RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
I have been reading a book by John Eldredge on prayer. It has taken me a long time to read as each chapter has been a challenge to me and working on deepening my walk with the Lord. There is a long daily prayer in the book. I have begun taking the twenty minutes each morning to pray through it. I believe I am seeing results in my life and especially in the life of Hannah as I pray for each of my family. I know it’s a form prayer and I don’t usually use one but at this part of my journey I’m finiding it valuable as it focussed me on the work of the cross and the power of Jesus resurrection working in me.
Over the last few weeks I have been occupied trying to get pastors to register for the Caleb Leadership course later this year. Most of the time I’m working in the Auckland region. However, I spent three days in Waihi, Tauranga and Rotorua meeting up with a diversity of pastors. I hope to get some registrations for the course from the time. Because of the length and cost of the Leadership course, it is generally a challenge to get pastors to sign up for it. Therefore I need your prayers asking the Lord to put it on the hearts of the pastors and parachurch workers He wants to come.
I have been continuing with supervising pastors and two businessmen. I now have 19 people I supervise. Most are monthly. One is in Nepal and another in Zimbabwe. I have preached a couple of time so far as well.
In January we applied for funding from the TAB Trust. They told me that we were past base one and being seriously considered. Since then we have heard nothing. Pray they do give us some necessary funding.
Next weekend I will be down in Papamoa taking a Bridge Builders course. This is the first of the year so I’m looking forward to it.
The following week I will be preaching at the Good Friday service at Connect Baptist before heading off to Zambia on 4th April to work on the Leadership Matters course. I was told on Wednesday that my passport will need to be renewed as I need six months still valid by the time I come home. It runs out a week before my return. Pray that the new one will get here in time. It’s going to be close.
I will be training a new Lead Trainer and a relatively young in training team. Most are African nationals. There are 36 participants on the course so it will be a very busy time.
I am still $1500 short of the necessary funding to pay for my ticket. If you are able to give a little I would appreciate it immensely. The Caleb account number is: 06-0222-0104470-00.
I come back on 23rd April and four days later a take a wedding of a friend whom I was his pastor. The following week I will be taking a men’s camp for a Waiuku Pentecostal church. Then early June I will be doing a consultation day with the Board of One Mission Society.
My son in law Jonny has got a new job as a children’s librarian. However it is in Ashburton. They hope by being down there they can afford to buy a house on one income. While we will miss them up here, we support their move and pray that the Lord will settle them there according to His purpose and help them get a good home. Yvonne and I will be seeing the adventure in this and hope to go down early June when I get through the next busy period.
The others in the family are doing well and working hard. Tim has started football for the season so I’m putting lots of ice in the freezer to cope with the bruises etc. As mentioned earlier, the prayer I’m praying seems to be having a positive effect on Hannah who has started singing again with less stammering and speaking in better sentences when she wants to. PTL We pray that this will continue and we will get some better communication.
Yvonne has been flat out with the BnB as summer is our busy season. Both she and I have had several opportunities to share our faith and the gospel. In fact we were able to give one young Frenchman a new testament. He burst into tears gave us a hug and said no one had ever been so kind to him. We pray he will read what we suggested and find faith in Jesus.
A Bridge Builder course happening.
Some people beginning to register for the CLC.
Jonny’s new job.
Consultations happening.
Supervision client’s numbers growing.
Successful funding from Tab Trust.
For pastors to want to come onto the Caleb this year.
Good health and wisdom during LMC in Zambia.
Finding a day centre for Hannah.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Blessings
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny and Caleb, Jeremy and Sakura, Tim and Aimee and Hannah.