Select Page

A testimony of Grace

by | Apr 9, 2018

March 2018. A team of five of us from Hope Centre Tauranga were on the Vanuatu island of Erromango where we were encouraging and supporting local leaders.

As the morning meeting was getting underway at Williams Bay, one of the Presbyterian elders summoned Ross and me to go and pray for someone. In a nearby building a lady was lying on a bed with others in the room and our instructions were “the baby needs to come”. Ok, so now I’m figuring this is a birthing table and the other lady in the room is the midwife and the man in the room is the husband.

While Ross is praying for the mother I’m listening to God with equal measures of desperation, inadequacy, and total focus borne out of a sense of being completely out of my depth. Isaiah 42:22 comes to mind which says “this is a people…..trapped in caves….hidden away in prisons….with none to deliver… and none to say ‘Give them back!’” So now I have my instructions to call the baby out of the womb and I speak to the child that it’s time to leave that place of comfort and safety and be welcomed to a new place of safety.

Mother begins to moan so we exit and make our way back to the meeting. Only 20 minutes later, Elder William summons us again to tell us “it’s a baby girl and all is well”. I am completely undone and dissolve in a wash of tears. Then William says “You need to give the child a name”. My first reaction is “you can’t expect us to name this child! We’re just visitors – the name is for a lifetime”. Fortunately Ross is more in control of himself than I am and he begins to pray. As I struggle through the range of emotions I strongly feel that the baby should be called Grace and Ross later confirms that he also felt this was the right name.

As we go back into the meeting I am overwhelmed with what has just happened. My tears keep leaking till around midday when I’m finally able to regain my composure. For me, this memory is a treasure beyond value and I’m so grateful to God for allowing me to be a part of what He was doing.

Your testimony is powerful

by | Jul 28, 2017

What a joy it was last week to have 28 ladies in our home. They came from far and wide, were sitting in almost every available space on couches, chairs and cushions on the floor. Why did they come? They were all eager to hear three ladies share the story of their lives and how God’s love and faithfulness has brought them to where they are today – vibrant young ladies, in love with their Heavenly Father and pursuing His purposes for their lives.

It reminded me of what it must have been like when the crowds gathered around Jesus. They even climbed trees to see Him.

The bottom line is people have a hunger for what is real and what is the truth. There is a hunger in all of us for more than what we have experienced. No one can refute the reality of someone’s life story. Testimonies are powerful.  They bring life and hope, can create curiosity, they are inspiring and can challenge us and stir us up to believe God for more in our lives. If God has brought someone else through a hard time or worked a miracle in a life He can surely do the same for us.

Don’t underestimate the impact your story can have on those around you. You may have had friends for a while and you haven’t yet shared the gospel with them. The trap of “friendship evangelism” is often you find it hard to bring up the gospel, sometimes for fear of losing the relationship. My challenge to you is to say something like “hey, we’ve known each other for a while now, you know I have a faith in God but I have never shared my story and I’d like to, so how about we meet for a coffee and I’ll fill you in”. Then make an opening in the conversation to share something of your testimony with them, including the gospel. Being friends with prebelievers is great and the time will be right for you to share the gospel with them and I recommend you don’t leave it too long. As long as you are willing the Holy Spirit will lead you in the timing and who knows maybe your friend has been longing to know the Lord for a long time and you are the one to have the joy of bringing them to salvation.

It’s time to be bold and speak up and draw people into the kingdom of God.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Be all you are called to be

by | Jul 10, 2017

I love to imagine what the church would be like if we heard from God daily, we had no fears, and did what He said. And imagine if we all really believed what God says about us.

Let’s start with this promise (my version of Colossians 2:9,10) – For in Him (Jesus) the whole fullness of Deity continues to dwell in bodily form – giving complete expression of the divine nature and you are in Him, made full and have come to fullness of life – in Christ you too are ‘ filled full’ with the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy spirit, that is, you are perfect in Him.

Did that say I am filled full with God and I am perfect in Christ? Yes!! I could probably stop there as that promise sounds enough to do all that God has called us to do but I’ll add a few other verses.

Let’s look at  Luke 10:19 which was when Jesus was talking to the disciples.

Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy possesses and nothing shall in any way harm you.

BEHOLD means to see or observe something that is remarkable or impressive. In other words TAKE NOTE! We have authority, power, physical and mental strength and ability over all the power of the enemy and NOTHING will harm us – and this was written before the Holy Spirit was given!

1 Cor. 2:16 We have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feelings and purposes of His heart

Prov.28:1 the uncompromisingly righteous are bold as a lion.

You won’t need these promises if you stay as you are in your comfort zone. You actually only need them if you are uncompromising, desiring God’s will over your own. Don’t leave these promises on the pages of your Bible. Step out into that adventure with God. Partner with God, claim His promises, be all you’re called to be and see what He will do through your life to bring His kingdom to earth.