The June 2018 Four12 outreach into Australia was such an amazing experience for me. I so enjoyed travelling with Brad & Angela Verreynne (Brad leads Oxygen Life Church and also led this outreach) and Ria van der Westhuizen (who is a part of Joshua Generation Church).

For this outreach, we spent 5 days ministering into Heart City Church (led by Pastor Peter Meyer and his son, Luke) in Perth, and 5 days at Impact Church (led by Martin Stockdale) in Adelaide. The first thing I must say is that I felt so warmly welcomed and a ‘part of the family’ at both Impact Church and Heart City Church. I was blown away by everyone’s hospitality, generosity and open hearts. Instant family, across the globe!

I was blown away by everyone’s hospitality, generosity and open hearts. Instant family, across the globe!

One of the truths that really stood out to me during the outreach was the message Brad preached on “To live is Christ”. He emphasised the question, “What are you living for?”, telling us that if we live for Christ and He is the basis of our lives, we will “rejoice always”, because if we live for Christ, we have everything we need. Brad highlighted that we love because God loved us first, and from that love we are able to pour out love to others without conditions, not to receive something in return. Challenging to hear, but so encouraging too!

Throughout the outreach, we spent time sharing our testimonies and praying for each other, meeting in homes and forming amazing new relationships. I was reminded of the power of our testimonies and the impact it can have on others when, after sharing my testimony, a young girl came up to me and said that she had never heard a girl her age tell their testimony, and that her story was similar to mine and she found it very encouraging.

I was reminded afresh on this outreach that it is so important and valuable to God that we love others as He loves them.

Another highlight for me was experiencing the miracle of becoming such ‘fast family’ with people; how God knits hearts together. Opening up our hearts, sharing our stories and praying together all form a part of this miraculous ‘heart knitting’. I was reminded afresh on this outreach that it is so important and valuable to God that we love others as He loves them.

I agree with Martin when he said that this outreach was a great time of ministry and practical advice on how to establish a ‘life-giving-God-glorifying-heaven-patterned church”. It sure was, and I’m so thankful to have been a part of it! Don’t miss out on joining an upcoming outreach, whether it’s to Australia or even a place closer to where you live. God has great work for us all to do.

Find out more about our upcoming Four12 outreaches here: https://www.archive.four12global.com/outreaches/