5 keys to a successful harvest!

In previous posts I have written about the keys to a successful harvest. There are five! And I will get to those in a moment. I like them for they are uncluttered, I believe they work in any culture or people group and they are powerful truths that are do-able for everybody.

But I found another factor that relates to this, just last week. The soil. In India the spiritual soil or the spiritual climate (especially in South India) has been plowed and it seems ready, people are responsive, churches are planted daily and relatively easy. Now compare this to the soil in Western Europe. The spiritual climate is completely different and that fact needs to be recognised. So we need to remember this as we action the 5 keys! 

Previous posts talk about, 1. Keep SOWING seed.  2. We RECEIVE in the Harvest what kind of seed we sow.  3. We always receive MORE than what we sowed.  4. You reap in ANOTHER SEASON than when you sowed.  

5. We can't do anything about yesterday's harvest, but we can effect & influence the harvest of tomorrow!

This encourages me to keep sowing, praying and labouring today. We might not see all we would like...even in our lifetime, but as we are doing our part, we will effect the harvest of tomorrow! 

How to have a successful harvest...in France & Belgium & Western Europe!

Last week, I went to Normandy and Belgium. Again this trip confirmed the huge need for new churches to be planted! The city of Le Havre for example has approx. 200,000 people. 0.5% (half a percent), are evangelical. This equates to about 1000 people!! There are about 5 evangelical churches.

I spoke to a Pastor of a church in Lillebonne a city of 15,000 people. There are only 2 churches in this town, again less than 1% have a personal relationship with Jesus.

I spoke to a number of pastors in Belgium and they confirmed that Belgium has less than 1% evangelical christians!!

Even if we DOUBLE these figures, there is still a huge need for the reality of God to breakthrough. The harvest is indeed great. The challenges and the opportunities are massive!! In fact the needs in Western Europe can certainly feel so overwhelmingly huge that one can very easily get discouraged and think what can we do in these nations. So how do we strategise for harvest in Western Europe?

Last time I blogged about the 1st key to a successful harvest.
1. Sow Seed. The tree is already in the seed. Keep sowing seed. Harvest is impossible without sowing seed.

Key no 2. 
We receive in the harvest what kind of seed we sow. 
Sow apple seeds, you receive apple trees. Like-wise when we sow Gospel seeds, we receive Gospel results. As we continue to sow seeds towards the starting of new churches - new churches will eventually be birthed!!

Focus has trememdous power! For example; water with a little sand mixed in it, pushed through a small nostle, under huge pressure, is able to cut through 1-2 cm of steal! Or can cut through rock! That's the power of focus. Focus on harvest and the starting of new churches (which is the best way to fulfill Matt 28, the Great Commission that Jesus gave to us)  ...will have the same result.  Breakthrough will happen in time. Keep sowing. Keep dreaming, talking, discussing, imagining, believing, praying, and planning for new churches and harvest, it will happen it simply takes time...

Please continue to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out workers, labourer's, in HIS harvest! Matt 9:37-38.  We need Jesus loving, bold, faith filled, pioneering people who will dare to breakthrough, persevere and begin new churches. Churches that will start churches!! Are you in?

Failure & Condemnation; how we handle it in ourselves & others... (article by David Wilkenson)

Failure & condemnation, how we handle it in ourselves & others.  

This is a great Article by the late David Wilkenson (Cross & Switchblade fame), written in 1978. He was reflecting on how ungracious, condemming & hurtful he had been in his earlier years of preaching.         Full article on:  www.worldchallenge.org

Would you consider Moses a failure? Hardly! He was to Israel what Washington and Lincoln together were to America - and much more. But look closely at the great lawgiver's life. His career began with a murder, followed by forty years hiding from justice.

Moses was a man of fear and unbelief. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery, he pleaded, "I am not eloquent...I am slow of speech...send...by the hand of him whom thou wilt send" (Exodus 4:10,13). this angered God (4:14). All his life, Moses longed to enter the Promised Land, but his failures kept him out. Even so, God compares Moses' faithfulness to Christ's in Hebrews 3:1,2. His failures did not keep Moses out of God's Hall of Champions.

We usually think of Jacob as the great prayer warrior who wrestled with the angel of the Lord and prevailed. Jacob was given a vision of heaven with angels ascending and descending. Yet this man's life was filled with glaring failures, and Scripture does not hide any of them.

