COFFEE WITH A CAUSE

Pictured: Cheyne Grace at work with the Kombi Cafe at Eastgate Church in Byron Bay.

When Cheyne is not on the road serving with our concert tours and missions trips he’s based at Lennox Head near Byron Bay. On Sunday’s, Eastgate Church love having his mobile Kombi Cafe set up out the front knowing the funds raised go towards the work of World Missions. The 1975 Kombi is a great people magnet and gets used every week to provide the best espresso coffee’s in town. 

We greatly appreciate the effort Cheyne puts in behind the scenes with our ministry. He’s also got a growing design company helping churches and business’ with branding so if you are looking for quality graphic design contact Cheyne!!! 

NEVER SAY DIE

Pictured: Steve learning to operate 'Sambos' 1949 Field Marshall Tractor at Glenora Downs, QLD.

This tractor was built nearly 70 years ago and is still ready and able for a good hard days work!! Somehow in this modern age we have lost the art of building things to last. The old Field Marshall was Ian Sampson’s first tractor when he started farming near Wudinna SA back in the early 50’s. When the family moved to the rich black soil plains of central Queensland the old tractor came too. These days…. the new machinery is much bigger and requires a lot more maintenance than the old bull dog Field Marshal. What it took ‘Sambo’ a week to accomplish on his faithful old green tractor can now be done in a  day. But despite the greater productivity this old workhorse is still his favourite. 

I admire the ‘never say die’ determination of Aussie Farmers who these days have to compete on a global market. You don’t meet too many farmers looking for welfare handouts, even in the droughts they never stop working… just like the old Field Marshall tractor. Support Australian farmers and buy Australian grown produce.

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.