GLORY TO GOD
FOR HE HAS DONE WONDROUSLY
IN THE LIVES OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE!
SCHOOL OF MISSION 2011, NEW ZEALAND
It has been an awesome 5 months of School of Mission 2011!
Participants with Father Peter who celebrated the Closing Mass and Ju, the SOM leader.
The scripture from Revelation 21:5, “See I make all things new!” rings true for every participant as they have experienced being loved by God into personal healing and restoration, challenged and empowered by the Spirit to overcome language barriers, fears and self-doubt to boldly and creatively proclaim the Good News to prisoners, school kids, college teenagers, teachers, strangers on the streets, parents and grandparents, etc.
For many of them, the parish mission in Hornby, Christchurch was especially significant as they learnt to walk by faith, trusting in God’s protection in the earthquake zone, and thankful to have been sent by Him to bring His message of hope and peace to His people.
We are thankful for the doors opened to us in the schools and colleges in the Wellington area, namely St Patrick’s Silverstream, Viard College, St Catherine’s College, St Francis de Sales Island Bay, St Francis Xavier Tawa and St Benedict’s Khandallah. It was a definite boon for the kids and young people that we have 14 vibrant and dynamic young people on our mission team. God does all things well! Words cannot fully express our awe and gratitude at seeing the magnitude of God’s transforming power in each of these 14 participants’ lives.
As you read this, please lift up a prayer for them as they move on from here, that they continue to seek God first above all else and let Him direct their lives for His glory.
Each of them has a beautiful testimony and here are a few excerpts of their testimonies. May you be encouraged wherever you are, to keep trusting in the Lord who never fails.
- Helena, Korea -
During the school God touched my past which had made me shameful and guilty. He has removed the negative voices that said that I was not good enough and not worthy to be loved.
I have come to accept the truth that my value and security is in Jesus and Jesus is my only Saviour. I realize that through my struggle to speak and understand English, God has been teaching me to rely on Him and be a humble servant and to thirst and hunger for Him. He has filled me with a deeper desire to seek and know Him so that I can evangelise and serve others.
This 5 months journey has been an awesome experience that I will never forget. I will step out in faith like a child trusting in God. Jesus is the purpose of my life!
Kyle, USA: God has radically changed my view of Him. He is not only a powerful God far off in heaven, but a loving Father here with me always, caring about everything in my life.
One day I was given this revelation for my life on faith, which for some reason never occurred to me; back home I used to say "Hey God...do something!", to which He replied with silence. I have come to find that His silence speaks very clearly, and is translated "Hey Kyle...believe I can!".
Faith is now not just a thing in my head to which I say "sure" but don't believe by word or action, but it is now a proactive love for God and for His people. The School of Mission has changed my life without question. If anyone was to ask me if they should attend the program, I would tell them that Christ works here in this place and changes lives...so, absolutely!
Bona, Korea:
I experienced His love overwhelm me. It was as if He was breathing new life in me. He was giving me a second chance and he continues to give me a new chance every day.
I am beautiful,
I am precious,
I am loved.
I don’t need to get every worldly value to compare with others.
Jesus is enough for me.
I am not afraid anymore to be alone,
slower or weaker than others
but I am grateful to God when I am able
to be faster and stronger.
I believe He is my almighty God
who really knows everything about me,
and he will give me what I need
at the time I need it the most.
As I journeyed in ICPE School of Mission, I have come to realize that I am more than just a pharmacist. I am a son of God, His precious creation. This has also helped me after losing my earthly father in 2005. – Adri, Indonesia
A testimony on the power of prayer:
Without prayer I was successful but I was a completely blind man. So, the first marvellous thing given by Jesus to me through the regular personal prayer was to clean my past from the dust and to start a new life in personal freedom.
I received a big peace into my heart, peace that I had never got through all activities I did before. I never understood people as deeply as I understood people with whom I prayed.
After all this, I know that praying with my heart I will not be lost in my life as I was before. Through prayer Jesus acted in my life very tangibly. He made me grow as a person as well as a man. During the last 2.5 years of living a life of regular prayer, I received from Jesus so many good things that I didn’t managed to get myself in all those 30 years before.
If you want to experience anything similar, it is very easy. Just do it, just start praying and building a relationship with God and see your life change. – Pavel, Czech Republic
ALL GLORY TO YOU KING JESUS!
YOU ARE THE ROCK ON WHICH WE STAND!
