SLIM DUSTY SONGS

Pictured: The legendary Slim Dusty. Photo: John Elliot

We are only 6 weeks away from the release of the new Slim Dusty Songs album. The project has been mastered and ready for manufacture. As funds have been tight this year we are very grateful to a couple of generous gifts from farmers around Australia who believe in the vision of this project. Thank you so much. There is something significant about honouring great Australian’s of the past… men and women who have devoted their lives to making Australia a great country. I pray we never stop appreciating the generations who have gone before us. 

The big challenge we have is getting this new album ‘out there’ to the thousands of people across Australia who will love listening to some of Slim’s classics and a few Steve Grace tribute songs. Being known as a Gospel artist for 30 years means we’ve met with some resistance from the mainstream music industry. Pray with us for God’s strategy in the release and distribution of this project. Our heart is to honour a country music legend but also keep the passion for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the forefront of all that we do. Thanks for being part of this journey.

TENTERFIELD DREAMS

Pictured: The view of Tenterfield from the western side of the property.

For World Missions to have a permanent ministry base one day is still a dream in our hearts. God has been so faithful over the years to provide resources and equipment and incredible teams of people to help in the vision of doing evangelism in remote and rural regions of Australia. The 20 acre property near Tenterfield in the New England of NSW is an ideal location to establish a base of operations. We will be honest and say we’re seeking God for direction and wisdom with the next stage knowing it will require more steps of faith and lots of hard work. We don’t mind hard work!!! Never have.

We’d love to construct a large shed on the property as stage one. The new gate and access road into the property is being constructed this month and on completion we can begin some serious planning. We welcome any good advice, support and practical help from you in the partnership of this new season. We see so much potential for the property to be used for rest, recreation, training camps and even an annual Gospel Music festival in the coming years. Along with our new neighbours Dennis and Kim Lund we are excited to see what God can do with land that has been dedicated to His kingdom work.

Thanks for your interest and constant prayers as we progress with the dream.

30 YEARS OF LIFE ON THE ROAD

When Kerrie and I stepped into a full time ‘faith’ ministry back in early 1987 it was a realm of complete unknowns… There was nobody out there we could seek advice from as to how you survive in an itinerant music ministry with a young family. The idea of striving to become some Christian pop star with a record company contract and all the superficial stuff that I saw turned me off the Christian music industry after a few years. It all seemed fake. I know Kerrie and I both desired serving organisations that were about people and bringing hope and change to the world through the work of the local church. So began a long journey of countless concerts in country towns and remote aboriginal communities serving the local church in each region in its task of evangelism. We made plenty of mistakes along the way and have had a fair share of setbacks. We look back with gratitude at the organisations and individuals that have stood with us and supported the vision. We stand amazed at God’s faithfulness and the miracles of provision, the friendships and the humble reality of His constant favour over our lives. We praise the Lord for three amazing sons who have all chosen to put Christ first in their lives and stepped out to experience for themselves what living by faith really means. 30 years and now a new season ahead. More country towns tours, more missions trips and overseas travel and more of learning how to be more effective in an ever changing world. I thank the Lord for an amazing wife who has stood beside me and believed in God’s promises even in times when I have become discouraged and given up. Thank you Kerrie for your love and faith. 

THE RUSH HOUR LIFE

Pictured: The rush of a Kenworth Road Train on the Capricorn Highway at sundown a few weeks ago.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36

The years of life are so fleeting. The older I get the more I learn that without God’s presence in my life daily the more of an uncontrollable rush it seems to be. If I don’t make time at the beginning of the day to read from the bible and spend some time in prayer I find myself making rushed decisions, which only ever brings on anxiety and frustration. We live in a world where people are obsessed with blaming someone else for their problems and looking for either a handout and a quick fix. It doesn’t work and history shows us it never will. 

When life feels like a mad rush its time to stop and acknowledge you need to take some time to hear from the one who created the heavens and earth. He is the God of all time and it’s His timing we need to order our lives and accomplish the stuff we are on the planet for.. 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27: 13-14

Thanks for your support. 

Steve

LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCH

Pictured: Steve and Kerrie with Glenys Ryan who pastors the small country church in Springsure, central Queensland.

