The Lord’s leadings are a mystery and altogether good.
These are the thoughts churning in my mind as we entered a foreign land this March to purse a business opportunity in New Zealand.  A man in his heart devises his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.

Despite Auckland’s beauty, it was masked by a spiritual heaviness about the city.  More accurately, there was a principality stirring spiritual wickedness in high places. 
Declaring themselves separated from God and a secular nation, they have found themselves in cultural battles for ancient burial ground.

The first night we stayed in a cosmopolitan hotel near a park, only to discover that the building next to us was a legalize brothel.  Immediately, we set out to find a more family-friendly area in the city. Trusting the Lord, Victoria had a specific worship in her head, “Our God is an Awesome God.”  We prayed with our children that the Lord would lead us to the right place.  The next day, we met a Christian woman who was renting a furnished flat in the city.  Although she wanted a 6-month agreement, she said that she couldn’t get our family out of her head.  She emphatically said, “God wanted me to let you have the place.”

Sunday morning as we were hauling our stuff to our new abode, Victoria heard worship music.  It was the same song she had in her head the day before.  Victoria dropped our stuff and raced with the kids to find where the music was coming from.  Less than one block away was a church.  Victoria was greeted by a cheerful, smiling woman named Shannon Daniels who invited her to stay.


We had lunch with her and her husband, Jeff, and their 4 children.  Instantly, bonding as brothers and sisters in Christ and parents, we were invited by them to stay at their home.  They made us feel like family as together we fellowshipped and grew in our passion for service unto the Lord.  Our new friendship turned out to be an appointed time of ministry.


Through the Daniel’s, we met Pastor John Shipman and his family.  The Shipman’s are a South African family with a heart to touch the broken-hearted.  The foundation of our friendship grew out
of our missions work in Africa.

It is vital that we capture and maximize the times of our lives.  I am excited about the future of the body of Christ and what the Lord will do in us and through us.  In pursuing our future purpose, as a church and individually, we will be fulfilling God's design and in the process change many lives for the Lord’s glory.



Our plans are to return to New Zealand and encourage our new friends and minister at Pastor Shipman’s church to the married couples about Christ-Centered Living on fire, focused, faithful and fervent in spirit to build God’s Kingdom by building up the family.  It is amazing how God weaves His eternal decrees through the simplest of events.