Trust Fall.

Five Weeks in...


The DTS has been going for 5 weeks now. I can hardly believe that so much time has gone by already. But isn't that always the case? I have never felt at any point that time seems to go at normal pace. It is either very slowly moving, or moving at an unusually fast pace... But I digress.

The students are so hungry. I have never seen anything like this before. For the first time in a while, I feel the least responsible for the work that the Lord is doing in these students lives. It is super humbling, but it is a supernatural thing. The Lord is doing what He wants to. The Holy Spirit is ministering to hearts. Yes, I believe He uses us to help, and He is looking for those who are desiring to be obedient. However, When someone is hungry, it becomes less about who is walking with them, and more about the one who is living inside of them. What I am learning is that I am utterly not in control of anything. Does that make sense? It sounds weird. But when He says we can trust Him... We can.

I want to promote the idea of a "trust-fall" with the Holy Spirit. Do you know what a "trust-fall" is? The first time someone told me about it, it made me uncomfortable. Its where you stand with your back towards someone, and you fall straight back. The person behind you is responsible for making sure you don't crack your skull on the ground. You can imagine the hesitation in trusting just anyone to save your skull. I don't do this very often...


A "trust-fall" is a faith stretcher practice. Yes. Trust fall. Let me explain further...
I am walking down the street with a student, and we come across this lady who is obviously a little strung out. We get caught up in a conversation and she explains with complete apathy the misfortune of her life. It breaks my heart to hear her talk about her failed attempts of suicide and her need to defend herself when we ask her about the Lord. Our conversation goes almost nowhere when I decide to interject a little more boldly. "Do you believe that God can change your life?" after a few excuses she lets me pray for her.
I start to think God, do it. Do something. I pray out loud for the Lord to minister to her. I felt to go for big prayers "Jesus, manifest yourself to this lady in her room. Show her who you are."
After praying. She thanked us. No noticeable change. Then we went on our way...

I have no idea if Jesus literally walked into her room that night, or if she was caught up in an angelic visitation and delivered from demonic oppression. But I trust the Holy Spirit to do what He will. He is more capable... He loves better than I do.

AWAKEN...Video update!

This is an update from my heart on what is happening with the Summer AWAKEN DTS. It is sincere, but also entirely amateur. Why the music choice? I have no idea. Literally. I hope you find it insightful.

Enjoy. 

From Europe to the Rock.

Aloha!

The long-awaited update is finally here! I don't know how long awaited this blog actually is, I just realize it has been far too long since my last one. After not posting for over three weeks, I could feel the itch in my fingers to share with you about life and the move of God on the Kona campus and what we, as AWAKEN staff are anticipating for the future. 

The trip to Amsterdam was incredibly insightful. Since the last video update, we were able to learn so much from different ministry leaders and people who have invested their lives into the city. The Holy Spirit is moving on the hearts of people in Amsterdam, and hearts are being softened to the Lord. One example of this is the ministry of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle, or “the Tab” is a prayer house in the middle of the Red Light District that has been in operation for the last 3 years or so. Since they have been praying for the city and other initiatives, the city of Amsterdam has closed 1/3rd of the windows that prostitutes advertise in. Needless to say, the Spirit of the living God is moving, and the hard ground is being cultivated.

This summer is proving to be one of change and more anticipation of the Spirit moving. I have been back on campus for a little under three weeks now, and what I feel God is doing in my own heart, and campus-wide is emphasizing that our identity is found in Him and Him alone. He is who defines us. Outside of Him there is only works and a constant searching for worth in a title or position. Through His kindness, God invites us in as Sons and Daughters to show the world redemption and identity. I believe strongly that this is what He desires to do.

Prayer and Support!

Prayer points for staff and the DTS: That we would continue to live in knowing our identity and mentor these young men and women in their identity in Christ. Out of that mentorship, our desire is to see faith-filled students launched into missions and see change happen in the nations.

Also, finances is a huge need. If you desire to see a detailed description of my current need, check out my mission tab. Briefly, I am in need of 80% of my goal of $2,000 a month. I know this looks like a large amount, and I am totally trusting the Lord for the details. I have some amazing supporters who are keeping me in missions, but the need is on-going as my life for the foreseeable future will continue in missions.

Thank you for your interest in the life of a missionary! Many blessings!

First Video Update from Amsterdam!

An update from Erica, Haley ( & Andrew behind the camera) and me in Amsterdam!

First video update ever... Talking on community in Amsterdam, ministry in the city and encouragement to keep praying! Thanks to all you who support and follow us on our facebook and blogs! Blessings from the Netherlands :

Lekker

First few days in Amsterdam.

It has been an incredible time of taking in all the familiar sights, sounds, and smells (even the foul smell of a certain substance) while walking the streets of Amsterdam, the place I did my DTS in 2010.

Erica and I arrived right on schedule, and met up with Haley Austin and Jeremy Bardwell (which was a surprise to us) immediately when they landed. It was such an easy way to start our trip. Such grace and favor...

