Keeping a Promise

Pictured: Steve with the legendary Chris Foley and his recently painted and polished Harley VRod.

Six years ago our good friends Chris and Glenys Foley from Maryborough QLD loaned us their Jayco Caravan for the 25,000km, 80 towns and cities Heritage tour of Australia in 2010. We needed an extra caravan for a newly married couple who had committed to serve the tour. It was a huge encouragement to Andy and Jess in their first year together. When I offered to pay for the use of the caravan Chris simply requested I do a new paint job on his Harley Davidson… That was six years ago!!! 

Finally, I’ve had some time at home so during January I was able to fully restore and paint the VRod for Chris. A promise is a promise!!! We ended up spending a couple days together last week making some good memories and enjoying reassembling the bike and polishing every part. 

We greatly appreciate the generous friendship of so many people around Australia who love supporting our missions and ministry tours throughout the country. Thanks mate. Enjoy riding that cool motorcycle!

Bathroom Renovations

Pictured: Dave Ison with Steve and the beautifully renovated bathroom at home.

A few years ago our home was invaded by white ants or termites. Fortunately, we discovered their advance early as they began eating away at the soft pine timber skirting boards in the bedroom, bathroom and lounge room. We were able to get the rest of the home protected from further damage but its taken a long time to finally get stuck into a complete renovation of the bathroom and rebuild some of the internal framework that was destroyed. Thank you Kerrie Grace for your patience over the past two years!!! And a huge thank you to our good friend Dave Ison, of Ison Tiling and Stone who undertook the project. We are very grateful and the new bathroom looks amazing!!! It’s been so good to get some of these important jobs done during a rest from ‘life on the road’…. We are also very grateful to avoid going into debt on such a critical renovation. Thanks to those who have helped out in practical ways. A huge thank you to Noah and Dave Ison for all the hard yakka!!

Visions and Dreams

Pictured: The view from the south western corner of the Tenterfield property.

We look forward with great expectations at the moment to see where God will lead us in the development of the property near Tenterfield in northern New South Wales. Over the coming weeks a road is being constructed which will give us access to the 16.5 acres. It is then that the faith adventure begins and we start making plans. Thank you to those who have a genuine interest in the future of World Missions and our music ministry. For years we’ve prayed for some land we can develop and now that prayer has become a reality. Pray with us for the funds and a clear strategy for stage one which will include building a large shed that will become base of operations for future development. 

Tenterfield is famous in Australian history as the birthplace of the nation, the unifying of the States and territories that would eventually become the Commonwealth of Australia. Sir Henry Parkes gave a federation speech at the Tenterfield School of the Arts on October 24th, 1889 that ushered in a spirit of agreement amongst the colonies and States. Twelve years later Federation took place for the fledgling nation of Australia on the world stage. 

For us it is significant that this land overlooks a small country town where big dreams for a nation were born. Originally the region was home for the Jukembal tribal people’s and there is still a strong Indigenous community in the area. Our prayer is that this property will become a refuge and releasing place for others with big dreams to reach Australian’s with the good news of Jesus. Thanks for standing with us!!!

Men at Work

Pictured: Steve with Warwick Grace and father Ced Grace hard at work doing what blokes do well... hard yakka!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

One of the highlights of the year so far has been building a wall with my Dad and brother. I realised a few years ago there was enough room down the side of our house for a lane that would give access to the entire back yard area. So with the help of my talented landscaper brother Warwick and our Dad we set out to construct a retaining wall. We worked hard and within three days in the humidity and heat had a brilliant timber and steel wall built. But what impressed me most was the stamina and determination of my father who celebrates his 83rd birthday in a weeks time. Dad never stopped, only took a break when we did in the heat of the day. 

He reminded me of that faithful old soldier Caleb who had served Moses and Joshua for 45 years. Caleb was one of the original scouts who went into the land of Canaan to spy out the land God had promised to the people of Israel. He was an old man and yet still 'keen as mustard' to serve. When offered if he wanted to slow down and retire here was his response..

Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. Joshua 14:10-12

I am inspired by such stories in God’s word. Let us continue to be about the good work we’ve been called to do. It’s inevitable that we all grow old but its our choice as to whether we give up and stop fighting for what we have been promised. God is faithful to His word and true to the hope we have within us, the hope of glory because of what Christ has done for us at the Cross.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Keep working with the joy of the Lord.

Keep taking on the mountains before you!!

Godspeed,

Steve

Miracles and a New Ministry Base

Pictured: Steve and Kerrie standing on the land that has been gifted to World Missions for a future ministry base.

MIRACLES AND A NEW MINISTRY BASE

Over the past months we’ve seen some amazing things happen. One has been the provision of a 16 acre property donated to us for a future ministry base of operations in the beautiful town of Tenterfield, New South Wales. We are deeply humbled by the way this gift has come about and know it’s the beginning of a whole new chapter in the dreams we’ve had for music evangelism and missions. This property has so much potential as a missions training base, a creative arts, music and media centre and a place of rest and renewal.

We will be sharing more about the plans we have for the property in the coming months and welcome your input and support as we look at developing the land so it can be utilised in the best ways possible.

The initial stage will involve building a shed and getting power and water connected. A road is being constructed in the coming weeks which will give us access to the property and then the work begins.

For 30 years we’ve prayed for and dreamed of having a ministry base so this is a wonderful provision from the Lord!

The Tamworth Band

Pictured: Steve with Brendan Huxley, Mal King and Dave Graffin. The band for the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2017.

We are so grateful to these fine musicians and great blokes for helping out with the music workshops and concerts we did during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. We managed to put a band together and perform 6 x 2 hour concerts over 6 nights plus do music and songwriting workshops and busking in Peel Street and meet lots of people. It was a great week!! Thank you to the local churches of Tamworth, Scripture Union and Youth with a Mission for the amazing impact the gospel Tent had again this year in Tamworth. Many lives were impacted by the children’s programs, music workshops and concerts. We were very honoured to be part of the mission. Thanks also to the guys in the band for giving your time and talent to such a great event. 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Steve and Kerrie at home...

In just over a week we step into a brand new calendar year and the adventures of faith begin again for 2017. 

As we look back at the past year we are so grateful for your friendship and partnership in the journey. We served local churches in 95 remote and rural regions of Australia during 2016. We saw many come to faith in Christ, especially during the missions to outback areas and Reality with Will Graham in Alice Springs. We gained great experience in the work of Depression and Suicide Prevention via the Crossing Australia mission. The recording and release of the Nullarbor to Nashville album and recently the Slim Dusty Tribute project has set the foundations for some exciting concert tours in the coming year. Yes! It’s been a full on year and we thank God for His provision, protection and empowering to achieve this work.

Our dream for the coming year is to develop a missions base and continue working with small teams in regions where the need for evangelism and missions is vital. This includes all regions of Australia, Papua New Guinea and other South Pacific Islands. We’d love to once again begin ministry tours in the USA and strengthen relationships with many churches over there who have a heart for World Missions.

Right now….. we are very happy to be at home making a good memories with family and friends. Thanks so much for your prayers and your practical support over this past year! We are grateful and hope we can see you during 2017!

In Christ’s love,

Steve and Kerrie
and the team at World Missions

Beyond the Plastic and Flashing Lights

The colourful ornaments of Christmas

 

It’s easy to become cynical and negative about the Christmas season. Many people go to great lengths to discard its value to society, others attempt to secularize it as ‘Happy Holidays’ and banish any emphasis of remembering the birth of Jesus Christ and his significant eternal purpose for humanity..

Truth is.. beyond all the commercialism and coloured lights, the shopping frenzies and fantasy, Christmas is a simple opportunity to celebrate the spirit of giving. The humble story of a child of promise being born to a young woman engaged to be married to a carpenter from Nazareth has captivated history for over 2000 years. A story that is still to this day so relevant to every culture on earth.

Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for the simple gift of giving and for the hope we can all share because of what Christ has done for us. Christmas is a fresh new reminder every year that God is all about new beginnings… His grace and forgiveness, His love and mercies are new every morning. 

Enjoy these next few days before Christmas and embrace that simple spirit of giving in all you do.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

– John 3: 16-17

Godspeed,

Steve