May 19, 2023

Ministry in the Small Things Believe it or not, it has been 10+ months since I arrived in Sydney. I'm feeling more and more at home here, especially as relationships deepen and ministry opportunities increase. Effective ministry often happens in the unplanned occurrences of life. Of course we must live our lives -- plan our lives -- in such a way to encourage those unplanned occurrences. Some of my opportunities lately include: I started a bicycling club at Harbour City Church.  Our third outing is this weekend, and so far has been a great opportunity to deepen relationships and to invite unsaved friends. Each member of Harbour City Church staff spoke on various topics at our recent church retreat under the theme "Fully known, truly loved." Relationships in my men's growth group are deepening.  I'm encouraged by the transparency of the young men. I spoke on "handling difficulty questions" about the gospel at a recent university ministry event. THANK YOU for your continued prayers and partnership in the gospel! Calendar June 8-26 I'll be in the States for the PCA General Assembly in Memphis (6/12-15), with a quick weekend in Jackson prior to GA, and then some time in Iowa with my mom. Prayer Points City Sanctum: A new steering committee has been recruited and started meeting earlier this month. We anticipate rebooting ministry meetings in August. Australian Visa: Pray that my application for a two year worker's visa will be approved soon. Application was submitted several weeks ago. Island to Island Forum: Praise God for a successful gathering of ministries in the South Pacific island nations. It was an encouraging time of dreaming and planning for cooperation in ministry to strengthen the churches of the region. WPC National Assembly: Praise God for the opportunity to attend the recent Westminster denominational meetings in Brisbane, learning much about the challenges and opportunities within our partnering denomination. 2023 Missions Trip: Pray for development of a church missions trip I will lead at the end of the year -- location and ministry.

March 9, 2023

Am I Called to Go? "How do I know if God is calling me to missions?" "Discerning a particular call to missions starts with recognizing that every Christian has been called to participate in God's mission to reconcile the world to himself." "While it's true that participating in God's mission does not require all of us to travel to distant places, finishing the mission [of reaching every tribe, people, and nation] means that some of us must [go]." These three quotes are from a 2017 Gospel Coalition article by missionary Lucas Burton. I encourage you to read it in full here (about a five minute read). I recently had the opportunity to speak on this very topic at the 2023 SOW summer camp. With 120 university students, we had five days to delve into God's word, sing his praises, meet in small groups, and have a lot of good camp fun! Please pray that the students will prayerfully discern God's calling upon their lives, and whether that is to serve him here in Sydney, or outside of their culture to far flung peoples around the world. Island to Island Forum I will be assisting with the Island to Island Partnership (I2I) Forum next week in Fiji. You may recall I traveled there is September to help find a location for this forum. The many tiny nations of the Pacific Ocean were largely Christianized in the 19th and 20th centuries, but have since been victims to all the common heresies of the day (prosperity gospel, liberal theology, etc.) as well as many cults. Four Presbyterian denominations from the US, Australia, and New Zealand formed I2I to gather gospel-centered ministries from these nations in an effort to revitalize the local churches. The forum will be the first in-person meeting with representatives from four of the larger Oceanic nations (Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa and Vanuatu). Please pray that beneficial partnerships will be built toward the revitalization of the Oceanic churches. City Sanctum Update   An informational dinner was held on February 9 for those wanting to learn more about the re-boot of the City Sanctum ministry. From this group and others at Harbour City Church, I am working to form a new steering committee. Once formed, we will together seek God's guidance in laying the foundations for City Sanctum, and implementing the re-boot of regular meetings. The vision for City Sanctum is to guide city workers as they navigate the intersection of being Christians in an increasingly secular world. Recruiting steering committee members is proving to be a slow process. However it is providing opportunities to meet with HCC members and to discuss their roles within the life of the church. Calendar March 15-20 Island to Island Forum in Fiji (This is one of my required "leave Australia every 90 days" tourist visa trips.) June 13-16 PCA General Assembly Memphis, TN Prayer Points   Pray for the City Sanctum ministry and the formation of the new steering committee. Pray for the Island to Island Forum, and that it will be a blessing to the ministries on the islands and will serve to revitalize the churches. Pray that I will be granted a two year visa in order to continue serving in Sydney. My current tourist visa will expire in July. Pray for the university students from SOW camp as they seek to discern their roles in God's gospel mandate, whether at home or abroad.

