The Journey So Far - Part 3

Continued from Part 2...

In the mean time, Travis Johnson has stepped out in faith and started a new organisation called "Access the Story" (ATS) so that they can focus on Immerse like events which use story formed discipleship.

Instead of being called "Immerse," under ATS this event is now being called "Verge," and the first of these was just run in WA south of Perth a couple of weeks ago.  I had the privilege of being part of this camp along with 60-70 youth from a few different youth groups and churches, including a group from Thailand where Immerse has already run a number of times.

Like Immerse in February, this week of Verge was a really amazing and life changing experience, and is even further confirmation that I need to be part of this.  You can see a glimpse of what Verge is like on Access the Story's website.

Among other things, one of the main things that stood out to me at Verge was seeing Jesus' people model what His Church can look like as a loving community that encourages, builds up, and supports one another.  Love in Action and in Truth (1 John 3:18).  The love of Christ shown through His body.

ATS are now launching a training initiative called "The Path" for people who have been touched by God through Verge (or Immerse) and want to get involved and develop skills as a story-teller.

I have enrolled and been accepted into The Path, and am looking forward to this training over the next number of months, along with ten others including two from NZ.

We aren't exactly sure what the future holds, but we're keen to see Verge come to Queensland, and a number of people are already asking for this to happen in Hervey Bay next year.

Travis and I have started conversations about this possibility and are praying for God's guidance in all this.

So where does Toowoomba fit in to all this?  That's a really good question.  ATS and I are very keen to see Verge spread and I believe that God is going to use us to help bring it to Queensland, and while we see Hervey Bay being part of this, we believe that God is moving us to Toowoomba as a strategic move to see it spread to the South East and beyond in the future.

We have one more week at Hervey Bay Christian Academy, and then we'll be moving shortly after, as God causes everything to fall in to place, especially selling or renting the house in Hervey Bay, and organising suitable accommodation in Toowoomba.  Our prayer is that this house sells and that we can then purchase a house we've looked at in Toowoomba.

That brings us up date, and we'll endeavour to keep you informed with all this as things progress.  Thanks again for taking the time to take this journey with us.

Thanks also for your encouragement, prayer, and support.  Please continue praying with us for God's will to continue to unfold in our lives as we seek Him.  And pray that God will use ATS and Verge to reach more and more for His Kingdom throughout this nation and beyond.

In Christ,

Mike Smith

That's the end of "The Journey So Far," but is only the beginning of this next chapter of our lives.  If you haven't already, you might like to subscribe so that you don't miss the next instalment.