Oahu is my field.

(Forgive me for the time-gap of lack-of-upkeep of this blog. For those curiouse about the past few years, there are a handful of quarterly update newsletters available. Otherwise, here we are, more stories and pics to come, as for now see what's been happening below!)

I am a fulltime missionary. 

Oahu is my field. 

Developer and overseer of the Community Impact department at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Honolulu, (April 2016 to present).

A focused initiative within YWAM Honolulu coordinating outreach to the island of Oahu with the love of Jesus.

A vision and passion for true aloha, the life-bringing service of love, peace, and compassion. Active investments. Our staff and students participate routinely in local community outreaches alongside our growing relationships within the island community churches, schools, and social-work systems. Building a network of partnerships, pioneering efforts, and involvement with events happening on Oahu in all spheres of society. Seeing fruit in collaboration, the body of Christ uniting, being an active witness. Also hosting teams on our campus, corrdinator sustainable room and board on our campus, and connecting these groups with ministry opportunities around the island of Oahu. Multiplication through sharing, hosting waves impacting the community, reaching Oahu.

*Are you a team looking for accomidations and/or ministry opportunities on the island of Oahu?
*Are you a need within a church, school, social-work system, or event on Oahu?

community@ywamhonolulu.com

The YWAM Honolulu campus is located strategically on the greatest populated Hawaiian Island named Oahu (which fittingly means "the gathering place"). We have a diverse home with dense urban settings, small towns claiming origins of the surf-culture world, booming tourist industry areas, a large growing arts district, and a mesh of cultures and belief systems allover. People from allover the world are drawn to this unique Hawaiian island for many reasons. Our desire is that on this rock all would find the life-giving truth of Jesus!

Recap YWAM Honolulu Community Impact
(September 2016 - December 2016)

weekly outreach;

Calvary Chapel of Honolulu campus service projects

Manoa Valley Church school children's chapel

River of Life homeless rehab

Senior Residence at Iwilei computer classes

Surfing the Nations Feeding the Hungry food distribution

events;

Streams of Life Senior Luncheon 9/17

Blue Water church Retreat 9/16 - 9/18

Pau Violence men's march 10/13

Kahalu'u community center Trunk or Treat 10/28

University Baptist church Trunk or Treat 10/29

Stevenson Middle Halloween school outreach 10/28

Explicit Movement Sexual Tension University of Hawaii 10/21

Ywam Honolulu Community Worship event 10/18

Operation Christmas Child shoebox windward collection center 10/20

church attendance/involvement;

Blue Water

C4

Calvary Chapel of Honolulu

Manoa Valley Church

New Hope Town

Streams of Life

University Avenue Baptist

Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy

The ends of the earth

The ends of the earth...

...

...

Recently returned from an amazing adventure and the close of a season, and it's a challenge and a motivation (to myself) to recap. A few pics and descriptions, and the rest of it discoverable for some, a mystery for most (and I'm ok with that). Inevitably bits and pieces will surface with time, a season overseas that became part of who I am. Laughter, tears, love, and fear, here's what's just happened...

For the past ~3months I've been with a team of 7 students and 1 co-leader on outreach throughout Asia Pacific with a YWAM Honolulu Discipleship training School. The Spirit of God is alive and moving in the nations. My team spent 1 month in Bali Indonesia, then went off the grid for 1 and a 1/2 months in Papua New Guinea. To top it all off, we had a bonus few days spent in Manila due to a surprise flight change on our way home (a God given divine glimpse and confirmation of a longstanding heart pull for the Philippines!).  

Team Indo/PNG. Graduation 6/21/15.

BALI, a Hindu island in the most populated Islamic nation on earth, a very interesting spiritual atmosphere. There we partnered with YWAM work already established. There is a group of ywamers on ground there, mostly local and some foreign, who are doing incredible things within the community. We came alongside them weekly;

-teaching English in slums

-Prison visits

-visits to safehouse for sex trafficked children

-night street outreach to prostitutes

-soccer ministries

-orphanage help

-beach evangelistic events, and much more.