As a youth Jacob deceived his blind father to steal his brother's inheritance. Married, he despised his wife Leah while he nursed a great secret love for her sister Rachel. He did not accept his responsibiligy as a husband. After the birth of each manchild, Leah kept saying, "Now this time my husband will be joined unto me" (Genesis 29:34). But the fact was - Jacob hated her.

Here was a man caught in a web of trickery, graft, theft, unfaithfulness and polygamy. Nevertheless, we still worship the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob.

King David, singer of psalms and mighty warrior, delighted in the law of the Lord and posed as the righteous man who would not stand among sinners. Yet, how shocking are the weaknesses of this great man. Taking Bathsheba from her husband Uriah, he sent that unsuspecting man to death at the front lines of his army. The prophet Nathan declared this double sin gave great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.

Picture the great king standing by the casket of his dead illegitimate child, a stolen wife at his side and a world filled with enemies who cursed God because of his notorious sins. David stands there a total failure. Yet, God called David a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He blessed the murderer Moses and the schemer Jacob, too, because these men learned how to profit from their failures and go on to victory.

If you are discouraged by your failures, I have good news for you. No one is closer to the Kingdom of God than the man or woman or young person who can look defeat in the eye, learn to face it, and move on to a life of peace and victory. Here is the program to do this.

1. Don't be afraid of failure. This seems like an automatic reaction. When Adam sinned, he tried to hide from God. When Peter had denied Christ, he was afraid to face Him. When Jonah refused to preach to Nineveh, his fear drove him into the ocean to flee from the presence of the Lord.

But God has shown me a truth that has helped me many times: Something much worse than failure is the fear that goes with it. Adam, Jonah and Peter ran away from God not because they had lost their love for Him, but because they were afraid He was too angry with them to understand. Satan uses such fear to make people think there is no use trying.

That old "accuser of the brethren" waits like a vulture for you to fail in some way. Then he uses every lie in hell to make you give up, to convince you that God is too holy or you are too sinful to come back. Or he makes you afraid you are not perfect enough, or tells you that you will never rise above your failure.

It took forty years to get the fear out of Moses and to make him usable in God's program. Meanwhile, God's plan of deliverance had to be delayed for nearly half a century while one man learned to face his failure. If Moses or Jacob or David had resigned himself to failure, we might never have heard of these men again. Yet, Moses rose up again to become one of God's greatest heroes. Jacob faced his sins, was reunited with the brother he had cheated, and reached new heights of victory. David ran into the house of God, laid hold of the horns of the altar, found forgiveness and peace and returned to his finest hour. Jonah retraced his steps, did what he had refused at first to do and brought a whole city-state to repentance and deliverance. Peter rose out of the ashes of denial to lead a church to Pentecost.

2. Despite failure, keep moving on. It is always after a failure that a man does his greatest work for God.

Twenty years ago I sat in my litttle car, weeping - a terrible failure, I thought. I had been unceremoniously dumped from a courtroom after I thought I was led by God to witness to seven teen-age murderers. I had seen my picture in the tabloids over the caption, "BIBLE WAVING PREACHER INTERRUPTS MURDER TRIAL." My attempt to obey God and to help those young hoodlums looked as though it was ending in horrible failure.

I shudder to think of how much blessing I would have missed if I had given up in that dark hour. How glad I am today that God taught me to face my failure and go on to His next step for me.

I know of two outstanding men of God - both of whom had ministered to thousands of people - who fell into the sin that David committed with Bathsheba. One minister decided that he could not go on. Today he drinks and curses the Christ he once preached about. The other man repented and started all over. He now heads an international missions program that reaches thousands for Christ. His failure has been left behind. He keeps moving forward.

In my work with narcotic addicts and incorrigibles, I have observed that the majority of those who return to their old habilts become stronger than all the others when they face their failures and return to the Lord. They have a special awareness of the power of Satan, a total rejection of confidence in the flesh.

3. Despite failure, continue to worship. There was only one way for Moses to stay in victory, because he had a disposition like so many of us today. He continually communed with the Lord, "...face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Exodus 33:11). Moses maintained that close friendship with God. I believe the secret of holiness is very simple: Stay close to Jesus. Keep looking into His face until you become like the image you behold.

