THE ART OF SERVING

Pictured: Trentan Kruger laying down some classic Fender Telecaster guitar tracks for a new album project for Brian in Ben Hakalitz’s studio, Cairns

 

When he heard there was an Indigenous Gospel Artist in town recording a new album and some lead guitar parts were needed, Trentan Kruger enthusiastically gave up some hours of a day off from touring to help out. Ben Hakalitz, the original drummer for iconic Australian band Yothu Yindi now operates a recording studio at Living Light Church in Cairns and has a constant flow of artists wanting to record their songs.

Ben is also about to launch ‘Hakalitz Drums’ internationally which is an exciting venture for the boy who grew up in a village in the Bouganville Islands east of PNG. For Trentan it was simply another opportunity to serve and encourage Brian, an Indigenous songwriter with a wonderful testimony of God’s grace and redemption. That’s what it’s all about.

OLD TIME COUNTRY HALLS

Pictured: Good old fashioned country Gospel music and evangelism in the Tablelands country of North Queensland. Millaa Millaa RSL Hall.

 

“Let me sing where the rafters ring in an old time country hall”… The lyrics of a song from the new Slim Dusty Songs album that fit so perfectly with this classic photograph from our Millaa Millaa concert last week. It was cold and raining and very foggy and yet people drove from towns like Mareeba, Yungaburra, Malanda, Innisfail, Cairns, Atherton and Mungalli to be part of a special community gathering. Thanks to the local LIons Club members for organising an incredible Burger BBQ. Thanks to the Millaa Millaa Christian Fellowship for sponsoring the event. We raised $2,500 towards helping families still struggling to get their lives back after Cyclone Debbie devastated the Whitsunday Coast back in late March. Thank you to the generous people who turned up to support a great cause!!!  To Lyndon and Dell Hockey and to Paul and Jen Musetti… Thanks so much for your heart and vision.

HOPE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

Pictured: The misty mornings of the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland.

 

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar roads I will guide you. I will turn the darkness into light before you and make your crooked paths straight.. These are the things I will do.. I will not forsake you says the Lord." Isaiah 42:16

I have to keep telling myself.. “This world is not my home… I’m just a passing through”. I’ve come to a place where I’m convinced the world news media networks and political systems are all about everything Adolf Hitler believed in back in 1942…. Destroying Israel and dominating the rich and poor nations of the world. Nothing much makes sense and as the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote ‘ everything is meaningless’. It seems the superpowers of planet earth are determined to destroy each other any way they can. We are forced to live under the curse of Ishmael from the book of Genesis in the Bible, which is a curse of self destruction. But….

We are called to live under the promises of God, given to Abraham in Genesis and handed down from generation to generation. The promises that graft us into the family of Jesus Christ and the hope we have because of Calvary and the miracle of the resurrection. 

There are times when I cannot see the way ahead… the horizon seems foggy and distant… Yet I know this one truth that I choose to live by… 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

I cannot give up on the wonderful truth of what I have been taught by my parents from an early age. And when the road ahead is foggy I claim those promises and resolve myself to believe. God does not change. He never will change. So I keep believing and know this is the only hope in uncertain times.

Godspeed.

Steve 

CROSSING AUSTRALIA NEWS

Pictured: The offload route for the 2016 Crossing Australia venture

We are finally getting to work on all the video and GoPro footage from the Crossing Australia expedition last year. Many have asked us for a documentary on the mission and it has taken months to finally get the project rolling. Thanks so much to John Ross for making some time available to edit the TV program and YouTube Channel episodes that will be compiled from hundreds of hours of footage. From Shark Bay to Byron Bay via the great deserts of inland Australia on an XR1200 Harley Davidson, with a crew of good friends and 4X4 vehicles and a dog called Kelly!! 

The mission was all about combatting depression and suicide in remote regions of Australia and we know there is so much more that has to be done to bring hope to hurting towns and communities. Thanks so much to everyone who supported this venture last August / September. We hope to bring the adventure to life on your computer and smart phone screens real soon!!!! 

TENTERFIELD MINISTRY BASE

Pictured:  The new entrance to the World Missions property near Tenterfield NSW. With new road under construction

The miracle of this 16.5 acre property still amazes us. We feel extremely humbled to see the progress taking place for a future work and ministry base in the high country of northern NSW. A local earthmoving contractor has begun the work of constructing a road into both the WM property and our new neighbours place. The first phase of a long term vision to establish a ministry base within walking distance of Tenterfield’s main street, which is also the New England highway.

