I find myself daily contemplating the way I use my gifts to serve God. Whatever our gifts and talents may be, God's dream is for us to use them to pour salve on the many wounds of our world. I am so thankful to know people like Lindsay, whose photography will reconcile nations, and Sam, whose passion for soccer is changing Cambodian kids lives, and Karen, whose hospitality ministry to ESL students breaks through all cultural barriers until these students simply see Jesus... the list goes on. I will leave you with this quote, and would suggest to you that whatever your talent, skill or profession, if you submit it to God he can turn it into an art form the world will notice. “The task of art is enormous. Through the influence of real art, aided by science, guided by religion, that peaceful co-operation of man, which is now maintained by external means – by our law-courts, police, charitable institutions, factory inspection, and so forth, - should be obtained by man’s free and joyous activity. Art should cause violence to be set aside.” – Leo Tolstoy
cliffs surround some of Bali's most famous surf spots, I went out surfing here on a fairly big day and could tell I was out of practice
Rice farmers work the mountainous landscapeOne week in Bali is enough to overwhelm me with the beauty of God's creation, but I know a lifetime there would not suffice to convey the depth of God's love for the hurting and the lost of Indonesia.
I was so encouraged to get to spend some time with the base leaders, Alan and Susie, and to hear about all the things God is doing through YWAM and partners in that nation. But the harvest is HUGE there! Indonesia is the largest (population wise) Muslim nation in the world.
God is raising up a battle tested army there. Religious persecution has tried and failed to stop them, natural disasters have only strengthened their resolve to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and more and more, the hearts cry of the Indonesian YWAMmer is being changed from "Lord send people to us" into "Lord send me!"
Pray for this young warrior movement when you get a minute, it's part of the harvest I would suggest not missing out on.
If you would like more information in order to pray, or if you think Bali might be a place you could visit and be part of what God is doing, check out http://uofnbali.org/ and maybe do a DTS there!
Some of the wonderful people you will meet when you visit YWAM Bali!