Moving, Growing, Changing!
Sitting on the shore of a large pond at YWAM Orlando, we were tired, excited, and altogether a bit stressed. At the end of 2021, we had the privilege of spending 2 weeks at YWAM Orlando, and at that particular moment, we were seeking the Lord for vision and encouragement for 2022. He spoke to our hearts, and we felt Him leading us to “dig ditches” to be filled with water like the Israelites in 2 Kings 3:16-17, or to “gather empty vessels” to be filled with oil like the woman of 2 Kings 4:3-4. In both these stories The Lord instructed those who sought Him to prepare for His miraculous provision despite their expectations. They obeyed in faith, and The Lord provided according to their preparations.
A few years ago Tanner had a revelation; everything that God creates and sustains is always moving, growing, and changing according to His will and character. Our need to walk closely with God is built into the very foundations of our design. If God handed us a perfectly concise instruction manual for life then we would never need Him beyond that exchange. Every moment of life we walk with Him calls for dependence on His leading that is specific and unique.
Leading YWAM Niagara can at times feel hard and scary. But we are confident that God will make us effective for the Kingdom if we stick close to His heart and let Him lead. That’s why we were seeking Him in the calm of the YWAM Orlando property, listening with open hearts to move, grow, and change according to His purposes.
Moving
We’re committed to reaching Niagara and the nations with Jesus’ Good News! Our “Trailblazers” DTS is currently on outreach! We sent one student to partner with YWAM Muskoka in an outreach to a First Nations community in Saskatchewan. And we sent a team of 5 to Brazil to partner with YWAM Brazil, and impact lives in the cities of Recife and Foz do Iguaçu! The students have been having an amazing time learning together what it means to live on mission.
“We’ve walked a lot, we’ve prayed for many people, we’ve interceded for many places. And we will keep walking, carrying and preaching the Gospel, until our Jesus returns!”
Denise, Brazil Team
Growing
God has been continuing to grow our heart for the people of Niagara Falls as well as our ministry opportunities in it! We have loved getting to serve those experiencing homelessness in downtown St Catharines alongside the Dream Centre this past year, but have also had a growing desire to see this ministry exist in the Falls. So when they approached us asking if we wanted to pioneer a street ministry with them in the falls, we were exuberant! So far we have had 4 outreach nights in the falls where we have met people where they are at; in tents huddled along the highway, trying to stay warm under a bridge, and in lines waiting to get into a shelter for the night. We’ve been able to build friendships, offer food, prayer, and encouragement.
Last week as Melinda was talking to a woman about her week, she asked us if we had a Bible that we could give her, then another young man who overheard us talking asked if he could have one too! By time we had gone to our car to get the Bibles, someone else came along looking for one as well! Typically most of the people we talk to have had really negative experiences with church and don’t want to talk about God. This fresh hunger to receive His Word was a huge breakthrough! Be encouraged that God is on the move in Niagara Falls! He is pursuing the hearts of the least and the lost and is inviting us to be a part of it!
Changing
Change can be one of the hardest and scariest things to go through, but is always so necessary as we walk with God and have Him lead us deeper into His calling. Our first few years of pioneering YWAM Niagara have taught us a lot, and we know we aren’t done learning and refining how we lead this mission! In 2022 we’re preparing empty vessels. We know God will continue to provide the vision, people, and materials we need to walk with our team, our students, and our ministry, forward.
