KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE

Pictured: An old school '58 prime mover still working hard on the farm in the Mallee country of Victoria.

We have a dream of doing another 100 town and city tour of Australia in 2018. Friends have suggested purchasing an old prime mover and finding a mobile stage that could be used as a concert stage in many remote regions of the nation. So we are on a search for a good old truck. If you know of any that could be used as a prime mover for a mobile stage please let us know. It doesn’t need to be a flash rig just a good workhorse. We truly believe a mobile stage set up will help us reach thousands of Australian’s with the Gospel message and bring hope to hurting towns. If you would like to support the vision you can donate via www.stevegrace.com.
Thanks heaps.

60 YEARS YOUNG

Pictured: A wonderful weekend with Pastor Stewart and Jane Moncrieff and the Freshwater Church Family.

It was such an honour to celebrate a few milestones with our friends Stewart and Jane Moncrieff a few weeks ago in Cairns. 30 years ago as newly weds, they both stepped into full time ministry serving as Youth Pastors at a large church in Brisbane. We became good friends back then and took on a few faith ventures, including youth camps and Teen Church and eventually the recording of our first ‘live’ album ‘One Night in a Million’ which Stewart and Jane helped to organise at their church auditorium. Over 6,000 people turned up to be the ‘live’ audience for the concert. 

Last weekend Stewart turned 60 and we were privileged to be there. It was also the 10th anniversary of their time at Freshwater Church in Cairns. Hundreds turned up to enjoy a full weekend of events make some unforgettable memories. Well done mate!! and well done Jane!!

HOPE FOR HURTING TOWNS

Pictured: The Main Street of the town of Ashford, NSW on a Sunday afternoon.

But he said, "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 4:43

As we depart for our final country towns tour for the year we have grateful hearts and a renewed vision for 2018. Thank you for standing with us over the past year as we’ve travelled throughout Australia encouraging local churches and communities in the bush. 31 years ago Kerrie and I both saw the great need for evangelism in remote and rural regions but never imagined back then that God was calling us to a lifetime of serving through music and missions. Three decades later we see the significance of travelling those long distances just to tell people how important they are to God. We constantly meet people who have come to faith in Christ through a humble concert in the town hall many years ago. It is inspiring.

Our vision for 2018 is ‘Hope for Hurting Towns’ and we plan to once again go wherever we get invited. Whether its regions devastated by droughts, cyclones, bushfires, floods, the ice epidemic, unemployment or depression…. we know that the message of hope that comes through the Gospel always brings revival to people. 

In Luke chapter 4 Jesus spoke out these words. 

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free".
Luke 4:18

We are all called to this magnificent mission, to bring good news, to help people find freedom and help them see the way. We value your prayers and support as we begin to make plans for the coming season.

Godspeed,

Steve Grace

PROMOTED TO GLORY

Pictured: The precious violin and belongings of a humble hero and mentor. Maurice Edwin Bentley 19-7-1918  - 17-10-2017.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me". Galatians 2:20

Last week we said farewell to an amazing inspiration of a man. He was 99 years old and his hallmark words to almost every conversation he ever had were, 

“Be Encouraged”. 

When Uncle Ed Bentley said those words to you, you knew he meant them. He was an artist and a musician.. He loved God and shared his faith in Jesus Christ every day on his century long pilgrimage on earth. When WWll happened he refused to carry a gun and so enlisted as a non combatant medic to help his fellow soldiers. He survived the horrors of war and became a military chaplain and then a missionary to Papua New Guinea with his beautiful wife Laurel. They had three sons and the Bentley family flourished as they served the Lord. To this day they are all an inspiration and live to encourage others.

Uncle Ed inspired me with art and music in my early years growing up in Ukarumpa, PNG… but even more so to love people like Jesus loves people. Last week we said goodbye for a short time. 

Thank you Uncle Ed. 

Steve Grace

SLIM DUSTY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Pictured: Steve and the band performing some encore songs at the Kempsey Showgrounds Pavilion..

We all travelled a long way to take part in the opening night of the Slim Dusty Country Music Festival… but then so did most of the audience. 600 people packed into the historic timber hall last Monday night for a 4 hour concert! It was an amazing night with two great bands. The organisers of the festival told us later it was the best opening night in the 14 years that the event has been running. The response from the audience was very positive with many thanking us for ‘bringing God back into country music’. 

We want to thank the ‘Change of Heart’ Bluegrass band from the Sunshine Coast for their performance on the night. A huge thanks to Mark Moulynox (pedal steel - dobro - banjo), George McArdle (Bass guitar), Brendan Huxley (Electric guitar), Jordan Huxley (Drums) and Trentan Kruger (Electric guitar). Thanks also to Peter John from Epik Films and Cheyne Grace for helping out behind the scenes. It was a great team effort!!