Humbling and an honor to do life alongside these. Many who have counted the cost of following Jesus in the face of persecution, and sacrifice. Worship and prayer meetings in public and secret that will be forever remembered. Their stories of conversion at the introduction of Jesus through dreams and visions proven true by the amazing fruit produced. These brothers and sisters, so bold and passionate about Jesus, and so welcoming to us in sharing with them in building of the kingdom of God.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA, a diverse tribal nation with much variety, over 800 languages, and a nation motto "the land of the unexpected", and that it was. This pioneer heart of mine thrived, stretched, blessed. We saw God show up and lead the way, every day. Our time was spent in the port cities of Lea and Moresby, the Highlands, and in villages off the map. God given divine bridge of contacts who fully received us and helped us along. YWAM has a growing presence in this nation with several bases, all of which we were able to touch and network with to different degrees. YWAM PNG is a whole another breed of strong, loving, and devoted believers. They are seeing favor and access within all spheres of this nation. Amidst much beauty, there are many things that make PNG a place to go with caution. PNG holds a history of high corruption, tribal wars, idol worship and witchcraft. The norms; domestic violence, gangs, polygamy, black magic, limited education, some of the lowest standard of healthcare in the world, and hardest of trekking terrain.

"Open Airs", something we became quickly acquainted with and saw quickly accumulate. A ministry style showing great effect in PNG. We came upon these evangelical outreach opportunities through connections set with contacts, and by random spontaneous asks. An unending invitation list to platforms such as schools of all levels, outdoor markets, factories, settlements, churches, and villages. Crowds of hundred and even thousands. We averaged about 3 a day. Many times physically and emotionally drained, but absolutely alive with every valued moment. So many salvations, healings, baptisms, baby dedications, more then we could count! We also had the chance to go into the prison system, and into a hospital, and share the love and power of Jesus! As well, to some degrees we were able to come alongside local YWAM training schools, interact with staff and students, and even teach some of our dances and skits. There is an open door for release of heaven and acceptance of the God of the Bible in this nation of PNG. The harvest is huge! (Matt 9:37-38) 

(I could tell of the time when PNG drug sellers took up an offering for my teams bus fair, or the exact moment when one of my students professed belief that God speaks, or the time we were caught in a police and thief crossfire in the jungle while protecting a half dozen barefoot PNG children, or all of our experiences driving across the highlands highway, or when we climbed a mountain with hiking back packs bigger then us in a lighting storm, or when we sat on a prison dorm room floor for hours with dozens of PNG women primarily doing time for murder. So many things I could tell of... Here's just one story of how amazing God is...)

Story of the Rock Idols

I had a dream ~13yrs ago when I was a student in YWAM LA, a dream of newspapers scrolling before me and one coming into view that said "Papua New Guinea" with two vivid small stacked rock idols.

Beginning of this yr when I was asked where I felt led to lead a team I remembered this dream and was released to pioneer a new outreach location there, which is an incredible story within itself. However it was not until the night before our last day of ministry in PNG that this dream in it's entirety came.

I was informed of a village we were invited to go to the following day (which would be our last day in PNG) who had for generations worshiped some sort of idols that tormented their people. In recent months this village had called in many different religious leaders of all sorts to cast out the death that these idols caused on their village. There was said to be strong powers and black magic in these idols, and that anyone that had came against it died in accidents directly after interaction with these idol gods, and that nothing had prosper for the people of this village for generations, the people were terrified of these idols. This village had heard of YWAM from interaction of previous teams over time passing by. They asked us if we were willing to come and take the idols.

The whole village gathered on a sunny afternoon in there center gathering area. Alongside two other YWAM teams (from New Zealand, and Australia) which just so happened to be doing outreach in the same area of Mount Hagen (God's divine orchestration) we joined together in presenting the gospel through skits, dance, testimonies, and a message from the Bible.

 

Then I stepped forward to wrap up our time, tell of my dream, and pray for deliverance.

 

At that very moment a thick mist rolled in covered the village, everything was silent and a bit eerie but beautiful and extraordinarily breathtaking at the same time. A remarkable weather change, and the rain came. Slight panic broke out amongst the village people, I could feel and see a great fear. Somehow everything inside of me knew this was God's tangible presence manifested, and declared it. They stayed, a few ran to grab umbrellas but returned quickly. I told them that there is one true God over all, and He causes the rain. That the rain cleanses, and brings new life. They listened. I read out Isaiah 61:1-4, what the prophets, and Jesus spoke out, and declared it.

