The year 2023 was monumental for us as the JoshGen Wellington AM congregation. As an eldership team, the Lord had guided us to trust Him with the vision that by the end of the year, every member of our congregation would have the opportunity to go to the nations (Matthew 28:19).
What follows is a bit of our story of how we responded to the Lord’s prompting, what He did in us and the continued fruit of our obedience.
There is nothing that moves your heart to respond to His call more than to start praying for the nations!
Ignited in Prayer
We started by sending messages to several Four12 congregations that we felt the Lord had highlighted to us, inquiring about their specific prayer needs. Then we called the whole church together to pray into these prayer requests. There is nothing that moves your heart to respond to His call more than to start praying for the nations!
We had specifically felt led to organise trips to Zambia, Ireland and Switzerland, and one family joined Andrew Selley on a Four12 outreach to the Netherlands. However, to help us reach our goal of every saint being provided with the opportunity to go, we called one of our meetings, ‘Let’s Go Sunday’. On this Sunday, we sent the whole congregation, in their community groups, to visit, serve and be a blessing in other JoshGen congregations. We were ignited to ‘Go!’
Enabled by Provision
Now, it is no secret that it costs money to go – and not all of us have the means to do so. As an eldership team, we felt that we wanted to enable saints who previously would never have imagined going on an international trip to respond to the call. One of those who responded, was Lumko, a security guard at a local bank. Lumko joined our Zambia outreach team and it was so powerful to see him not only able to go on the outreach but also stepping out to preach in a village there.
In total, we ended up sending nine individuals to Zambia, eighteen to Ireland, and another nine to Switzerland, with countless testimonies of how the Lord provided for each person in unique and personal ways. Through our collective efforts in selling pancakes, timely job opportunities, birthday bonuses, and the extravagant generosity of our congregation, we witnessed the Lord’s provision in immeasurable ways.
The beautiful part of going to the nations is the privilege of actively partnering with what Jesus is busy with – building His church!
Impacted by Partnership
The beautiful part of going to the nations is the privilege of actively partnering with what Jesus is busy with – building His church! We grew in serving and giving, as individuals and as a congregation, and became a greater reflection of Jesus through partnering with other Four12 churches. There was a mutual encouragement, blessedness and sanctification that happened both in the giving and receiving. Just the practical experience of hosting and being hosted was a beautiful example of mutual and heartfelt sacrifice and enjoyment. We were profoundly moved by the warm hospitality and open-heartedness of the churches that welcomed us.
Inspired by Participation
In responding to the call to go, everyone got an opportunity to participate in some way – sharing a testimony, praying for someone, playing soccer with children and through practical acts of service, like cooking and packing the bus. One guy’s contribution was to wake up at 5 am to read the Bible with somebody who wanted to learn how to spend time with the Lord.
After returning home, everyone was more inspired to participate within our local context. For example, one young man (a working adult) was stirred to join the Youth and has been serving as a leader on that team ever since. We continue to see fruit in people’s lives, especially in being more intentional in discipling others.
One crucial part of building the vision and stirring hearts was sharing feedback and testimonies after each trip. Together, we could give thanks to the Lord for what He had done, but it also sparked a desire in others to join us on future outreaches.
One guy’s contribution was to wake up at 5 am to read the Bible with somebody who wanted to learn how to spend time with the Lord.
We are filled with gratitude and inspiration not only for what God has done in and through us but also for what lies ahead. May 2025 be a year where more hearts are ignited through prayer, where every saint takes the opportunity to go and serve, and where communities are strengthened by the powerful testimonies and experiences shared. Together, let’s step out in faith, trusting that the Lord will guide and provide as we commit to go. May we continue to see even greater growth and fruitfulness as we continue to follow His call.
