More Background on our journey to New Zealand

Three or four years ago, I sat at a table in Fort Collins with the pastors of the recently formed Front Range Network. Ashley Denton had been in New Zealand for over a year getting Young Life started in Christchurch. The Lord had put it on his heart that New Zealand desperately needed good solid churches in order for Young Life to prosper. Little did I know at the time that the Lord had planted a seed in my heart, the desire to move to New Zealand and possibly plant a church. Then last October, Len Sunukjian from the Missionary Church came to Colorado to take the pastors of the Front Range Network through Focus Leadership Training. The goal of this training was to help us understand our "fast ball" for ministry - what God had wired us for in ministry. Len had us post all the events of our life on a large poster board, and after looking at these events and praying about them, he had us compose a Purpose Statement and Vision. It was evident from my life and the life of my family (Suzy in particular) that swimming was at the heart of our lives. So our short term vision was to reach families in the swimming community (WHS and FAST), and our long term goal was to move to an area near the ocean where swimming and watersports were the predominant way of life. At the top of that list was NEW ZEALAND! And so we head for Auckland on Friday August 1st....