Then the old men, chief and elders of the village, with tears and rain pouring down their faces, brought a large rice sack and poured out the rocks in the center of the circle, the idols. The exact shaped and colored rocks that had been in my dream ~13yrs prior. Words can't describe what i felt that very moment. We led the village in prayers of repentance for all the worship and blood sacrifices made to these rocks for generations. We prayed for the invitation of the Holy Spirit of the one true God to come and take over. We cast out demons in Jesus name, we poured oil over these rocks, and with handfuls of oil anointed every person of the village, representation of the new covering. That whole village chose Jesus as their Lord that day, healing broke out. We saw the lame walk, and blind eyes see. I can confidently say that what was greater then any supernatural event of weather patterns or even physical healing that happened that day, was the freedom of dozens of souls into the family of God -an impact for eternity. The kingdom of God advanced. We drove away with that bag of rocks, taken to be smashed and scattered. Our YWAM PNG brothers and sisters near by, will be continuing followup and the road of discipleship with this village. I know that IF not again in this lifetime, I'll be seeing that village in heaven. All glory to God! 

PNG

BALI

Dream and believe. God is alive and moving in Bali, and Papua New Guinea, and in Honolulu! With a blank canvas in front of me, I'm dreaming and seeking for what's next. For now I continue on at YWAM Honolulu as operational base staff for these summer months coming alongside our Hospitality Guest House and Housing department, and stewarding my roots in Honolulu.

Thanks for your support, prayers are greatly appreciated, and financial partnership makes this kind of world impact possible!  (see the sidebar, or contact me directly, for more info)

Where we go and what we do.

*Acts 1:8

*Matthew 10:7-8

life-giving

The days of this season are drained from being well spent.  All this pouring out convinces me all the more of the existence of supernatural energy (Holy Spirit defying laws of human logic).  Living for a higher calling, fulfillment, welcome to the good life.  All this made possible by the one and only, the resurrected, -Jesus:)  2015 marks the beginning of a new life-giving era in this life of mine.  After 3 and a 1/2 years of running the YWAM Honolulu Hospitality Guest House, a drastic transition has occurred.  As of the beginning of January 2015 I have officially joined on as a YWAM Honolulu DTS (discipleship training school) staff!

"To know God, and make Him known." ~YWAM

The YWAM Honolulu DTS is a 6month program; our first 3 months are held at the YWAM Honolulu campus "lecture phase", our last 3 months held throughout Asia Pacific "outreach phase". Then, repeat on an overlapping rotation.

I am excited for this new life journey of discipling, and going out into the nations.

Here at YWAM Honolulu we are currently in the midst of the lecture phase.  Each week a different topic is taught by a guest speaker.  Along with weekly ~15hrs in the classroom, we participate in our campus corporate times of worship, intercession, work duties (assisting our operational departments on campus), community outreach, and evangelism outreach around the island-community of Oahu.  As staff we are also responsible for student one-on-one mentorship, leading small groups, grading homework, leading different activities throughout the week, including leading the local outreaches (-we are serving at; Chinatown River of Life center for the homeless, Kalihi elementary school tutoring, Manoa Valley church after school program, Waikiki homeless evangelism, and Chinatown street evangelism).  As well as all this, some of the DTS staff (including yours truly!) who will be leading the student teams overseas, are planning the upcoming "outreach phase", for some locations this means starting from the ground up.  Responsibilities, trusting and seeing God's goodness!

(On a side note; I continue on as the worship ministry co-lead at my home church New Hope Town. Also, I continue on ~5hrs per weekend at a local hospital as a M.A. for a little income and stewardship of medical skills.  These things + everything from the paragraph previous = a full plate. By God's grace I am enjoying it all!)

~Personal Prayer Requests~

*Increase of ABILTY ushering God's presence leading worship on multiple platforms. (vocals/guitar/keys, plugged-in leading ~12hrs weekly, multiple bands and often solo, with many additional hrs of practices and spontaneous acoustic sessions).  Loving doing what I love, desiring to steward this well.


*Increase of UNITY, growth, and breakthrough, within this January 2015 YWAM Honolulu DTS.  Including a select team of 8 students and 1 co-leader who I will be traveling with through Asia Pacific for several months come the beginning of April.  That God would direct us even now, and that we would love well.


*Increase of SUPPORT; prayer and financially.  
      ><> Prayer covering over this life being lived out on the front-lines as a full time missionary. Committed spiritual intercessors for protection and ministry release. 
     $ Resources for upcoming travels (please consider if you are willing/able to partner in any way, for any amount).  I will be generating an intentional support-raising newsletter with more details within the next several weeks, please let me know if you would like to receive (email or hard-copy). 

THANK YOU, GOD BLESS!

