Dear Friends

Weekly we hear stories from people in this nation and around the world who have a hunger to know God, a searching for a deeper reality, a longing for authenticity as they wrestle with the ‘truths’ they know about God and where they find themselves in the reality of their day to day experience. Some come to us in a place of pain, exhaustion and confusion, disillusioned in their faith. Others come with a hunger and thirst to grow and develop in their relationship with God, excited about life but wanting to connect with us for further development.

We are grateful to God for the missionaries, church leaders and other individuals that He directs our way. As they share something of their story, as we hear the honest heart cry for more of God, it is a consistent reminder again of why we do the things we do. It is a reminder that God has called T.L.C to be this place where leaders can come, a “safe” place for transparent honesty... a place to grapple with truth... a place to find restoration... a place for transformation and motivation to reach their God given potential. It remains a privilege and is both humbling and honouring to walk with those we encounter.

We share with you just a few statements of gratitude received over the past few months:

“...you have led me in the continuing discovery of the mystery of knowing Christ as my Life . . it is transformation!”

“This has been one of the most transforming experiences in my 20 years of ministry.”

“While facing my biggest leadership challenge to date, you came into my life at a crucial time in my development. There is no way to put a price tag on how much you have invested in me....”

“I don’t know how to thank you for your patience and unconditional love. It continues to reveal the heart of father to me ..”

Dear Friends

It is a joy to write to you with our new postcard for the year and the outline of events that we plan to hold.  My hope is that it may sit in some prominent place and prompt your prayers and interest!

This time last year our postcard went out with locations booked for each of our events. As the year progressed we learnt that some of the locations booked were cancelled and we were left trying to find alternatives at very short notice.  In the general run of things this might be frustrating and a little wearying (and there is that side to things).  However as I look back on last year, some of my highlights and encouragements in the faith have come through God’s intervention, His provision and His introductions to those ministering angels who have been a joy to meet.  It’s not been as we planned but it has surely been God showing off beyond our wildest expectations.

Dear Friends

As I write this introduction to our newsletter we find ourselves carrying something of that paradox evident throughout Scripture where men and women were called out to walk by faith and not by sight. We have known something of this journey over many years, yet once again find ourselves being challenged to walk this way with God more deeply and more widely.

Many of you know that for over six years we have waited on God and followed His lead in regard to the property of West Watch, believing that somehow He had drawn us there as a context for ministry. As often as we have surrendered and given it back to Him, God has continued to hold us there with vision for this place, set aside by Doris Skinner for the very purpose of all that we are about.

Val writes: 

But those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

I have loved this verse since my teen-age years.  In this image of the eagle something is stirred in my imagination, there is a freedom, a rising and a soaring with the current. It reminds me of the scene in Chariots of Fire when Eric Liddell could express to his sister (who was concerned that he might lose his focus for the mission field by running for the Olympics) that ‘ God has made me fast and when I run I sense God’s pleasure.’

For years I have sought ‘to run, to walk and not faint’ and yet as I reflect I think this was something I tried to achieve through my effort. I did not realize that God had another way, captured here in this verse.