We can hardly believe that we are preparing to celebrate our second Christmas in New Zealand! One thing we always love about Christmas is the giving and receiving of gifts. This season, we reflect with much joy over the good gifts that the Lord has given us! In the course of this past year, God has given us time to see family and get spiritual nourishment in Colorado. He has blessed us with a second pregnancy and the excitement of a new child! Upon returning to our field assignment, He has provided a larger house for our growing family to live in, a car to drive, a committed staff team, a supportive church community, and deepening friendships with New Zealanders.
In addition to all these wonderful gifts, the Lord has also blessed our mission and allowed us to see spiritual fruit!
At our last Student Life (Campus Crusade for Christ, NZ) event for the year, it was so rewarding to look out over a room filled with the faces of young university students and marvel at how God has, in one year, taken Student Life from 2 students to 56 students! Half of these are either young or new believers who are now being discipled and are starting to share their faith on campus. Even more encouraging was to see several students leading the event and casting vision to their peers about giving every student on their campus the opportunity to know Jesus Christ. I thought, “Lord, is this not the beginnings of a new spiritual movement in Wellington!?” I believe it is! This past year, our staff team and students have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with 256 students in Wellington. We have also had the joy of seeing 26 of those students indicate decisions to follow Christ!
Of course the greatest gift that we thank God for is that of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I still find it extremely difficult to get my head around what God has done for me and the forgiveness that comes from the cross. I recently found my heart resonating with the words written in Psalm 116, “Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.” How wonderful it is that we are delivered from death and our souls can be at rest! God has indeed dealt bountifully with us!
We wanted to share with you what a few students have said about how the Lord has dealt bountifully with their souls through their involvement with Student Life:
“I sort of went ‘off the rails’ when I was a teenager and I knew something had to be done. Student Life has given me that little bit of a kick and it’s given me heaps of support to keep going in my faith.” – Ryan
“Student Life helped push me out there and stand up and say [to others], “Hey… I’m a Christian. Do you want to learn more about it? Do you want find out about God?’’’ – Ollie
“I got involved with Student Life about a month or two ago and I’m really loving it! I’ve found that you really become accountable to yourself and your mates… and it’s just a really good opportunity to grow and mature in my faith.” – Dan
When we see and hear the excitement of students like these, we continue to be grateful for the opportunity to live here and extend the life-changing message of hope, love, and forgiveness that is found in Christ.
As this year draws to a close, we ask you to pray that God will continue to work through our mission, making it possible for many students in Wellington to hear the Gospel! We also ask for your prayers surrounding the birth of our second child. Please pray that Jill will not be anxious about delivering this baby overseas, for her energy and strength, and for the Lord’s provision as we work out all the kinks and additional expenses of giving birth in a foreign country.
We remain thankful for your prayers and faithful friendship to us as we bring the Gospel to students—even to those at the very ends of the earth. Merry Christmas!
Warmly in Christ,
Josh & Jill