Community outreach, Chinatown, Oahu

In the streets, Chinatown

The team, oh the adventures that will be, Oahu and beyond

In the mountains, outreach prep, Manoa Valley

Team outing, sharing the beauty, Hawaii Kai

Sunshine and Hurricanes

*Last week's view during a YWAM Honolulu summer-staff hike on our island Oahu, home sweet home! 

Summertime in Hawaii, on the most isolated and populated chain of rocks on earth.  The only state that grows coffee, along with being 1/3 of the world's pineapple supplier.  Historical landmark in the forcast (8/8/14), hurricanes and tropical storms on the horizon, the sky darkened and news websites possibly got more traffic then facebook (...possibly).  For many, all the excitement somehow jaded by previouse natural disasters crying wolf.  Yet an underlying understanding of the first sentence of this paragraph.  So, we fill up a few extra gallons of water, close our windows and doors, and wait and watch from a valley in the hills here at Ywam Honolulu.  Knowing the first island in the chain, the Big Island, was our buffer.

....the day after; a few extra leaves on the ground here on the island of Oahu.  Yet, as for the Big Island, there is a contrasting story.  Noticeable damage, even now more then a month later, electricity out, trees blocking roads, flooding, homes ruined.

Disaster releife on one island and a booming tourist destination vacation industry barely blinking an eye on the next island over.  Puna vs. Waikiki, welcome to the Hawaiian islands.  Varying in geography, ethnicity, and cards delt.  Yet in light of all that, all still in need.  One would have to ask the question which is better off; much less or much more?  Whether a hurrican victim in Puna or a tourist in Waikiki, these are people passing through this thing called life, slowly dieing. -The bad news:( The bondage of death.  Searching and struggling.  The struggle of humanity's deepest needs threads through every extreme and in between.  There are miserable rich and poor.  But there is good news:) -Freedom found in truth, Jesus beat death. Strength found in Jesus Christ!  Do you beleive it? share it!

* * * * * * *

Ywam (Youth With A Mission)
One of the largest separate-entitied networked worldwide Christian para-church non-profit mission organizations.  Specializing in training, short and long term outreach, partnering, pioneering, and limitless creativity.

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Honolulu (Oahu)
The capitol, the largest city in the Hawaiian islands, a seaport on the island of Oahu.

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Ywam Honolulu (Youth With A Mission Oahu)

A family-style-community of people who love Jesus and are all about sharing His love with the world.  A 3 acre property in the Manoa valley where an average of 100 people do life together for the Kingdom come. A place where God is sought, His ways are taught, and desired to be lived and multiplied out.  This "base" or "campus" (one out of hundreds around the world) focuses on running multiple Discipleship schools, and additional advance schools in Biblical studies, and Missions & Evangelism. Ywam Honolulu's outreaches primarily focus on Asai Pacific, and to the people on the island of Oahu.  A place where countless short and longterm missionaries  have resided, and have passed through, over the past 3 decades. A place I have called home for the past 3 years.

* * * * * * *

This summer 2014 quarter has been by far a unique quarter out of all the quarters that have happened over the past 3 years of my full-time voulunteer staffing as; the Hospitality Guest House manager, one of the Worship leaders, and one of the local Community Outreach point persons.  For the past several months we have not been running any training schools.  Minus a week debrief for our Spring quarter English DTS students who returned mid August from outreach (so proud of them!).

Some of our recently graduated students, during a local community outreach I led weekly in Chinatown Oahu during their lecture phase, prior to their last couple months in South East Asia.

This summer 2014 we've been running with limited operation staff, keeping connections with local community outreaches, and preparing for the future.  Much investments have been made on our structures; physically, and as a family unit.  To some degree we've all become construction workers, along with thoroughly enjoying our weekly summer mandatory "family fun nights" and staff outings*.  God has brought our buildings and hearts to new places, the stage is set for a new thing.  We have great anticipation for our upcoming fall quarter.  In a few weeks ~45 human beings from around the world will be moving into our dorms, living rooms, and closets.   We will be running an English Discipleship Training School and a Chronological School of Biblical Studies.  Looking forward to the new life and transformations to come.  Nothing is better then aligning our hearts with God's will (-it's that freedom mentioned in the third paragraph of this blog).  I'll be getting the privilege in hosting speakers for the schools, missionaries, and others passing though the Ywam Honolulu Guest House.  I also will be coming alongside one or two students who will be working two afternoons each week in the Guest House as part of their curriculum.  Also, I am really looking forward to leading worship music (voice, guitar, piano, cahone) multiple times weekly for our corporate times of worship, prayer, and ministry in our famous "Tin Cathedral",  while championing others to do the same!