In being here for only a few days, I am growing aware of the gifts I have been given. How am I so blessed to know the Holy Spirit so intimately, and have amazing friends around me? I desire that Amsterdam would know these joys. The overwhelming, all-encompasing, and limitless love of the Father, that penetrates even the coldest heart when given access. And the rest that I find in friends who love me, yet love the Lord even more. This is the substance of a rich life. This is what dreams should look like in reality: being in a place, however dark, living in the reality of the Father's love, filled with the Holy Spirit, surrounded by friends, and reflecting that to a broken and hollow city with dreams built on self-satisfaction.

I desire that they would know you, God, the one who's heart breaks when over and over again is rejected for lesser things. I desire that they would know this love that brings me here, to show them a portion of the love you have shown me. I desire that their hearts would be filled to overflowing...

If you want to know more detailed progress of our journeys and days in Amsterdam, feel free to email me at eliyork@gmail.com. Our needs at this point in our trip continue to be prayer covering-prayer into future vision, a clear direction from the Lord and protection in the city, and financial support. 

For the four of us, our cost for housing is going to be roughly $500 for our stay in Amsterdam and then another $1,000 for extra costs including, bus fare, food, and our travels to London. We will be staying with friends in London, so that will give us a break with housing costs. I believe the Lord will provide for our needs, and if you feel led to join us in this faith journey through financial giving, please let me know! 

Thank you for your prayers and support! 

Enduring to overcome. Living in biblical realities.

The AWAKEN Road Trip trip officially ended April 12th, 2011 When Andrew jetted off to Korea and the five of us were left in Cali. We enjoyed our last few days together before Erica and I took off with the van to Colorado, and the guys, Matt and Chris along with Haley stayed in California with different purposes until we meet up again in Kona...

The trip was incredible. To succinctly describe the crew I traveled with: We are a group of staff from Kona who have learned a lot about living in community and were able to taste of the fruits of a community centered around the presence of the Lord learning to grow in the first two commandments: Loving the Lord and each other well...

This road trip was an effort to expand our view of community, what the Lord is doing in the church in the United States, and being available for the Holy Spirit to use us to minister when we felt led. We started in Boston and made our way to L.A. to finish the trip with a friend from the staff group, Daniel Stedman. All that we were able to experience and glean from was inspiring. 

Revival for the church is on the Lord's heart. And even more so than revival, the the Next Great Awakening. In my opinion and what I have learned from the trip, is that there is a shift happening in the spiritual atmosphere of the church. Believers that are truly following the Lord are  growing tired of a complacent body that has no power and are thirsty for a new move of the Holy Spirit . There are churches in the U.S. that are experiencing real miracles of biblical proportions . The times we are living in are growing dark, but those who's sole desire is for the Lord are growing brighter. When the world finally awakes, the ones who have endured, not settled for complacency, pushed through this current darkness will be the ones ministering to the crowds that come from the shaking that is beginning to happen. I am encouraged. I want to be ready...

In a week...

Andrew, Erica, Haley and I are traveling to Amsterdam. After learning so much about the power of community, we are exploring the city in search of a place to possibly plant community in the future. This is an exploration trip. We are hoping to meet with different pastors and ministers, gain perspective of the spiritual atmosphere of the city, and what the Holy Spirit is doing among other things... We are also going as a pre-trip for outreach that will happen with the DTS this Summer. The Summer DTS starts in July, and our school plans on taking a team to Amsterdam in the Fall. 

I pray that you are encouraged to keep running after the Lord in the season we are in. Don't lose heart and continue in love for Jesus. Please keep us in your prayers. If there is anything you have questions about, please write me! I am looking for people who desire to see Amsterdam lit up for Jesus, and if you desire to be a part, pray with me, and write me. :) 

Blessings.

Real Dreams. [Amsterdam]

Myself and part of the AWAKEN DTS family are still going strong on our perspectives tour across the states. We started at the beginning of February and will go until around the beginning of April. Currently, we are in Texas, attending Antioch church as well as visiting with a few different people and gatherings while we are here.

As you may know already, I have a heart for the city of Amsterdam. I was able to do my DTS in the city and witness the strongholds have defined this place. It continues to be an escape for many who have been given over to sexual perversion and drug use. I believe the Lord desires to raise up the church to change the course of Amsterdam’s future and define the city by the Holy Spirit instead of the depravity that has gripped many lives for too long...

How would I be apart of changing a city that has been gripped by the lure of sin for so long? I don’t know exactly what my role is in the city of Amsterdam, but I want to take some time this year before the AWAKEN DTS starts to go to Amsterdam and pray into a future there... With the amazing things the Lord has been revealing to our group about community, I have been dreaming about what a community, centered around the presence of God, focused on the first two loves- God and neighbor- would look like in Amsterdam- what would it change- who it would involve- what would happen to those strongholds in the midst of it... 

 I will give more information as the trip approaches. 

As for right now... I have my ticket going to Amsterdam on April 24, coming back to Kona on May 30!  So far, Erica Gustafson, and my brother Andrew are traveling with me on this journey as well. We are trusting the Lord for a lot. I have been blessed financially by some incredible people to be able to buy the ticket, but need around $2,000 more in order to meet the mark for our estimated expenses. 

I am thrilled to be able to write about this. I pray that long-term vision will be cast in the coming weeks and that those who desire to see this place changed for the Kingdom would be led to join with us. We need prayer warriors, connections, financial support for the feet of this to set the pace... God is moving and I believe we will encounter God’s heart for his lost children as we go into deep darkness with the Light of the World.