RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
Happy new Year! We hope and pray that your year has got off to a good start and that somewhere over the Christmas period you got some relaxtion time. As we journey through 2020, we must constantly configure our hearts and minds to Jesus our Lord, allowing Him full sovereignty over our lives and the work He has set us to.
I continued to meet with pastors and do the regular supervision/coaching I do monthly. I also got to preach at different churches a few times over Christmas.
The Caleb Leadership course is coming up mid July and so far we have three registrations. Please pray that others who have said they’d come will send in the paper work and many more will sign up.
The Auranga church plant which we now call Auranga Community Church had a good break over Christmas and began again last evening with a BBQ. Those coming seem very excited about the opportunity to begin something new and different. We will be looking at “what is the gospel” and look at how we respond in evangelism.
I will be trying to get to see pastors from around the North Island to get them on the Leadership course. I’m trying to get the pastor from Australia to get to discuss their involvement further but Christmas etc has made that difficult. Please pray he will respond so we can move the concept and involvement further. I have a Bridge Builder’s course coming up later this term and hope to get some more. I was asked to co-lead a course in Indonesia in March but had to say no because of family matters.
The ITA curriculum review team continue their work on reviewing the curriculum and its essentials. The ITA LMC for Canadian Pastors committee also continues to progress. The work from this group will help me re work the Caleb course as we look at how to shorten the course and how much of the course could we have participants do on line.
In late November, we found out that Rachel has a tumour in her abdomen. It sent us to our knees with tears. The hospital initially wanted her to have a biopsy, but changed their minds and sent her for an MRI. This was to happen after Christmas. Rachel, Jonny and Caleb came up here for Christmas and we had a good time with them. The family were able to lay hands on Rachel and pray for her. She is being very courageous and trusting of the Lord. Finally, she had the MRI mid Jan and the tumour appears to be a fibromatosis which the doctor thinks is probably benign. We praise the Lord for this, however, while we have bought the sparkling grape juice, we haven’t opened it. The Specialist in Christchurch wants to see her and talk her through the results. Then to make sure what the content of the cells in the tumour actually are, they will then send her for a biopsy. After that they will confirm things one way or the other. Rachel also has pre-diabetes which is pregnancy related plus the baby is about two weeks behind in development but within normal parameters. We continue to pray with faith and thanksgiving trusting the Lord to bring Rachel and the baby through to a healthy safe place.
Tim and Aimee had a good Christmas as they went to Vancouver and a couple places on the West Coast of USA with Aimee’s family. Tim got to fire a 50cal sniper rifle while Aimee got to show people how to safely dismount a snowmobile as it rolls over.
Jay, Sakura and Kayla spent time at home while Yvonne Hannah and I had some down time as well as a good time with our children and grandchildren plus some guests at Yvonne’s BnB.
As the year gets underway, we’d love the opportunity to pray for you. If there is something you need prayer for, please send me an email and we will pray for you. rex@calebnz.org.nz
Thank you for your continued love and support. we greatly appreciate it.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny & Caleb, Jeremy, Sakura & Kayla, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.