January 2023 Update

Japan Vision Trip Report I am thrilled to report on a very successful vision trip to Japan back in December! What made it very successful? Was it fun? Yes. Did I have a great time seeing old friends and teammates? Yes. But much more important than either of those, our Sydney group was challenged as we were exposed to a wide variety of missionary activities, all with the purpose of sharing the good news of God's free gift of salvation! From December 5 through 15, I facilitated a vision trip, guiding four young adults from Harbour City Church through five cities and visiting missionaries from ten different missionary teams. Some of our highlights included: university ministry dinner with about 30 students in Nagoya; touring Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya; engaging English language learners in Osaka; visiting an art gallery operated by MTW missionaries and learning how the arts can be used to connect with people and to share the hope of the gospel; worshipping at a bilingual church in Sendai; learning about church planting and various outreach ministries in Chiba, Tokyo, and Nagoya; hearing a Juilliard School of Music organist and missionary and learning more about ministry opportunities using the creative arts; teaching the children at a Christian school in Chiba about Australia. Our Sydney team was encouraged as we learned how God is working in Japan, and several participants are considering what it might look like for them to potentially live and minister overseas. Please pray that God will use this vision trip to impact the lives of the trip participants here in Sydney, but also their impact in missions around the world, whether that is through their own support of missions or their own getting up and going overseas. Thank you for your prayers & partnership in the gospel! Follow FB Group Forward to a Friend Calendar Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 I will be a presenter at our university ministry summer camp, speaking on "Am I Called to Go?"   February 9 We will hold an informational dinner for those interested in participating in, or potentially helping to lead City Sanctum. "CS" is a ministry to city workers that has been on hiatus for nearly two years due to Covid. Our vision is to be an outreach ministry, while equipping our church members with personal evangelism skills.   March 15-20 I will be assisting with the Island to Island conference, connecting Reformed pastors and ministries from the nations of the South Pacific islands. In these tiny countries, pastors often feel especially isolated and discouraged. The conference is in Fiji, and will also serve to reset my Australian tourist visa for another 90 days. Prayer Points   Praise God for a very successful Japan vision trip! Pray that God will call one or more of the participants to overseas ministry. Pray for the university ministry summer camp to be a spiritual blessing for the participants. Pray for each of the speakers, including myself, that God will speak through us. Pray for the City Sanctum informational dinner on February 9, and that God will rebuild this ministry to be effective in calling the lost and equipping the redeemed. Pray for two-month intern applicants to serve with our Sydney team in July-August. These are typically university students from the US & Canada.

December 1, 2022

Japan Vision Trip I will be returning to Japan on Sunday evening, December 5! I currently hold a one year Australian tourist visa which requires that I leave the country every 90 days. As I still have two bank accounts in Japan (one personal, and one for Genesis International College), I need to return to withdraw the funds and close the accounts. Taking advantage of the opportunity, four young adults from my Sydney church will be accompanying me on this vision trip. What is a vision trip, as opposed to a mission trip? Where a mission trip typically involves participants performing some sort of ministry work, the primary activity of a vision trip is to expose participants to a variety of missionaries and types of ministry. The primary goal is for the participants to better understand the work and lives of missionaries, know how to pray for, support and advocate for missions, and to discern their own role in God's gospel mandate. Our team will be visiting missionaries in Chiba, Nagoya, Osaka, Sendai and Tokyo. Please pray: Safety in the air, on the road, and on the tracks Unity on our team during a very busy schedule That our team will be a blessing to the missionaries we visit, and encouraged by their ministries. Particularly, pray that each participant will be open to the leading of God as we each discern our roles in the gospel mandate. Josh, Brent, Danny, Rebecca, Monica Vision Trip Dates: December 5-15. Wishing you a blessed Christmas! Follow FB Group Forward to a Friend Prayer Points   In addition to the prayer requests for the vision trip listed on the left.... Pray that there will be no issues in getting back into Australia following the Japan Vision Trip. I am on a one year tourist visa that requires me to leave the country every 90 days; it's possible there could be issues getting back into the country. Pray for the City Sanctum ministry. We recently administered a survey among our target demographic to learn about post-Covid work situations (in the office, online, etc.), as well as perceived needs in work and personal lives. Upon my return from Japan, work will begin in earnest toward re-booting the City Sanctum ministry in the new year. "With All"   Last week, Harbour City Church hosted their annual "open conference" with the theme "With All," taken from Luke 10 (love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind). Due to the isolation brought on by tight Covid restrictions, mental and physical health were a focus. Our keynote speaker was a therapist who challenged us to deal with past traumas, sin, and addictions. A former convict who runs a fitness ministry for former convicts also shared his story with our congregation and guests.

