Family Time at Christmas

2010, Europe, Church Planting, Why Journal!!!

Karen here:
Wow - can you believe it is 2010... how many times will we have to write that before it seems real! I have suddenly become aware that we are going to Holland THIS YEAR!
Oh my - it's not really future anymore! We are now officially on countdown of 13 weeks and 4 days.... (from today that is), 11 weeks left in our house! (actually only 7 as we are away for 4...) YO!!!

We are blessed to have a family to rent our house - so that is one box fully ticked. We also have the first tickets booked and paid for! ( 6 April - 8 July) We also have a home-away-from-home to call our base when we are back from overseas... isn't that cool.

I am reminded that Proverbs says "Do not worry about tomorrow .. today's troubles are enough for themselves!" - so we will take each day & week at a time. Packing for giving away, storing for 2 years and taking with us... Doesn't that sound like fun. Any packing tips are hugely appreciated!

We trust that 2010 will be a great year for you - and we both know that "great" has many many variances & outcomes - but one thing we are sure of, is that God is GREAT and with Him we are in a very good place.

Nick's turn...
Our priorities this year when we arrive in Europe, (Amsterdam), besides finding an apartment to rent, and all that is required in settling into a new country; are:
1. Find & disciple (mentor,coach) church planting leaders. Leaders if 1000's, 100's, 50's & 10's.
2. Create a beach-head by planting the first churches.

We are still waiting to see if Karen has a Dutch passport. (I have received mine).

We always appreciate your prayer regarding this huge venture. We are prayed for and sent out from our home church, Eastside Hamilton on the 4th April.

Yesterday I changed Journals & thought about this journalling thing...
-Disappointments are able to be de-cluttered.
-Untruths are brought out into the light.
-Truths are uncovered.
-Sadness is captured & held long enough to ask the appropriate questions.
-Gladness is celebrated.
-Difficulties are able to be spoken about freely & easily.
-It gives council.
-Dreams are nurtured.
-Questions are answered.
-Revelation is recorded.
-It brings self awareness.
-it uncovers heartache, & brings healing.
-perspectives are clarified.
-messages from God are saved.

Sooo why wouldn't you begin Journalling! Believe me if I can do it, anyone can...

This year, may you know HIS Favour, Grace & fruitfulness in 2ten...& may God keep you close to His heart & His purposes - we look forward to catching up in the near future - hopefully in person - if not, email and phone are wonderful too.

Nick & Karen...

2010. Europe. Church Planting.

travel nick & Karen; plus a leadership thought...and Europe!

It has been excellent & a privilege speaking & ministering in various NZ & Aussie churches over the past year. We are having a welcome break from not having to be away & travelling as much, but still busy preparing for Christmas & the first part of next year & of course Europe. We are leaving NZ on the 6th of April 2010. It will be all go till then. There are two priorities:
1. Find & disciple, (mentor, coach), church planting leaders;
2. Create a beach-head by planting the first churches.
Also there are many things that need to be done before we leave, language learning, packing & more packing, raising finance, renting our home; BUT the most important is please pray for God connections with people to work with us, (here & in Europe). Please pray for divine intervention & interruptions; supernatural connections, events & leadings. We are so expectant for this to happen & we need to see this happen! We are believing & praying for signs, wonders & miracles. We want people to see, feel, know & hear HIM speak to them!

A highlight was to be at the ATC (www.visioncollege.co.nz) staff Christmas lunch 4th Dec...It was very inspiring & exciting...WHY? For the training centre celebrated 25 years of operating!!! Peter Dobbs was able to speak about the passion for Kingdom work. Peter began the Training centre with Phil Underwood. Phil (a previous Pastor of Eastside) was able to speak to us on the phone from Philadelphia, where he Pastors a Church. It was powerful as they spoke about simply seeing a need and doing something about it, believing God to change lives! ATC Training began with one staff member 25 years ago, & now has approx 140 staff including contractors. Thousands of lives have been influenced & impacted. What a great testimony!

In my last blog I wrote about 2 things I have needed to say to my self over the last two & a half decades, here they are:
1. If you are the leader do everyone a favour & simply lead.
2. Grow up.
HERE are the other two:
3. Leadership can be cruel. Sometime no matter what a leader does it's going to upset somebody & the leader has to bear the brunt of it. Often Karen & I will say or think, "but it's unfair". But we need to remind ourselves - "Life is unfair...I have to get over it!" Tough ay...yip leadership isn't for the fainthearted. Give yourself time, a day or two really helps, & you will get over it. Journal in the good times so that in the difficult times the habit has been established...it will help. keep doing the basics of discipleship. Remember Christ is in us, we are called to live a supernatural life. It also helps to remember Jesus said to forgive 70x7 times...that's supernatural!! As a leader learn quickly to forgive & keep your heart light!
4. I cannot let my past determine my future. For stagnation, cynicism & discouragement will reign if I as a leader let the past determine my future. It will hinder you & worse it will hinder others from flourishing around you!

Anyway that's my thoughts...Have a great Christmas & may 2010 be an enlarging one & full of God's presence! Our love...Nick & Karen.

Travel. Europe. Leadership thought.