One evening a hysterical woman stopped me on the street and blurted out a terrible confession. Clutching my sleeve so hard I thought she would tear it, she said, "Mr. Wilkerson, I am facing the darkest hour of my life. I don't know which way to turn. My husband has left me, and it's all my fault. When I think of how I failed God and my family, it is almost impossible for me to sleep at night.What in the world am I going to do?"

I was moved to tell her, "My friend, lift up your hands, right now on this street corner, and begin to worship the Lord. Tell Him that you know you are a failure, but you still love Him so. Then go home and get on your knees. Don't ask God for a thing - just lift up your heart and your hands and worship Him."

I left that lady standing on the street corner with her hands raised to heaven, tears rolling down her cheeks, praising the Lord and already tasting the victory that was beginning to surge back into her life.

Now, let me talk about your failure. Is there trouble in your home? Has some despised habit gripped your life so hard you can't seem to break it? Are you tormented in mind or spirit? Has God told you to do something you have failed to do? Are you out of the will of God? Are you hounded by memories of what you were at one time? Or by visions of what you can be?

Then worship the Lord in the midst of your failure! Praise Him! Exalt Him!

All this may sound like an oversimplification, but the way past failure is simple enought for children, fools and Ph.D.'s to follow successfully. Christ says,

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

"Come unto me, all ye (failures) that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 12:28).

Don't be afraid of failure. Keep going on in spite of it. Worship God until victory comes.

The hardest part of faith is the last half hour. Keep going, and you will yet face your finest hour.

Radical Relocation of GOD??

There are certian Bibilcal truths that are so liberating and foundational for me, that are keys in our Christianty. This is one of them! "GOD is with us". I get so passionate that I want to SHOUT out to everybody... The KING of all KINGS is with us 24/7...that's better news than I thought the GOOD News was!! 

No other religion promises this. Yet, Christianity boldly & unashamedly declares that God is with us, in fact, He never leaves us or forsakes us!  Matt 28:20. Heb 13:5. In fact it's announced as Jesus comes to earth His name is "Immanuel". Matt 1:23. (It's interesting that this is declared at the beginning of Matthew & again at the end). 

I think some Christians if not purposely, but certainly in their actions, are saying God is a far away God. That's not only bad theology, it's so wrong. The songs we sometimes sing, "implore God to be with us". Sometimes the prayers we pray are, "please God be with us today...".  NO...we have a near-by God, not only is He before, behind, beside, above and below, but the amazing good news is HE is IN us!!! Wow! Paul says approx. 164 times the phrase, "Christ IN us, with us etc". For eg. Col 1:27 which is the theme for Colossians, says "Christ IN you the hope of Glory".

Let me push this a little further, I wonder if some believers have an Old Testament God. In the Old Testiment, God worked with special people, at special places & at special times. In the New Testament, God announces, HE is with us!  There has been a radical relocation of God!  We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit!  He NEVER leaves us! He works not only through a certain race or 'men', but through EVERYBODY...boys, girls, women, every race and in any place. Amazing! God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, live in us...WOW!!  When you pray for somebody, He is there! When we meet together, He is there! When we go to the office, school or home, He is there! Why? Because YOU are there...He lives IN you...in fact His address is your address!!! 

HE has already come 2000 years ago...let's walk in it. I encourage you to meditate on this truth and allow it to become a revelation within you. For this is indeed a life-changing foundational liberating truth! 

It's supernatural...7000 new churches!!!!! Now that's multiplication.

Last week I had the privilege to travel to Chennai India & meet again with my church planting friend & apostolic leader Ps Kalyan Kumar. We have known each other for 20 years. It was fun to be with him & see what God is doing through him as he plants new churches. By 2025 he is aiming for 1000 churches!!! The way things are going it will happen!

We were talking about a person Dr R (Bobby) Gupta. Kalyan happened to know him well and I was able to meet with him. I was so excited!

25 years ago I first met Bobby Gupta at a church planting forum in London. I remember that day well. He spoke about His "Hindustan Bible Institute" (HBI), training leaders to begin new churches. (HBI began in 1952). The students fully graduate when they have planted a church, (or been part of the team). I thought that was so exciting when I first heard it & have kept it in my heart ever since. My dream is to see a Bible College in Europe do the same!!