Join v. 1 to connect; unite 2  become a part or a member (of) ~Webster's New World

Join in prayer... as we start this new exciting season at Ywam Honolulu.  (Fall staff training begins 9/14/14, students arrive in the week following!)

Join in coming... to our missions night services "Launch" in Ywam Honolulu's Tin Cathedral.  (See details at www.ywamhonolulu.com!)

Join in partnering... with me financially.  I am a missionary, living off support and a small supplemental income from a local Hospital job ~5hrs a wk.  Blessed to be a full-time volunteer at YWAM Honolulu, a nonprofit able to distribute tax-deductable receipts and who graciously processes my support with a 0% cut (minus a small take by credit card companies when processing withdraws).  Any personal questions for me regarding this -email me directly at hospitality@ywamhonolulu.com.  Financial support; one time, automatic repetition, or even anonymous monetary gifts can be set up through the YWAM Honolulu accounting office at manoaaccounting@ywamhonolulu.com or by calling their direct line #808-988-1694.  (Also, see options on this blog's sidebar!)



Thank you for taking time to read my blog:)  I pray you live in the freedom; the victory of Jesus Christ, the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and the blessings of the goodness of God! ~Christina Gray

half past 2014

My 2014 has been....  Countless hours of singing in microphones while switching between guitar, keys, and drum-boxes, on stages almost every other day.  Chauffeuring addicts from the street, with my '92 Honda held together with prayer and duct tape, to the front doors of rehabs.  Resting my head in the middle of a high-class neighborhood, on a "vintage" once-upon-a-time army base, postcard beaches minutes away, and mountain jungles for a backyard.  My race and language the minority in my household of 100+ on a cozy shy-of 3 acres.  Somehow balancing part hippy, part rockstar, part nurse.  I couldn't even start to make this up, loving God and this life.

Tests
Considering over the years those little tests that have be taken, and sometimes repeated in new seasons.  On this life path of mine these have become of great value.  To not be misunderstood, AND to not misunderstand.  To have awareness of the gift mix with-in, AND around.  A key to ministry, AND community living, AND people.

a glimpse at me...

{For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:10}

{As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. ~I Peter 4:10}

Myers Brigg- the Executive

top Spiritual Gift- Discernment 

June has arrived, 2014 is half past, and I'm once again surprised by the flying time. As well, we are more then half past the lecture-phase of our spring quarter here at YWAM Honolulu.  Transformation has been in full swing, students learning who God is and who they have been created to be.  Starting to now ready themselves for an upcoming several month mission to various locations around Asia Pacific, commissioning out around the end of June.  As for the operational staff, including yours truly, we continue on.  Turning schools, like turning rooms in the Hospitality Guest House  (which has been my constant managing position over the past 3yrs, which =11 quarters, wow!).  School and Guest House similarities of heartfelt preparing, tending to, and cleaning up after, all for the sake of God' kingdom come.  Countless lives I've seen pass through these missionary training schools, and these guest house rooms (-where our training school speakers, frontline missionaries, and family and friends are hosted), blessed. Couldn't start to recount all the faces and stories of the kingdom of heaven advancing through this place.  Not just a well oiled machine, we're a loving family! The body of Christ in action.  

a glimpse at some revamping done in area's of my oversight...

{Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ~Galations 6:9}

Hospitality Guest House living room' new flat ceiling, and white paint!

Hospitality Guest House' furniture sanded down and stained dark walnut!
Plus kitchen/dinning area painted stone-gray!

New window in the YWAM Honolulu Prayer Room!

Another window enlarged in the YWAM Honolulu Prayer Room!

YWAM Honolulu Prayer Room' new chair-stools, curtains, and decor!

~Please take a moment and pray!

~PERSONAL PRAYER REQUESTS~

• Prioritizing time, allotting for simply being still and enjoying God's presence, and for needed rest.

• Continued establishment of relationships, and for desired mentorship figures, at New Hope Town church.

• Supernatural breakthrough in Oahu Chinatown during outreach to the homeless, every Friday 6pm-8pm. For boldness in loving, effectiveness in evangelizing, and protection for my team.

• Financial stewardship, and an increase of financial supporters. *wish list; short-term overseas mission trip(s), to upgrade musical instruments- keyboard (using YWAM Honolulu's Technics P50 with a half-broken sustain pedal), and guitar (using an acoustic plugin Alvarez obtained pre-used over a decade ago).