August 25, 2022 -- First Newsletter from Sydney

Feet on the Ground! After a 2+ year Covid delay, God opened up the doors for my arrival in Sydney about seven weeks ago! It is perhaps a bit surreal to be here, and to look back on all that transpired over the last few years. But I'm so thankful for God's provision and for the prayers, encouragement, and financial partnership of so many rope holders. Thank you for your role in all of that! My team leader has been very gracious in allowing me time to adjust to life in Australia. I was able to purchase a 2014 VW Jetta within a week of my arrival, and secured an apartment within three weeks. Moving in with just a few pieces of luggage, I was able to furnish the apartment with the basic necessities and make it a comfortable home for my own rejuvenation as well as for hosting friends and events in the future. The location is convenient to the church and has easy access (via train) to the city. And after gaining my own experience in renovation/construction over the last two years, I have a view of a large new apartment building under construction right outside my windows! In fact I was given a $300 ($200 US) discount per month because of the construction. I find it rather entertaining, even as a port-a-potty is sailing past my window from a crane as I type this! Being quite settled, I've been getting more involved in ministry work over the last couple of weeks. Ministry Much of my time has been spent becoming more familiar with the various ministries of the MTW team in Sydney. In the first week I participated in a men's ping pong tournament. I hadn't played since Christmas 2020, and my first and only match was against the man whom everyone knew would win the tournament, and he did! It was a great opportunity to get to know the lads (as they say in Australia) of the church. City Sanctum, the ministry which I'll be leading, has been on a complete hiatus over the last year. When Australia shutdown the nation due to Covid, an attempt was made to continue meeting online. But without a City Sanctum leader, and with general exhaustion among the steering committee, we decided it was better to discontinue all activities until Covid restrictions eased and I arrived to give leadership. Our team met with the steering committee members this past week to discuss the future, and how we can most effectively meet the needs of city workers. With most office workers still working from home most days, and the needs and daily patterns of life changed, we will be re-evaluating everything in the coming months toward the goal of relaunching. Follow FB Group Forward to a Friend Prayer Points   Praise God for opening the doors to Australia, safe travel, and allowing me to get established in Sydney. Pray that God will bless my efforts to deepen relationships at the church. Pray for the City Sanctum ministry and our work to reorganize it toward effective ministry both in the city and to those around the world. Praise God for a Japanese friend whom I met in Jackson, MS at the First Presbyterian international ministry. He moved to Texas last year, and continued to seek for God and was recently baptized! Pray for his spiritual growth. Culture Corner   Adjusting to Australian culture has certainly been easier than my previous adjustments in Japan. Instead of struggling to recall the most basic of words, my ears are adjusting to the Aussie accent. Instead of learning how to navigate the Japanese train system, I'm learning to drive manual transmission on the left side of the road (had a little practice with that in Japan as I occasionally rented a car). But more than that, I'm working to understand the Aussie way of thinking. It's subtle, but it is different! Australia is very egalitarian; regardless of one's place in life or society, if one acts too high and mighty, they can expect to be taken down a peg or two. 40% of Sydneysiders are foreign born. Driving around, I traverse through neighborhoods of Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Arab, etc., all with their grocery stores, restaurants, and places of worship. My own neighborhood is very diverse with only 37% of the residents born in Australia. The world is mobile, coming to our doorsteps, providing incredible opportunities to share the hope of the gospel to the masses who have never heard.