So now,  fast forward 25 years to February 2013 in Chennai & I meet him again at the HBI.
We end up talking non stop for a few hours...You guessed it, church planting, movements... it was so inspiring to hear what has happened. In the last 28 years over 7000 churches have been planted! Now I'm not discrediting this number, but even if it is half of this it's absolutely amazing!! Included in this are new movements, that are self sustaining and multiplying. Of course as we were speaking I was imagining a few 'Church Planting Training Centres for Western Europe', (CPTC for WE). Then I begin to dream ... what would it feel like to see whole new movements / networks begin in Europe. Some would have 30-50 churches, some would have 100's of new churches...I must admit I began to feel somewhat emotional. It was a wonderful God moment...

Paul R Gupta & Sherwood G Lingenfelter have written a very inspiring book which records the journey.
"Breaking Tradition to accomplish VISION... 
Training leaders for a Church planting movement".  
www.bmhbooks.com

A chapter describes how 'formal education gradually cripples & derails a school originally founded to produce church planters. The books states, few Reformation leaders imagined the essential questions of modern mission - evangelism, making new disciples of new believers, & planting new churches.' (pge 11). Very challenging!

It is a very clear call to the church; 'Unless the church focuses on the task of making disciples & planting churches, we will not fulfill the mission of God for our generation'. (pge 4). He begins his introduction, 'God's mission for the church is to make disciples of the nations, & God insists on accomplishing that mission through us'.  

To say I was inspired, challenged & fired up is an understatement! I left noticing again the huge board in the foyer which reads, I quote: 
"To give every Indian an opportunity to hear, understand & respond to the Gospel and be discipled into communities of believers, so that we will see a dynamic transformational church in every village, colony, town and city of India & beyond. 
Building Transformational Leaders to disciple the Nations." 

Now that's one Heaven of a mission statement...and it's happening!! Western Europe...awaits such vision...

Title: "How to have a successful harvest"

'The following I have found to be keys in the process of seeing His Kingdom extended.

Before I share these keys, there are some foundational understandings:

1. Harvest is not an event it's a process. 

2. The further evangelism is removed from the local church the less effective it will be.

3. In my view, and I believe it has been proven time and time again, friendship evangelism is the BEST way to proceed. 75-90% of people become Christians through a friend or a relative. Most people will have 2-3 people who are either relatives or friends or work colleagues who are open to the gospel in some way. These are the ones to specifically pray for and ask along to a special small group, church event, concert or guest speaker.

The keys...

1. SOW seed. Keep sowing seed. There is no tree without the sowing of seed.

2. You receive in the harvest the KIND of seed you sowed. Plant apple seeds, you will get an apple tree. 

3. You receive in the harvest MORE than what you sowed. If you sow one apple seed, you receive not only another tree, but lots of apples and countless MORE seeds. That's what happens in the natural, imagine… the supernatural!!

4. You reap in ANOTHER SEASON to when you sowed. Sometimes it takes months, even years for the harvest to show itself. Keep sowing!!

5. There is NOTHING you can do about the harvest of yesterday...but you can EFFECT THE HARVEST OF TOMORROW!!

Keep sowing Gospel seeds - lives depend on it!! 

Until next time...

Do we realize how much God has given us?

Flying back from London this year, I was reading the daily mail. There was sad but fascinating article about a homeless man who was found frozen to death in Wyoming. He died from hypothermia under a railway overpass. Authorites found few uncashed cheques in his wallet. The story doesn't end there. His name was Tim Gray who was an adopted son of the wider Clark family when he was five by Dr Gerald Gray. At the time of his death Tim was due to inherit 12 million pounds!!

A very sad story indeed. But maybe as disciples of Christ we live not realizing how much God has given us? Let's go back in time and look at the story Jesus told of the lost son. (They are 3 stories making the same point - but that's another story). Luke 15:1-32.
The younger son comes home ashamed & repentant and even after the Father gives him the
'finest robe' - signifing, honour,
a 'ring' - this gave the son power of attorney (authority),
'sandals' - which stands for freedom, the father gives the younger son a huge party!!

The older son enters the story and is angry and will not enter the party... 'I've slaved for you all these years never once refused to do a single thing you told me to do. You have never given me a party so I could celebrate with my friends...now this son of your's...'

The father replies, 'you are always with me & EVERYTHING I have is YOUR'S'.

Two powerful supernatural basic truths that run through the New Testiment: He is with us! And EVERYTHING I have is your's! 

Tim was adopted. Did he realize what he had? Maybe he did, but didn't walk in what was his. We are adopted. Do you realize what you have in Christ? 

The inheritance is being contested by family and friends...there's a terrible fight going on!! Our fight has already been fought & won...by JESUS!! 

Jesus Mandate... It must happen in Europe!!

Tim Keller from Redeemer presbyterian Church USA, writes a powerful article on 'Why Plant Churches?' For the full article see below...

http://download.redeemer.com/pdf/learn/resources/Why_Plant_Churches-Keller.pdf

Here are a few highlights for me:
In the article he more than suggests that, 'Jesus essential call was to plant churches'. That's powerful. Virtually all of the great evangelistic challenges of the New Testament are basically calls to plant churches... Matt 28:18-20. Acts 2:41-47. The only way to be truely sure you are increasing the number of Christians in a town is to increase the number of churches. 


I believe the Apostle Paul's "missionary journey's" in the book of Acts, should be more accurately called, "Church planting and church strengthening journey's".


It is a great mistake, Keller goes on to say, to choose between church planting & church renewal. Strange as it my seem, the planting of new churches in a city is one of the VERY best ways to revitalize many older churches in the vicinity and renew the whole body of Christ. WHY? 
1. New churches bring new ideas to the whole body. 
2. New churches are the best ways to surface creative, strong leaders for the whole body.
3. New churches challenge other churches to self examination.
4. The new church may be an evangelistic feeder for a whole community. 


"Church planting is still the most effective long term evangelistic method under God's Heaven!" How are you involved?

How to start a Church for dummies.

Yesterday I recieved a box of my newly printed books, "How to start a church for dummies".  By the way it's in Dutch. It deals with the ABC's of church planting. It answers questions such as; what is church? It's quite facinating when the question is asked of Christians, "What is church?" The response is quite subjective. What are the componants of a Biblical Church? What do you think? How does one begin a new church? What do you do? It's all in the book...




I am believing this will be a tool to empower Europe's next generation...so they will be able to be effective in the best way to fulfill Matthew 28: the great Commission that Jesus gave to us! This is Church planting! It's still the best long term evangelistic strategy under God's Heaven. Mission leaders around the world believe this to be true. Dr Ralph Winter, Dr C.P.Wagner, Dr Jim Montgomery, Ed Stetzer, Warren Bird, Tim Keller, Rick Warren and Floyd McClung Jr, to name but a few. In the book of Acts, Paul has three so called missionary journeys, I believe, they are three church planting & church strengthening journeys! 




So if all the above is true...if it really is true, are you somehow involved? I am still absolutely convinced that if we are really serious about reaching Europe for Christ, we MUST employ the most effective means...church planting!! 

What has Gibraltor got to do with new church starts?

Last year I had the priviledge to speak in what I have been told, the oldest Methodist Church in Europe, Gibraltor! It was planted by one of John Wesley's converts, a solider from England, some 241 years ago.

It was very sobering to read the names on a wooden board inside the church building of the Pastors, Leaders, ministers and their wives. Some came and lived only a few months before a sickness took them, some were there for many years! What an amazing history.

This fires me up...WHY? Because for 241 years a group of people have been faithfully ministring in that community. We are not talking about a one off crusade, concert or conference, which by the way are all valid, but they NEVER replace a new church beginning. Week in & week out, year after year, decade after decade, come difficulties, problems, deaths, heartaches, celebrations, birthdays, marriages, God's word and God's people have been able to continue to speak into that community, encourage and support oneanother, pray for oneanother and Gibraltor and beyond. This for me is another proof, that Christianity works and His Church will absolutely previal. The Pastor and Church have influence to not only the Christian communty, but also to the governers and leaders of Gibraltor. Today it is still a healthy, vibrant, caring, evangelistic Church.

I wonder if indeed John Wesley, let alone the people who began the church had it in there mind the legacy they have left, well over 2 centuries later!! We are not talking about a large church either, but one that certainly has a large influence! The power of the Church...Wow! I want to say it again, but with a twist, "truely church planting is the BEST long term continuous method of evangelism under God's Heaven..."

This really hits home for me, as I was brought up in the Methodist Church in NZ...and I first realized the call of God in my life there, in fact I can still take you to the building & exact spot where this happened. Also I became a Christian in that church.

It's still true, of course with Jesus as the center, as Bill Hybels so firmly states, "the church is the hope of the world..."

Church Planting: Journalling:

I have blogged about the need for Church planting and the value of Journaling.

I encourage you to read these past posts as they are for me critical for ministry...in fact I have a conviction that all missions dollars needs to leveraged to Church Planting. In fact I believe that this IS Biblical MISSION!

Journaling has really helped me to stop the wanderings in my mind and to pull my thoughts through my fingers to the page. It undoubtedly clears the thinking and unclutters revelation and insights from unhealthy thinking.

Healing. Daily Medicine.

I have been praying for people for healing for the past 30 years. I still have a conviction that God wants to heal today! I have seen people healed instantly AND gradually; as they have continually applied the Word of God and joined with others to pray for them.

My new book "Daily Medicine - Thoughts from His Word" will nuture, encourage and empower you to continue to reach out for your miracle. (it's available at AMAZON and Barnes & Noble - hard copy or e-book).

I also seek to answer some very difficult questions regarding healing. It is an easy read for people who are unwell.

I trust this book will inspire and encourage you to believe for yourself, family & friends.

Living in Western Europe we need to experience God's miracle working power. So people will see that God is alive & well today. Arguements and intellectualism abounds regarding God. We live in a dry & weary land, where God was wonderful once, but irrelevant to life today. I am convinced THE Good News message with signs & wonders following is needed to light a fire in peoples hearts!

Europe, NZ & Multiplication.

We have made history...a small group has begun which meets every week. Its a beginning. I received a scripture on the 1st April 2010, a few days before we came to Europe, and was reminded of it on the first day we began our group: "DO NOT despise these small beginnings, for the Lord REJOICES to see the work begin". Zech 4:10. Yeah!! We also have been offered the weekly use of two buildings...one in central & one in North Amsterdam. We are aiming to begin something this year. Please pray for at least 2 couples to lead these churches.

I (Nick) go to NZ on the 14th Sept.

-I am speaking to leaders in Te Aroha Baptist on the 18th.

-Vision Church Tokoroa on the 19th;

-Westside Hamilton leaders on the 20th.

-A National Leaders Meeting on the 23rd.

-Then on 25th & 27th it's Vision Church Whangarei & Kaikohe.

-Our yearly Acts National Ministries Conference 27th - 30th.

-Then Te Awamutu Church on the 3rd October.

-It will be great to be with friends and family. I then leave for Holland on the 4th of October.

Karen goes to Belgium to be with the Burtons for a week, then is off to Edinburgh to be with Daniel & Zoe Moore.

Europe is a huge mission field. And to reach these great Nations of Western Europe, I am absolutely convinced & have a conviction deep within to see Churches Multiply...like rabbits!! EuroVision is all about Multiplication, churches that reproduce themselves...in fact let me go further, networks or movements that reproduce themselves! This idea was never talked about until recently.

I am just reading a challenging book, (by practitioners), with a forward by Rick Warren - "Viral Churches" By Ed Stetzer & Warren Bird. (A Leadership Network publication: Jossey-Bass). They explain this fairly new missional concept very well.

Here are some quotes & thoughts:

"The single most effective evangelistic methodology under Heaven is planting new churches...who in turn reproduce themselves".

"Most Bible teachers have referred to Paul's travels as his 'Missionary journeys'. We prefer to to call them Paul's 'Church Planting Journeys'".

"Paul planted new Churches that in turn planted new Churches".

Christianity Today concludes; "Today's church planting is the default for evangelism". This is a North American summary.

"The early church implemented the Great Commission mandate primarily by planting churches".

Research shows:

-In the USA at least 60.000 churches were planted in the last 20 years. page 31

-The healthiest churches are those that reproduce. page 31

"Todays energy & enthusiasm about church planting in North America is at an unprecedented high".

"Church planting is worthwhile only if it advances God's Kingdom".

"Our Viral Church idea is about falling in love with multiplication and abandoning what seems to be an addiction to addition".

"Disciples multiplying churches: In seminary we learnt the metric of churches multiplying disciples. This will never result in massive mulitiplication".

"It's time to stop counting converts & begin counting congregations".

"...being born pregnant. What a great goal for every church plant".

"To really change things we need to learn how to multiply churches".

This book has great resources & is a huge encouragement to Karen & Me.

Thank you once again for your support and prayer...

