Changing Seasons, Changing Roles

General Ministry Update!

I was privileged to travel to Adelaide to join the ATS team for training and orientation, and for the Story-teller Summit last month.

It was great to get together with the team and go through training on stewardship.  A highlight for me was to be reminded that everything literally does belong to God, that He is well resourced and will provide to accomplish His Mission.

It was also amazing to be involved in discussions around clarifying what it is that makes ATS unique compared to other youth organisations.  I’m looking forward to sharing some of this in future updates.

The Story-teller Summit was fantastic as well.  It’s great to see how God’s Story is shaping lives that are then impacting others across the county.

One of the blessings from this weekend was being asked to share a Bible Story that became part of a message at Edwardstown Baptist Church at their Sunday night service.  Thanks to Jarrod Flack for inviting me to share this story as part of your sermon.  (If you like, you can hear the full message at http://www.ebc.org.au/Sermons/140615JarrodFlackPM.mp3)

As part of the transition from secular employment to full-time worker with ATS , I have stepped down from the coordinator role and have taken on a part-time position as a support worker with my current employer.  This will free up some of my time to allow me to focus more on ministry.  In the short-term this time can be used to prepare for the fast-approaching Verge.  The ATS team and I would appreciate your prayers as we plan for this event.

I’m also seeking opportunities to share what God is doing through ATS.  If you know of a youth, school, or church group that could benefit from this ministry, I’d love to hear about it.

Thanks to Chris Maynard from Tamborine Life Church for the opportunity to briefly share what God is doing through ATS, while visiting a couple of Sundays ago.  It was great to catch up.

Thanks everyone.

Blessings,
Mike

Coming Up!

  1. Verge - 27 Sept - 2 Oct, Hervey Bay
  2. Sequel - Follow-up from Verge
  3. ThePath - ATS Equipping Initiative

Thank You for Your Partnership!

We've been really blessed by the encouraging conversations we’ve had with a number of you in recent weeks, and want to say "Thank you" to all of who are teaming up with us through your prayers, and to those of you who have decided to partner with us through financially supporting Mike in ministry with AccessTheStory.

All of you are really appreciated and we want you to know that you're an essential part of the team and that you will share in the fruit that God brings through this ministry.  We’re looking forward to continuing to serve with you.

Finance Update!

Mike has received a number of special gifts and currently has one regular financial supporter.

We believe that God is calling Mike to work full-time with AccessTheStory, and to achieve this we are seeking further, regular support to provide for his monthly income and ministry expenses, and to free up his time from secular employment.

If you believe that God is calling you to contribute to this ministry in this way, then we would love to chat further about this. Let us know if you’d like to receive an Info Pack and we will post one to you.

If you don’t feel called to contribute in this way, that’s fine too! We still greatly value you and you’re ongoing prayer support. :)

Toowoomba Family Life! – by Ray

Welcome to July.  Can’t believe I am saying that.  I don’t know where this year has gone.

Life is so different here in Toowoomba.  At this time of year, you only live outside when the weather allows.  You do your gardening only when the sun is shining and it is warm enough that your fingers don’t freeze.  You hang your
Ice on windscreen
washing out each morning and hope that it will be dry when you get home from work, otherwise you finish it off in the dryer.  I have never lived in the cold before and all I can say is (at the moment) I am loving it.

People at work tell me that I have on rose coloured glasses, because I keep telling them how beautiful Toowoomba is.  It is just so picturesque, no matter which direction you look, it is just so pretty here.  Even when the trees have dropped all their leaves and are now just sticks attached to a trunk.  It is still just so beautiful.

The kids have been on school holidays for the past 2 weeks.  Josh is enjoying the break, but I think Hannah is eager to get back with her friends.  Hannah did work experience in Teaching last term at two different schools and absolutely loved it.  She has decided that she wants to become a teacher.

She has also greatly improved her grades this last term, as she is coming to terms with adjusting to a new schooling system.  Hannah also had a job interview at a local Café in town that will be opening soon, please pray with us for God’s will to be done on the job aspect for her.  She is very eager to get a Saturday job.

Josh saved his money and bought himself a 3DS, so he has been enjoying having time in these holidays to play some computer games on it.

Michael and Hannah also climbed Table Top Mountain, which is just out of Toowoomba.  They had fun and got some good photos.

I have been busy with work and for a while was making curtains at night for props in preparation for Verge in Hervey Bay.  We are starting to get excited.  It is coming up really soon.

Two weekends ago, we went to a beautiful wedding for my niece at my home town of Currumbin Valley.  It was just the most amazing scene getting married beside the creek that I use to play in as a child.  The whole thing was just beautiful.  On the Sunday we went to Tamborine Life Church which is pastored by one of my old friends from over 25 years ago and Michael’s old Youth Leader, Chris Maynard.  It was good to catch up.  We also got to spend time with Michael’s dad and his fiancé.  It was a very special weekend.


We are now back to a family of 4, as Shaniya has moved back home with her family.  Life is ever changing here.  It is exciting to see where God leads.

Love Ray

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