Category Archives: How to make true friends and change the world

How to make friends and change the world Week 1

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Hey our friend

We hope you had a great week. Ours started along with our San Francisco summer which is mostly in April and May and September and October. Through the good weather we were able to reach out to the people in the park as well. We also have 2 new people working with us at the boys and girls club which is amazing. One girl is from Germany and the other one from Columbia. Please keep them in your prayers over this season.

Lets change the world

For the next few weeks we will share with you a bit about how you can be a part of changing the world. When Jesus gave us the great commission He didn’t just give it to his disciples but to every Christian that lived from then till today. So bear with us over the next few weeks to get you equipped and ready to influence your circles. And also please share the link to the blog on your facebook (or other social networks), email and with other Christians you know. We feel that God really wants to use those posts over the next weeks to empower people for the great commision.

Week 1 Prayer and who are the people

When you are thinking about the ministry Jesus did and how he reached the people you will find 2 great patterns.

First he reached the people that were close to him. If you look at the people who he had the most impact on you find out that these were the people that lived with him on a daily base, his disciples. Jesus was all about an intentional community. So when you start praying about the people God has for you, start where you live. Think about 6 neighbors (I put down the number 6 since it is a great number to host in a living room without having it too crowded but also create a openness) that are living right next to you. After you found those people start praying for them. But one thing that is really important in that, ask God to give you His heart for them. NEVER SEE THEM AS A PROJECT AND NEVER APPROACH THEM LIKE A PROJECT!!! Instead go up to them with a genuine heart and mindset to truly get to know them and become friends with them. Don’t just make it your only agenda to get them to church. But in the same way don’t make it a secret that you love Jesus, just bring it in the right timing. People want to know how much you care before they trust you.

Second Jesus prayed. Jesus spent lots of time in Prayer with His father to understand what He wanted to do as well as understand how he could do that. He spent 40 days in the desert to fast and spend time with his Father. How much time do we spend in Prayer before we go out to do ministry, work, groups, sports etc? I I think many times we are more about doing hands on ministry instead of spending time in Prayer. But I believe a ministry that has no prayer foundation will have a hard time lasting. So before you do any ministry, spend at least 40 days in Prayer for the people God puts on your heart to reach. A few things are happening then. You get a deeper heart for these new friends and deeper inside into there lives. You get more compassion and love for them. And you lay a foundation for God to move in a deeper way in their lives. So don’t neglect the importance of Prayer. And trust me it can be a bit hard at the beginning spending a long time in Prayer but as more you are fine-tuned to Gods voice you have a hard time stopping.

So start the challenge of week 1 with one other Christian either your wife or husband or a friend who lives really close to you and start praying for the new friends that God wants you to reach.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen

Are you using the influence given to You

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Hey our friend

Last week was one of those weeks were you just say at the end Thank you God for being so amazing. Jen and I were teaching our Mission Adventure students last week on the topic all in and all out. We talked about relationship with God and how important it is to share it with others. It was awesome to see how God used those times to challenge and encourage the students. On the last day we had them nail all the things on a cross that were holding them away from how god sees them and as well how he wants to use them, like fear, low self-esteem etc. God brought some new freedom to the students, which is amazing. And then God ministered to all the YWAM Staff as well. We had a team from Bethel in Redding here that prayed over each of the staff. Jen and I felt so encouraged and re strengthened. Our father always knows exactly what we need. We also saw one of the people we work with taking one more step towards Jesus which is amazing. Please keep us in your prayers in this week. Your prayers mean a lot to us. Thank you!!

Are you using the influence given to You

I think many times we are asking God for more influence and greater things. But the question should be, God am I using the influence you have given me to the fullest? God all placed us in places of influence. Let me give you an example. Every time I go to the downtown location of YWAM we walk through 5 different neighborhoods. Every time I walk through I start praying and asking God to fill those places with his presence and to touch people with his love. When I see a cop car I usually pray for safety over those officers and also pray for honesty. When we do ministry in the coffee shop we pray for God’s presence over the coffee shop, the same with all the other places we do ministry at. We also pray every morning for the people that live in our building and the neighbors around us. One of the giftings God gave me is encouragement, so I use it to encourage people all over the place. It can be on Facebook, busses, while walking to a place. I still feel that I’m just at the beginning and that there is so much more God has given me influence in. Bu it’s a start.  I want to encourage you to pray and use the influence God has given you for his Glory. Ask Him how to use the giftings he gave you on a daily base. It will change places and will bring more of Gods Kingdom to this earth.

Have a blessed week

Markus and Jen