Update From New Zealand

Well here we are in Christchurch, New Zealand! We arrived three weeks ago, and since we landed we have been going non stop. We are still in transition, and haven’t yet worked out our internet situation and other basic items, but we are gradually getting things in place and becoming established. I will begin to blog updates and revelations from the Lord on a regular basis, hopefully once per week, and I am just getting the infrastructure in place to pick up with monthly newsletters. So in the meantime, I wanted to at least get a brief update out so you were informed about all that we have been up to and all the Lord is doing.

So much has been happening since we got here, it has been a veritable whirlwind. Within two days or so from our arrival, we went into the most impacting conference that I think I have ever been a part of. Jason was set to speak at an event with the CEO of the local and largest Maori tribe on the south Island, and with the Deputy Mayor of the city of Christchurch, about the justice of God and restoration and reconciliation of the Maori and European New Zealanders. Over the past one hundred and seventy years or so, there has been much signing and breaking of treaties and agreements between the Maori and the European New Zealanders, and the resulting social injustice has been a constant blight to the New Zealand way of life. The process of reconciliation and establishing of justice has been a long and arduous one, and our coming to New Zealand is at a time of great significance with respect to that process. We truly believe that this is one of the major keys to the future destiny of New Zealand, and that much of our assignment from heaven in this nation deals directly with this issue. It begins there, and flows into all of family and social life, because the Kingdom of God is over all and his grace and mercy flow into every sphere of life. This is not the building of a religion that we are involved in. But in fact it is the very essence of all life. God is the source of life, and in him we live and move and have our being. Our eating and drinking, our marrying and having children, our education and development, and even our working and resting all are aspects of life in God, and the answer of our prayer that it would be “on earth as it is in heaven” will yield no less than the reformation and reordering of every element of life until the blessing of God can flow unhindered into all of creation everywhere. This is what we are living to see made manifest, and we not only believe that it is possible in New Zealand, we are actually seeing the first traces of that thing beginning to bud and reach for the sun. For me, the conference we had that first week in the country was the beginning of a realization of that goal. Seeing the leader of the Maori tribe, having the chance to sit and hear his heart for his people, seeing the alignment of our vision with the vision of true world leaders, and realizing that this really is something that God is orchestrating, for me was like a radical awakening of a person from a dream only to discover that it was not a dream after all but reality. I have spoken of this vision– the discipleship of whole nations– for so long that it has almost become like a mechanical mantra that has lost sight of the goal but knows only the journey. But then, in the blink of an eye, the Lord is bringing to pass all that has been in my heart for so long. This truly is the most amazing time to be alive. God is truly on the march, and he is accomplishing all that he has set out to do. This time in New Zealand I believe is going to prove to be a catalytic force that will be felt around the world for generations to come. What an honor.

After that conference, we spent the next two weeks or so just getting established in day to day life in a new country. We still don’t have much in the way of furniture, and are just beginning to get a feel for the city. We have been getting connected with the two main churches who are hosting the Reformation meetings, and have started to have meetings three times a week. During the days we have started to go out as a team on the streets to pray for people and share the Gospel. So far, we have seen a number of miraculous healings and a couple of people gave their heart to Jesus. It has been great, and we are just getting started. There have been some challenges of course, but for the most part, we are all systems go and not looking back. We are increasingly assured that this year will see the Glory of God go forth in New Zealand. We believe that God has given us the promise of seeing 100,000 souls reached for the Kingdom in Christchurch alone, and from there a ripple effect of transformation sweeping across the nation of New Zealand and the nations of the earth.

We love you all so much, and are so thankful for all of our friends and family who love us and stand with us in all that we are doing. Thank you for being you. God loves you and has wonderful things for your lives. We look forward to getting to walk together in reaping a great harvest in the nations for years to come. Please contact us and communicate. We will be having a newsletter come out soon.

If you remember to pray for us, we would greatly appreciate it. We are still getting through all of the rough bumps of transition even while we are moving forward with vision.Pay for grace for Laura and I. Pray for grace for our team relationships. Pray that the Spirit of God would be poured out in the City of Christchurch with mighty signs and wonders, so that lives and families would be restored to the highest level of life. Pray for divine partnerships with leaders, and that we would have favor in everything that we do.

We also still need financial provision for this year. I am not able to work as in past years, so we are believing God to hook us up with strategic partnerships to enable us to give ourselves fully to the work that is before us. If you would like to partner with us, we would greatly appreciate it. We still need about $28,000 for our living expenses this year. You can email us at blake.henderson@ymail.com if you want to partner with us, or just to connect. We would love to hear from you.

God bless you all. Love Blake and Laura

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