June 20, 2022 Update -- Imminent Departure

A Brief Update: First and foremost, I want to confirm that, Lord willing, I will be departing for my ministry assignment in Sydney on July 6! A few details: I am in Birmingham, AL this week for the Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly. Jim Jung, my Sydney team leader, is here with me. It's been a great time of renewing our friendship (haven't seen each other face to face in three years), and discussing life and ministry in Sydney. We are attending GA for the purpose of recruiting missionaries, interns, and church missions teams for the Australasia region (Australia, New Zealand, and a number of South Pacific island nations). Please pray that God will call many to serve and equip in this region.   Upon returning to Jackson on Friday of this week, my primary work will be packing up my house, packing up my bags, and just in general preparing to turn my house over to my renters/house managers.   A young Christian married couple will be renting my home, living on the main floor, and managing the AirBNB basement apartment. They are excited for the opportunity as they will be able to save up money for their own home over the next four years. And they seem very suited to managing the AirBNB apartment as well.   I anticipate driving up to Iowa on June 30-July1 to spend a few days with my mom before departing for Australia.   I will fly out of Sioux Falls, SD on July 6 and arrive in Sydney on July 8! Calendar June 20-23 PCA General Assembly; Birmingham, AL   June 24-29 Packing up my home, selling some furniture, packing my bags, etc. June 30 - July 1 Driving to Iowa July 6-8 Travel to Sydney, Australia Follow FB Group Forward to a Friend Prayer Points   Praise God for his sustaining grace during a departure delay of more than two years. Praise him for the opportunities he gave me to serve my local church, to learn and minister through the Birmingham and Jackson Mission Cohorts, and for the opportunity to buy my first home and renovate the basement apartment. Praise God that the long wait if nearly over! Pray for our recruiting efforts at PCA General Assembly. Pray that God will enable me to accomplish all that needs doing in Jackson before I can turn my house over to my renters/managers. Pray for good time with my mom before I depart. Pray for my adjustment and settling into life and ministry in Sydney. THANK YOU for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and continued financial partnership over the last years. I appreciate your role in our work more than you can know, and covet your continued "holding of the rope" as I begin this new role in Australia.

April 25, 2022

Deployment Announcement! After two years of waiting, I can announce that the Australian borders are open, and I've been approved to deploy!  Some details: For immigration visa, I have received a clean criminal background report from the FBI, and should get a similar report in the next week from the Japanese consulate. While I have been anticipating a mid-May departure, that has been pushed back so that I can attend the Presbyterian Church General Assembly with my team leader with the purpose of recruiting additional missionaries, short-term teams, and interns. After General Assembly, I'll return to Jackson for just a few days, then go on to Iowa to see my mother, sell my car, and depart from there, likely on July 6. I have found a young couple who will be renting my house and managing the Airbnb apartment in the basement while I'm in Australia.  There are many details to work out for the lease. THANK YOU for your faithful prayers and encouragement, and for those who have faithfully continued to partner with me despite so many unknowns over the last two years.  You've been a blessing to me. Wait for the Lord! When Covid shut down world borders, probably like everyone else in the world, I assumed Covid would run its course in a few months and the world would quickly return to normal. Never did I expect my move to Australia would be delayed more than two years! Once I bought my house and started renovating it, I seemed to settle into life here. In some ways, that's good; one should "be" where one is placed -- to live and serve God in the ways he allows in the moment. But it was also easy to forget about my calling to Australia, or to think "what if it never happens?" Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Two years is like a single moment to our eternal God. He has been sovereign throughout the pandemic. While we may have felt like we'd lost all control, God never did. And really, we never had any real control anyway! All we are called to do is wait for the Lord -- to trust that he knows best, and is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Over the last two years, God has provided many ministry opportunities I never expected: Participating in the planning and implementation of the Birmingham Missions Cohort, and then bring that to Jackson as well. Informal discipleship with several young men at my church. Participating in the life of my church including the choir, neighborhood growth group, and a men's Bible study. And of course God has provided the opportunity for me to purchase my first house, to be productive during the shutdown through the renovation of the basement apartment, and then to reap the benefits in the coming years of renting out the house and apartment. When there were slow times in recent months, I have driven Lyft and found many, many opportunities to share the gospel and to pray with and for my passengers. God has been good!  And it appears my waiting for him to move is coming to an end, at least in this particular situation. For each of us, our lives really is a series of waiting for the Lord -- to move, to open, to close, to heal, and ultimately to bring us to our eternal home. Follow FB Group Forward to a Friend Calendar June 21-24 PCA General Assembly Birmingham, AL   July 1-5 Tentative dates in Iowa July 6 Likely departure date for Australia Prayer Points   Praise God that he has opened the door to ministry in Australia! Praise God for the many opportunities he has provided in the last two years, including opportunities that have better prepared me for ministry in Sydney! Pray that God will allow me opportunities to finish my time in the States well. Pray for the many things I need to accomplish before I leave, including completion of a bathroom renovation in my house, working out details for the rental and management of the house, Australian visa application, and the sale of my Jeep in Iowa. Pray for our recruiting efforts at General Assembly, as we seek to recruit additional missionaries as well as short-term teams and interns. Pray for the transition -- both leaving the States and adapting to life and ministry in Australia. Pray for good farewells with family and friends. Overview of Australian Work: