Youth Mission

In April of this year we took 5 teenagers to Ukraine on a mission trip. Our aim was to bless those in need. The Bible says that we are blessed to be a blessing and that was our first and foremost aim. Sencondly we long that our teenagers learn something new of who God is and what he wants them to do with their lives. That this trip would in some way change their lives.

On return my thoughts were mixed, I knew the teens had enjoyed their time and experienced something new. However I couldnt help feeling that that was all that was achieved. That somehow we had been more of a burden than a blessing. But I think that from feedback we we able to bless the people there. So below is the video of our trip.

Here is the Ukraine video I promised.

Ukraine Mission December 2008

Well this trip was interesting I found it hard not being able to communicate in any shape or form unlike any other mission I have done. But I guess that was all part of the humbling experience. We went to do work in orphanages, deliver snow boots and presents to the poor in the Carpathian mountains and to try and bless and build up those involved in the Lviv Every Nation Church. I hope we achieved all of these. Below is a sample of what we saw and did. As well as a promo video I put together of what we did.

The delightful toilet in the mountains

The cooking and heating facilities in the mountain

Kids from the second orphanage we visited.

Team photo in Liviv train station with the time we arrived in the background

To get to the Ukraine we had to fly to Poland then get a train from there to Lviv which was quite an experience. Apart from getting told off for using the toilet while we waited for 2 hours at the border. We also had to wait for several hours while the train was lifted up and put onto a new set of wheels as the tracks in Ukraine are different size to Poland!

More pics and videos to follow. I cant wait to return in April 2009 to take the young people from Every Nation London. Lets see how they respond??

What is fullness of life? What does it look like? Jesus came that we may have life and life in a its fullness.

I guess that when we are living according to his word our lives should be a testament to all that God has done for us and doing through us. That doesn't mean we don't suffer but that in those sufferings we are able to keep God in the picture.

A good life today for most people often looks like a nice house, car, a loving family and the perfect job. But I wonder if these are the trappings that prevent us getting to that fullness of life. Not that they are wrong but that when we have these things we feel we have obtained that fullness of life.

I imagine that a life totally surrendered to God is the route to fullness I once heard someone say that this was all about Peace or Shalom as it is in the Hebrew. That a Shalom in every aspect of life is what God intended. Obviously there was a lot more depth to it than that but that was the gist of it.

Fishers of Men

God calls each one of us to be a fisher of men, what does this look like? What does it require? Well for a little help try listening to this sermon link http://www.everynation.co.uk/cms/content/resource/248_sound.mp3

This sermon spoke a lot to me about the importance of being ready to fish for men. The strength of the net is key. Jesus spent plenty of time with his disciples trying to make sure they were strong enough when the time came. There were issues with pride, exclusivity, arrogance, unforgiveness and many more. The analogy of Jesus washing the disciples feet is huge (John 13) and I hadn't considered it this way before but Jesus was saying all I have to do is clean up the way you walk then the rest will come from that. We need people on our walk who we can be transparent with to ask those awkward questions. So that we can strengthen those nets, it is God who helps strengthen those chords.

Well I hope you enjoy the sermon I know it spoke powerfully to me, "It is not that you wont go to heaven but you wont fulfill Gods purpose for your life." I do not want to miss what God has for me do you?

May all Churches in the UK begin to see a fleet of boats taking to the water to pull in the harvest with strong powerful nets.

I just watched this film last night. It is an awesome film about someone who God used to change the course of history (His-story).

One phrase that struck me the most was one said by John Newton, He is old and blind by this point and he says

"There is only two things I now remember, I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour."

I was struck by this and know for myself the truth of this. There is only one name by which we are saved.

I definitely recommend seeing the film, when asked what I thought initially I said it was a bit long and takes awhile to get going but then thinking about it how much longer did it feel fr William Wilberforce!!!

For a child has been born—for us! the gift of a son—for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom.He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (The Message)