"Steps of Faith" March 2020 - C3 City Church

“Steps of Faith” March 2020
As I write this we are enjoying the sunshine after much
needed heavy rain. We, like you, are adjusting to working
from home in our first week of lockdown and have much to
be thankful for……now in our 9th year of serving with YWAM;
thankyou for partnering with us!
January…saw us welcome 103 students from NZ and overseas! (61 for One Thing- a 1
month prayer internship- YES young people from around the world DO have a passion for
prayer ☺/ 29 for the 5 month Discipleship Training School/ 4 for the 2 year long School of
Frontier Mission(SOFM) and 9 for the 1 year Leaders Internship). Inga welcomed new staff
to the registrar team as this role continues to develop, while Mike continued working on
Mission Adventures (4 outreaches planned); Kairos teaching- here in Tauranga and in Fiji in
July; teaching in SOFM and preparing for teaching times later in the year. Inga got a
clearance for her pacemaker -okay to travel
overseas☺; planning began for Fiji outreach from C3
City Church (to serve at the C3 FIJI conference and
with Suva and Lautoka churches). Des Short brought
words of wisdom to our new students………
February…our          wonderful One Thing students
graduated- some returning to eastern Europe to
establish prayer rooms in their nations, others looking
at further training and all with great testimonies of
how God had refreshed them and revealed his love in
new ways. Inga had an amazing birthday treat and
saw Pentatonix with Lauren in Auckland. Ava joined us
for a fun week and joined us as we visited YWAM
                                Koha -now berthed in Tauranga and preparing for service to
                                the peoples of the pacific- Ava loved her tour of the ship,
                                even going to the bridge. February also saw us celebrating
                                with 29 students from the September 2019 courses, as they
                                returned from outreaches to various nations- so inspiring to
                                hear of MANY salvations and healings- God is at work! We
                                took Lauren back to University in Wellington- her final year
                                and had very special times staying with family and friends!
                                We returned refreshed and so thankful for all God is doing
in the lives of our family☺
March…has been full of meetings as we sought God regards our YWAM Furnace students
and the impact of Covid-19. We have been able to ensure their return to their home
countries over recent weeks (some literally from around the globe had 6 or 7 flights and
return to much uncertainty). We will continue to work with them to enable completion of
their studies by distance. Some of our staff have also needed to return home at short notice

and again navigate many flights to do so. Please join us as we pray for their safety as they
transition home to the regulations that their government’s have put in place. Our April
courses are cancelled and June courses subject to confirmation- many prospective students
around the world are of course themselves dealing with Covid-19 in their home nations. Fiji
outreach and Mission Adventure outreaches were cancelled- planning to return in 2021.

Please pray for YWAM staff in restricted nations and third world situations- some are
cut off from returning home due to flight restrictions. Our colleagues in Fiji are dealing with
restricted movement and will likely have no government support. They will be very much
trusting in God’s provision for all they need. Having lived there for 2 years we are very
                                                      mindful that those in the slums and
                                                      poorer accommodation will face huge
                                                      challenges…when there is nothing else
                                                      God becomes SO MUCH LARGER- He is
                                                      all we need. Here is Mike with Ben and
                                                      Kuba- dear YWAM Fiji friends who
                                                      visited NZ over summer for their first
                                                      ever holiday☺
                                                      We are so thankful that we can
                                                      continue to work from home, providing
pastoral care and continuing with teaching preparations and registrar roles. Lauren has
returned home and continues her studies, Baileys work is closed for lockdown. We are
learning how to balance things, have time off and keep exercise going. Our vegie garden is
getting a makeover and we are VERY thankful we have a warm home to live in and all we
need☺… our days of living simply in Fiji have been great preparation! Mike and I have been
inspired by 2 books= Rees Howell’s “Intercessor” and Eddie Cairns “ Catch the Wind” as well
as our bible readings. A great time to do online studies as well !
Support goal – our monthly shortfall has reduced from $400 to $280 per month, thanks to
new supporters joining our team!. 7 supporters giving $40 per month will meet this
need….Please email us if you would like to contribute to our support.
Support team We are so thankful for the continuing support- practical, prayer and financial
giving by our individual supporters and “City Church C3” (our church in Tauranga). To
support us- put your name and staff name (Stephenson) in the reference and code section.
Email the finance team at finance@yfnz.org, advising you have made a payment to us,
including your email address (a one-off email). This enables YWAM to send a receipt at the
end of the financial year (March) for claiming Charitable donations from the IRD.
Bank account number; BNZ Cameron Road 02-0240-0010822-00 “The Impact World Tour
(NZ) Trust” Please continue to note "birthday, anniversary or Christmas" in the reference
as these are NOT Taxable and email us too so we can keep track of things, thanks! Thank
you for partnering with us, as we train and equip the next generation for mission.
               Love from Mike, Inga, Bailey and Lauren ☺

Philippians 4:6 & 7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
183b Waitaha Road, Welcome Bay, Tauranga 3112 021 132 1161 Mike          021 148 7782 Inga