Eph 3:20-21...what a great scripture...

Until next time...Nick & Karen.

Jesus Poem

It was 2am one morning in May 2009, I wrote this poem...it's called the Jesus Poem. A few people have requested it so here it is...

He's the Lilly of the valley
He's THE one by far
The rock of all the ages
He's the one and only star

He's the one for every Nation
He sets the people free
Of diseases and conditions
Which stuff up humanity

He's the Doctor of all Doctors
The delieverer is His Name
The one who sets the captives free
And prisoners out of shame

He's the great Jehovah Man
The I Am the I Am
Jesus is the able to do man
More than we think or can

To this God who lives inside of us
His ressurection plan
Is the impossible to be possible
And says that we can

His name is Jesus
He's the great I Am
The Alfa and Omega
The beginning and the end

His eyes ablaze with fire
His love as gracious as
He's the kindest of the kindest
His forgiveness is incomprehensible, ongoing as

His robe isdipped wit blood
His name is I Am
The mountains speak His grandeur
His Words create in man

He's the one who lives in us
The Rock of all the ages
He's the one that empowers us
And gives us life and more

He leads us through the valleys
They become rivers and resevoirs
We can eat and drink and drink and eat and drink and eat and drink & rest and so much more
Our soul He does restore

The darkness turns to light
He shows the way ahead
Death is swallowed up in victory
There's eternal life instead

He brings sight to the blind
Hope to hopelessness
And healing to all mankind
His name is Jesus - He's the kindest of the kind.

by Nick Klinkenberg.

News Flash: We are booked to fly from Philadelphia to Brussells on Wed 28 April; arriving 8am next morning. We will be staying with Andy & Karen Burton, Operation Mobilisation Leaders in Brussells. Nick is planning to attend SHOUT UK conference in London that weekend! How cool!! Karen will probably stay in Brussells.
We will put up photos when we get back to Phillie... Take care everyone. Love from Us. xxx

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...

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...

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!

Europe, travel, leadership thoughts...

We are back from Brisbane Australia. It was a great time with a number of churches there and we were also able to catch up with various leaders and renew a few friendships...an excellent time.

This weekend we are in Pukekohe Church with Craig & Jean Clements. Then on Monday 2nd Nov we are off to Christchurch for our Vision Churches get together! (VCI South). There will be about 20 leaders there from the South but also a few from the North Island. It is going to be a blast! Both Karen & I are really looking forward to it, actually there is nothing quite like getting with friends doing ministry together!

Then we are in Rolleston Church with Scott & Giovana Tones.

We are home again on the 9th Nov.
Fielding Church on the 13th - 19th Nov.
Vision Church Palmerston North 20th - 23rd Nov.
Vision Church Kaikohe 27th - 30th Nov.

Again we do really value your prayer support. Thanks...

As many of you know Europe is a go now! We are aiming to leave after Easter 2010 which is early April. There is much to do. Please read previous blogs for details. Also for those in the Waikato area we have a meeting in our home on the 11th November at 7:30pm. We will answer questions and of course discuss in detail more about the dream of Euro-Vision! Please email me if your thinking of coming; nick@apo.org.nz

Here's a thought: "How come people who love Jesus lost Him!" Luke 2:41ff... Mary & Joseph lost Jesus for 3 days!!! How does this happen? I remember this happened to us, we lost our middle boy when he was 4 for about 5Min's in the middle of a strange city. When we realised, that he wasn't with us I rushed back to the last shop & there he was swinging around the lamp-post oblivious that we had gone without him! Phew!!! But Joe & Mary lost GOD for 3 days!!! How does one loose GOD? Easy I suppose in that family, friendly environment.

I believe in this day that it's easy to loose Jesus! Oh we love Him, serve Him and work for Him...but with all that we can still loose Jesus!! We can so easily loose the vitality of our relationship with Him. In Busyness we can loose Him; Not being focused we can loose Him; Being distracted we can loose Him! Joesph & Mary - us loosing our middle boy for 5Min's was a matter of distraction, not focused, simply busy! Busy with good things I might add. Do we love Jesus - Yes. Do we serve Him and are we committed to Him - absolutely. But we can still loose Him! Christianity is ALL about a daily vibrant relationship with Him, emotionally & spiritually!!

Keep undistracted towards HIM...even in the busy times...

Thanks for your prayer...