30 people turned up for church in Springsure a couple Sunday’s ago. That may not sound like much but for pioneers Glenys and Warrick Ryan it was a great milestone in the church’s history.

We loved spending five days in the town of Springsure. I had the honour of singing at the annual ANZAC Day memorial parade to 900+ people, I sang to 20 elderly folks at the local retirement village, we did a mens shed night to a bunch of local blokes plus met with many of the town locals. 

Thank you Glenys and Warrick for your faith and endurance to keep loving the people of a small country town. We look forward to returning.

MEN'S CAMP

Pictured: Blokes doing life out bush. A Men's camp at Brendallen Station north of Aramac, QLD.

This is authentic down to earth men’s business done in a true blue outback setting. Apart from the archery, motorcycle barrel racing, hunting, wake boarding, and campfire yarns there were some empowering messages from  legendary missionary evangelist Ps Graham Sercombe. It was a gathering of fathers and sons keen to know more of God’s ways and willing to discuss the realities of life and the challenges of being a man. 

It was an honour to take part in the camp and we sure appreciate the faith and vision of the local blokes from Longreach, Aramac, Blackall and surrounding region for their enthusiasm.

TRUE CHAMPIONS OF THE FAITH

Pictured: Steve with Pastor Danny Gugglielmucci and Pastor Steve Kennedy and his pride ’n' joy Ford F100 ‘Big Bird’ at church camp.

It was a great honour to share the stage with two of my heroes over the Easter weekend. Champions Church in Redland Bay hosted their annual church camp and Ps Danny Gugglielmucci and I were the guest speakers!! As friends we go back to the early pioneering days of the Youth Alive movement which started in the late 80’s. Danny founded and Pastored the EDGE church in Adelaide but in recent years has developed a global ministry as a mentor to leaders, churches and organisations. Danny’s messages over the weekend were profoundly impacting and empowering for everyone. His honest stories of life and gentle love for people is inspiring. Thanks so much to Pastor Steve and Suzie Kennedy for your amazing support and encouragement. 

THE FAITH OF A FARMER

Pictured: Dion and Ian "Sambo" Sampson hard at work planting a wheat crop in the black soil of central Queensland.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Within days of planting seeds in the rich black soil and dried debris of last season’s chick pea crop, the green shoots of wheat appear in their rows by the multitude. It is a miraculous sight and a picture that inspires me for life. Zero till farming is very common in these parts. The less you dig up the soil of last season means you retain the precious moisture in the ground that sustains the new crop in its infancy. Paddocks of dead stubble from previous crops may look unattractive but it all helps to produce a new harvest.

God is a farmer. He delights in planting a humble seed of faith in our hearts and watching it mature into a bountiful harvest in our lives. That is His plan for us. Not to give up in discouragement or harden our hearts to His ways… But to pursue His best at all times and believe He will help us achieve our dreams. After a few years of drought and setbacks it takes a mountain of faith for a farmer to once again plant a new crop and believe for a better outcome.. But without faith it would all become failure. Keep believing in your dreams and keep putting God to the test in faith. He is faithful.

It was such a great joy to spend a couple days at Glenora Downs south of Emerald a few weeks back. The Sampson family have farmed this land for decades and are a wonderful example of God’s steadfast faithfulness through good times and tough times…

Don’t ever give up on all God has called you to.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10

TOUR PLANS 2017

Pictured: Making plans for the months ahead!!!! Finally.

Due to Steve’s health earlier in the year we’ve been a bit slow confirming concert and shed night dates but with the release of the Slim Dusty Songs album in July things are now moving ahead!! And we are excited about some of the doors that are opening up. It looks like June and July will be designated to Queensland and then we plan to head south as we’ve got plenty of invitations in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW. Yes, South Australia too!!!

If you and your community would like to host a concert or Shed Night in the coming months please make contact. It will help greatly with our planning. The Slim Dusty Tribute Tour will be a seperate project all together as we expect to structure the events as ticketed concerts targeted at RSL Clubs and Country Town halls. We are hoping to put a band on the road for these tours as well.

Thanks for standing with us in the vision to reach people for Christ and excite the local church to missions across Australia!!!