16/11/2020
Hello again. I thought I would expand a little on how this new phase came about. (notice I used phase not journey - I'm doing a new thing all round!!)
Last week Monday and Tuesday were pretty ordinary. I was feeling lonely, worried (money evaporates apparently! who knew?!? It must because my pay-out is evaporating) The caravan parks are all filled with people who want to escape, from anywhere! I was running out of options.
I called my mentor who is also a good friend and happens to be 2nd in charge of Sports Chaplaincy Australia, and invited myself to have coffee. This was Wednesday. During coffee he casually dropped in to the conversation; "I've been thinking I should ask you if you would consider establishing a self funded ministry helping us to expand Sports Chaplaincy in the North West Sydney area. SCA has this new plan to divide up the country into manageable zones and regions and hubs and we need people to come on board and make it happen. What do you think?"
Well Chaplaincy is my happy place. It must be because as we spoke Steve stopped me and said my whole demeanour changed and I was happy!
I said I would pray about it and ask some people I trust to pray about it. (That's all of you who are reading this because I put a post up on FB and asked you all.) Well that was the start of what has been 6 days of what can only be God! I have had people that I haven't spoken to in 6 months and aren't on FB call and tell me that God put me on their heart and they have been praying and want to encourage me and when I tell them about what is starting, They are all on board and fully supportive and please send me the brochures and information. (This is a bit difficult as it is such a new thing that there aren't any yet. If this is your skill set, please PM me)
I have had Church sermons from 2 separate churches in 2 continents with all the bible verses God has had me focus on over the last few weeks and then the Pastor, literally says: " I don't know who this is for but God says......" and it is a message affirming that God is calling me to do this thing. And even HOW to go about it. I prayed on Friday morning as I was moving out of the caravan park that is now full till after Christmas, "So God, what does it look like to fully Trust you? How will I know that I am? " I do my few jobs for dad (and there is a separate message that God throws in there, but that's another aspect of my life) and go inside to check if anyone had responded to my post and the first thing I see is a post another friend put up from another state, that basically says : Do NOTHING OTHER THAN BREATH!!" "Oh and by the way I really want some time alone with you just you and me, where you won't be distracted and won't wander off so we can talk - Love God."
SO I contact the last van park on the Central Coast, (and possibly the, to me scariest) and what do you know? They have a spot and I can be here till at least Christmas. SO I think, I better take this as my options are running out and God wants some lone time and if I'm scared, I won't go out of my van and so here I go. Hook up the van and drive up the coast to this park. I no sooner leave my dad's place and another friend who I haven't spoken to in months calls says, "You've been on my heart lately and I thought I would call and catch up!"
We speak all the way to the park. He is fully on board and supportive and wants brochures and info. No time to be scared and I don't feel lonely now.
I get to the van park and its not as bad as I imagined. I set up my van and just before I do the last few things, another friend calls who I haven't spoken to in 6 months and says, Mate you've been on my heart and I thought I would call and see how you are. Yep, he's on board and the works. I'm not meaning any disrespect here to any of these call or the people who made them, but my aim is to give God all the credit here that He and only He could pull all these threads together to affirm and message and direction He is calling me to. A few minutes later there is a message from him to listen to this speaker and his message from 2 days ago, and yep, God saying basically Matthew, all that stuff we have been wrestling over for the past while, well this is how and why it all comes together. SO , ARE YOU ON Board?"
I am leaving quite a few messages, calls, devotions, chapters of books and other affirmations out because most of you have probably fallen asleep already, but I hope you get the point. This is not me, This is God.
God cares about His Creation. We/us/ His creation, need help. We are struggling. Many don't know who God is. Many are making poor choices and suffering consequences and the local sport team or club is the new place they find their community. Sports Clubs and Teams do Sport, some of them really well. They DON"T do Pastoral Care that much. Therefore they need Chaplains.
As I said there is heaps more. And I am happy to share it all with you. But the bottom line is:
1. I need supporters that will pray for me or think happy thoughts or call and check on me from time to time.
2. I need to raise around $50,000 pa for 2 days a week. I would really like to aim for $70,000 and do a few more days. All donations are tax deductible so that helps us both.
3. I need clever people to help. I suck at admin. I do people stuff well. I don't do creative all that good. I need an accountant (Alison). All these people can make brochures, make sure I don't waste money, sort out websites and FB and blogs and Newsletters and stuff. Simple really but could have a profound effect on our communities and the culture in Australia. So there you go. Love you. Thank You. Bless you.