Thank you all for your interest in what we believe will be an exciting new era in the story of Steve Grace Ministries and World Missions. Yes there will be some big faith challenges ahead and we are so excited to see God’s provision as we begin building what we’ve dreamed of for 30 years. Thanks to those who are partnering with us in the vision.

WHITSUNDAY WORSHIP

Pictured:  Sunday morning combined Churches service in Airlie Beach, North Queensland

It may not sound all that impressive compared to some of the megachurches there are around the world… but last Sunday was the largest gathering of folks (about 200) from the combined churches of Proserpine and Airlie Beach in the regions history. The Whitsunday coast was devastated by Cyclone Debbie in late March and the region is still working hard to recover economically and mentally from the ordeal. As we drove into town last Saturday to set up for the concert the evidence of destruction was still so visible. Trees are only just becoming green again with new foliage. Some houses stand condemned and repairs are underway in many streets. Long after the news media and headline hunters are gone there are normal people trying to rebuild their lives. 

Saturday night’s concert was a full house and Sunday morning was the biggest gathering of churches ever!! 8 people committed their lives to the Lord and there was a real sense of expectation and enthusiasm there. We loved being part of seeing local churches gathering together in a spirit of agreement. Thanks to all the churches who cancelled their morning services to be involved.

SUGARCANE COUNTRY CONCERTS

Pictured: Deep into North Queensland ‘Cowboys’ country and land of sugarcane. 

The best time of the year to be heading north from the winter cold is June!! Yep we are on tour in North Queensland. Last weekend was an amazing time in the Proserpine/Airlie Beach region and it was so good to see the area coming back to life after the devastating affects of Cyclone Debbie a couple months ago. The region was decimated and many folks are still struggling to get back to a sense of normal. But we thank God for some quality time with the locals and hope to return soon for more work in the region.

This week we head for Cairns for ministry with the Living Light Church. Please pray with us that lives will be impacted by the Gospel and people will be encouraged. Then we head for the Atherton Tablelands and the town of Millaa Millaa and then inland away from the green of sugarcane paddocks to the cattle country of Charters Towers.

PRAYERS, PLANS AND PROMISES

Pictured: The never ending adventure of maps and calendars and ministry tours across Australia..

"Lord you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways." Psalm 139: 1-3

The Bible tells us that we are to make plans… not just sit around and feel sorry for our present situation in self pity.. We are called to be proactive in believing for God’s intervention in our lives. As we make our plans He will establish them, as we honour Him our lives will know His favour. It’s not about sitting around waiting for God to turn up.. it’s about choosing to step out in faith and have a go. He actually turned up a long time ago and completed the work that was needed to redeem humanity from death and self destruction. That’s what Jesus came to earth to do. He made a way for us to intimately know the Father’s plans and promises.

Reading through Psalm 139 is always an inspiring revelation. God knows me for who I am and despite that… by His grace, is willing to work with me on making me a better man for His Name and His Kingdom.. He is familiar with my ways and everything that goes through my mind… wow. That’s a humbling thought. He created my innermost being and formed me in my Mother’s womb. He says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made! And His works are wonderful!!

"All the days ordained for me are written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts O God! How vast is the sum of them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. 'when I awake, I am still with you." Psalm 139:16-18

It is so good to know that He is still with us.. in our prayers, plans and promises. In the madness of a world that has lost its way, keep declaring to the Lord “I am still with you”. 

Thanks again for your prayers and support as we map out the rest of 2017 with missions and concert tours.

Godspeed,

Steve

MENS MOTORCYCLE MINISTRY

Pictured: Steve with Pastor Steve Kennedy of Champions Church

 

My good mate Steve Kennedy has been asking me to come with him on a motorcycle mission for years. Every year the men of Wave Church, Virginia take a week off and venture south to Tennessee to ride some of the best roads on the planet. It’s a week of great fellowship and with ministry in churches on the weekends. Thanks to Steve Kennedy for arranging for me to be part of the adventure. The generosity of many of the men allowed us the privilege of riding late model Harley’s and enjoy many a good meals and mountain cabin accommodation… complete with a visit from a 400lb black bear one night. Yep I was on the phone to Kerrie out in the carpark when out of the shadows 20ft from me appeared a hungry black bear!!! I bolted back to the safety of the cabin!!

The three week ministry trip and motorcycle adventure in the USA was a refreshing break combined with great opportunities to connect with many men and churches over there. Thanks Steve Kennedy for your enthusiasm and passion for souls!