SLIMS BEEN HERE BEFORE

Pictured: The historic timber hall at the Kempsey Showgrounds 

I reckon Slim Dusty would have sung many of his songs over the decades in this old timber pavilion at the Kempsey Showgrounds. Kempsey is the home of the iconic Akubra Hat company and proudly considers the late Slim Dusty (David Gordon Kirkpatrick) as it’s favourite son. Born at Nulla Nulla Creek 56kms north west of the town back in 1927 he set his sights from an early age on a life of music. Today his legacy lives on and Slim Dusty is remembered as the ‘Father of Australian Country Music’. His heroes were bush poets like Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson, and singers like Jimmie Rodgers, Buddy Williams and Tex Morton… He went on to record 106 albums during his lifetime career and sales over 7 million. 

It was such a privilege to sing the song ‘Slim’s been here before’ a few weeks ago in this old hall. In fact we had to perform the song twice as the audience requested a few songs as an encore.

Thank you to the volunteers and local community of the town of Kempsey for keeping the memory and legacy of Slim Dusty alive every year with this great Festival in his memory. If you are ever passing through Kempsey please take some time to visit the Slim Dusty Centre south of town.

BYRON BAY FILM FESTIVAL - OUTBACK RIDER

Pictured: The Outback Rider team outside the Byron Bay movie theatre for the first ever screening of the movie.

It sure was a ‘first’ for us as a team… Our own movie premier in an official Film Festival. The morning session was sold out despite the overnight rain and weather conditions. Our film was in the ‘documentary’ category and qualified in the final 5 for the Byron Bay Film Festival of 2017. Congratulations to Cheyne Grace (Producer), Peter John (Director - film maker), Trentan Kruger (soundtrack), Jordan Grace (audio engineering) and Josh Cunliffe (Photographer - Drone operator).

Already we are looking to the future and dreaming about other potential film projects. Thanks to everyone who supported this venture over the past two years.

We will be doing further film festival premieres and the DVD will be available at our events.

ROADSIGNS AND RAIN

Pictured: A roadsign in the rain on a road less travelled.. somewhere in Northern NSW.

"This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it." - Jeremiah 6:16

Sometimes the best way to move ahead with your life and make progress is to look back and learn from the past. Our lives are bombarded with information via social media and news networks and advertising and unstoppable changes in technology every day. We live with the pressure of expectations on us to have an opinion about everything and just follow along with the noise of the crowd. Conforming to the latest trends or persuasions of politicians can often times be very damaging.

Sometimes it’s a good thing to just stop. Stop and go back to what you know is absolute and true… The reassurance of a road sign on an unfamiliar road always gives you confidence that you are heading in the right direction.

In our uncertain world, the Word of God sure helps us to keep heading in the right direction. When you are not sure about what to do or where you are going… get back into the Bible and seek the Lord for His best for your life. Somehow the truth and grace of God's word becomes like refreshing rain in a drought. 

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land". - Proverbs 25:25

Thanks for travelling with us.

Godspeed,

Steve Grace

TILL TIME BRINGS CHANGE

" Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Psalm 103:1-5

We all need forgiveness and second chances in life. Things don't always work out as we expect them to. We conquer mountains and we make mistakes.. But life is real and it is the journey we are all called to take. Life is a journey of giving and taking.. of gaining and losing, of fear and faith, of pride and humility… It is a journey. And yes it is never easy…. If it was easy we’d all be signing up to the latest ‘get rich quick’ prosperity program.  God is way bigger than that and His plans for us are eternal… This journey on earth is simply the beginning of something way bigger.

Sometimes the rust, decay and setbacks of life hinder the great plans we had a decade or more ago. We all experience the loss of opportunities, friendships, finances, good health and the energy of our youth. Yet above all that we have faith. Faith is a gift that we cannot create ourselves. Faith comes from a willingness to believe in someone far greater than our present circumstances. Faith comes from trusting in someone far greater. When we trust in the creator of all things and the one who gave His life for our failures and sins…. That’s when we find true freedom. God made you to be you…. He doesn’t mind the decay and disgrace… He is a God of restoration. He makes us new.

I look at an abandoned, rusty vintage car in a paddock and I see it as fully restored.. my trade after high school was repairing and painting damaged cars. So I look at a wreck in a field and see it completed...knowing the work it would take to make it complete. I’m sure God looks at you and me just like that…. and He has the power to redeem and restore us to completion. 

Thank God for Jesus.

Thanks for your support.

Godspeed,

Steve Grace