November 2021 Update

To Know God...and Make Him Known

"For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken." Psalm 31:24

Aloha 

The Trial of Your FaithI've been reading through 1Peter 1:6-7 recently and it has been stirring my heart in such a great way. It reads, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I love what Charles Spurgeon has to say on this passage. He says this, "Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators...no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weaknesses had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God's strength had you not been supported amid the water-floods. Faith increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity, the more it is exercised with tribulation." Has your faith been tested this past year and a half? Rest assured, the testing is producing in you a faith that is immovable which will result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus. Ask Jesus to continually reveal himself to you in the midst of the hardships; that he truly would become your all in all. He has proven himself faithful each and every time to me and my family.Washington D.C. and AlabamaJust before this recent quarter started, God opened a door for ministry and new relationships in D.C. and Alabama. There was a gathering happening on the national mall in honor of those fallen on September 11th. That week, I was supposed to be in Afghanistan with another friend, instead we were meeting with other believers and contending for all who have been caught up in the chaos of the Taliban takeover. Afghanistan is the 2nd fastest growing underground church behind Iran. We truly believe, and have seen, that God is doing in Afghanistan what He's been doing in Iran. I flew to D.C. on a one-way ticket knowing that God had plans for the week. I ended up in Alabama, meeting with an amazing group of believers who have started a house church in Huntsville. I had the opportunity to encourage them and lead them in a rich time of worship. They are hungry for God and they are being activated to impact their state in unique ways. More to come on that, but these retired FBI and NASA workers, as well as highly successful business owners are truly moving into a surrender to Jesus that is quite remarkable.   

Texas and MontanaThe day that our students arrived here in Kona, for the September quarter, I had the opportunity to travel to Waco, TX for a gathering happening at Antioch Church. I had previously connected with the founder of Antioch in Myanmar during one of our last family trips (international) before Covid. I reconnected with Antioch at one of their church plants in D.C. Next thing I know, I'm being invited to help with worship during the gathering. It was a convergence of YWAM, Antioch, and Upper Room. It was a beautiful weekend of deepening relationships and seeing many young people, in the Waco area, activated as missionaries on their college campus and around town. It was a quick 2 day trip then I flew to Montana to teach in the School of Worship at the Lakeside YWAM Base. I also had the opportunity to lead worship for the base multiple times as well as record a new song! Hopefully editing and production of it will be completed after the New Year. Speaking of School of WorshipI am also Co-Leading our School of Worship here in Kona! We have 32 students and 17 staff! It's the biggest school we've led to date. God has been breathing on our efforts and His favor has been tangible. The first 6 weeks were quite the roller coaster. Between Covid difficulties and other personal tragedies, our speaker list has shuffled so many times. Each time has been completely out of our control and yet, every week has been exactly what the students needed and what God wanted to do in those weeks. I'm so thankful that God's ways are so much higher than ours. Submitting to His plans continues to be the best thing I could ever do. Please pray for our students, that they would finish well. This group, in particular, has been surprised by the work load. I think many were expecting it to be like DTS...however we are an Upper Level University Course with plenty of homework. May they see the light at the end of the tunnel and press in. This week we have Leslie Jordan of the band 'All Sons and Daughters' (Great Are You Lord) speaking on creativity. I'm so grateful for our friendship and how she helps to demystify the creative process for the students.  Have You Heard 'Apostles Creed' Yet?'Apostles Creed' is based off of the creed that we know as the Apostles Creed. It represents a set of uncompromisable core beliefs for Christians. I wanted to write a song that helped the people of God articulate what they believe as well be a song where we could resoundingly say 'We Believe!' You can check out the official 'Apostles Creed' music video HERE. Spotify and Apple Music.'To The Ends of The Earth' is such a great representation of YWAM and our missional heart. You can check out the official 'To The Ends of The Earth' Music video HERE. I'm so grateful to have recorded this song...it's such an explosion of JOY!  Also, if you haven't seen it yet, click HERE to watch my official 'Wildfire' Music video. We Do This TogetherThank you so much for standing with us in this mission that God has sent us on as a family. Without your partnership, financially and in prayer, none of this is possible! Thank you for your perseverance with us to see people “know God…and make Him known!” We praise God together with you knowing that He's not surprised by all that's going on in the world and that He's working out His plans! What a GREAT GOD WE SERVE!!!Praise and Prayer Requests* Praise! We were able to move off campus! A year to the date that we moved out of our condo we moved into this rental home. What a blessing it has been to provide hospitality for our School of Worship Staff and so many other friends who are currently here in Kona.* Prayer! We are believing for an incredible miracle housing story! God gave us a vision for a 60 acre piece of land in Holualoa; 15 minutes up the mountain above campus and Kona. There is a house and two barns in great condition on the property. Our hope is to create a ministry retreat space, community living, convert the barn into a gathering space for worship, prayer, and training of local church worship teams; et al. There's so much more to the vision that God gave us. It seems big and scary, but we'd rather follow God, in obedience, to do that which is bigger than we could ever do in our own strength. Pray that God continues to set the property aside for us. Pray for the finances needed to purchase this property. We need $4.1 million to secure the property out right with no mortgage. HE IS ABLE!!!  May the Lamb receive the full reward of His suffering!!Peace be with you,Chris, Lizzi, Malakai, Laila, Rhema, and Moses 

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