We are off to Vision Church Kaikohe with Mike & Raewyn Tohu this weekend. Then I go to NLT (National leadership Team meeting) in Christchurch. Karen comes back to Hamilton.
On the 5th Dec. Karen & I are involved in Naomi's Moores & Dricus wedding. Which will be a fantastic time.
The 6th & 7th Dec I am in Inglewood with Kevin & Penny Dixon then onto New Plymouth for an evening meeting On Monday evening is a leadership night.
On the 13th Dec we are in Auckland with Russell & Marie McGuiness.
Inbetween times we are praparing to rent our home, catch up with family & friends & prepare going to Europe around April the 6th, 2010. Plus I am about half way to finishing another book on devotions on healing...I am so enjoying writting.
We will spend Christmas around the Waikato, then we begin travelling again on the 10th of January 2010. Its a privaledge, alot of fun & exciting being involved in His purposes.

Here is the latest re Europe. I just recieved my Dutch passport in the post...a miracle!! We will aim at this stage to live in Amsterdam as I know the City & have relatives there. Also there is no Acts Churches (Apostolic) in Holland & lastly most people are fluent in English.
How will we do this: I want to work with people who don't know what they can't do! The 2 priorities are; 1. To plant churches and establish a beachhead. 2. We need to disciple, train, mentor & coach leaders. That's why we will plant churches most nights of the week. We are expecting the supernatural; signs, wonders & miracles...I am expecting to have words of knowledge - revelation of which streets to walk in, homes to go to, people to meet...also Miracles of healing etc. I do not want to plant A church, we want to plant churchES! So we need to have a reproducible system immediately! It will take faith, and the supernatural power of God! I absolutely believe after 20 years of prayer & the leading of God; I cannot see how it cannot happen!!!!! It is important to recognize that it is Western Europe that we have a vision for! Please pray for leadership connections & finances to be released for this dream.

It really is very exciting and momentum is gathering in our Spirit!

The other day I was musing on things I have had to say to myself as a Pastor / leader of a church: (actually I believe they are the same for bussiness). Please allow me to provoke you, Here are a few...
1. If your the leader do everyone a favour including yourself & please lead. I had to relize God has put me in the role, so back yourself, commit yourself to that role & go for it. Three time God said to Joshua (Josh 1) "Be strong & of good courage...be strong & couragous...be strong & of good courage!"
2. Grow up! I've had to say that to myself...It sounds a little harsh, it's certainly not meant to. I know the pain of this as I've had to grow up & be the big person! In other words I've had to think release, ask forgiveness often, restore, love as though I've never been hurt. Often I've simply had to get over myself, & stop making excuses!
Hummm, who says leadership is easy & without it's struggles!

Anyway there's a few thoughts...until next time...thanks for your prayers...

Nick's latest challenge!

Who's under that disguise? It was Nick's first attempt at ski-ing in Queenstown, Sept 09.
- It's called - preparation for Europe! Actually a special time of connecting with his brother & his family; and truly understanding RISK! On the second day the weather closed in while they were on the slopes and I (Karen) patiently waited for them to eventually appear through the white mist and snow... It was a little scary for a moment or two! Thanks to lots of training on the tennis court, there weren't too many sore muscles.

VCI South, Europe, & Travel

What a great few weeks it's been. First the Vision Churches meeting in Christchurch was a joy to be at. There were 20 of us there, from Invercargill to Hamilton. The three days were filled with excellent times of prayer, ministry, interaction, hearing from one-another and connecting over meal times. "Very encouraging, informative and relational," were some of the comments! It's great to have relational connection but for growth, I have a conviction leaders need to nurture connection which allow authority in their lives. Relationships that allow authority is a very healthy thing indeed.

On the 11th NOV. we had a fantastic meeting in our home talking about Europe & answering questions. Ps Sheridyn Rogers spoke of how Euro-Vision will be one of our main priority as a Church, (Eastside). Ps Trevor Wilson spoke of why he would support us as apostolic ministry.

It's still all go for us in April 2010. We are aiming to live in Amsterdam. There are two main focues that we aim to see take place before the end of 2010:
1. To establish a beachhead, a stake in the ground and plant 3-6 churches.
2. Recruit, train & coach leaders into their role.

We are not going to plant A church! We are aiming to plant churchES! The month we begin is when we begin churchES! Also it is important to note that we are NOT planting house churches, but because of hall avalibility and costs etc many of the churches will be in a large homes. At this point we are connecting with those in Europe & NZ who are willing to pray, support or come and be part of this dream.

On the 13th Nov. we are off to Fielding, with John & Jenny Sefton, then the following weekend (22nd Nov.) is Palmeston North with Dale & Rachael.

It's fun - and all go...I've just begun writting another book. I've found that I have another book in my heart!!! I can't wait to finish it. It's a daily devotional on healing! I'm aiming to find a publisher this time. Anyway that's the latest.

If you could Pray as you can imagine that there are alot of details yet to come together, things such as renting our home; Dutch passports & visas; connections with others who are aiming to work with us. Also - I nearly forgot - that financies would come in...Amen.

If you want a copy of the document that we have given many which includes alot of the dream & details, please email me. nick@apo.org.nz

Thanks for your prayer - until next time!