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A quick update summary:
- In February God very clearly called us to Cambodia – then the door seemed to slam closed.
- Mollie successfully completed BBSM Third Year as we left for the UK we continued to navigate lots of uncertainty and a really uncomfortable transition with our family not knowing what was next.
- We welcomed our beautiful daughter Abigail into the world she gives us so much Joy and is so loved!
- The Cambodia door miraculously re-opened again and Iris Global have asked us to help serve and co-direct the team out there.
- God seems to have confirmed He is calling us back out there in many ways including dreams and speaking through the children and some friends and mentors.
- We will continue the trafficking prevention work and programmes already happening but we also have a huge heart and vision to plant house churches in the slums and raise up local leaders who can raise up leaders after them transforming communities from the inside out.
- For the last couple of months Steve has been having some issues with his health including fatigue. We recently spoke to the doctor and she has referred him back to the neurosurgeon who operated on him in 2015. Please join us in praying for the all clear and for full healing in Jesus name.
- The roles in Cambodia are completely voluntary. We are currently about 70% funded on a monthly basis so far and are believing for full pledged provision before we go out there. Please Pray for us! If you would be interested in finding out more about how you can join in and partner with God's work out there click here.
Our Journey this Year
Final Year at Bethel ( BSSM)
Since our last update I (Mollie) have completed my third year of ministry school and have interned for an incredible couple ; Ruth & Steve Moore who oversee BSSM Online. I have had the privilege of learning how God is not limited by a screen and had an awesome year watching people be transformed by an online school. I had the chance to be involved in mentoring students from all around the world and walking some through inner-healing and freedom journeys. I have had the chance also to help lead a group ministering to the homeless camps and missionaries from around the world. It has been stretching but wonderful and I feel I have grown so much. Steve was able to do another year with Michael Brodeur who is one of the most incredible leaders in church leadership and planting and had the chance to also mentor students and oversee a church plant focused on women rescued from trafficking in the Philippines (via zoom).
Final Year at Bethel ( BSSM)
Since our last update I (Mollie) have completed my third year of ministry school and have interned for an incredible couple ; Ruth & Steve Moore who oversee BSSM Online. I have had the privilege of learning how God is not limited by a screen and had an awesome year watching people be transformed by an online school. I had the chance to be involved in mentoring students from all around the world and walking some through inner-healing and freedom journeys. I have had the chance also to help lead a group ministering to the homeless camps and missionaries from around the world. It has been stretching but wonderful and I feel I have grown so much. Steve was able to do another year with Michael Brodeur who is one of the most incredible leaders in church leadership and planting and had the chance to also mentor students and oversee a church plant focused on women rescued from trafficking in the Philippines (via zoom).
We have also had the joy of watching the children grow so much and see them develop into such caring and kind kids who are such big encouragers and who love Jesus! We are all so incredible grateful for our time at Bethel/ BSSM and want to thank everyone who has been part of it ! We have been forever impacted and changed by everything we have received and feel so much more equipped to step into the ministry God has for us next. We are excited to pour out all we have received and learned.
A gift from Heaven
In July we were delighted to welcome our daughter Abigail into our family. She has been such a joy to our hearts and is so loved and doted upon by her big brother and sister and the rest of her family, God is so wonderfully good.
In July we were delighted to welcome our daughter Abigail into our family. She has been such a joy to our hearts and is so loved and doted upon by her big brother and sister and the rest of her family, God is so wonderfully good.
A Renewed Call
Since leaving Cambodia 4 years ago we have dreamt of returning and knew in our hearts we would but every year we asked God we felt Him say “not yet”
In February this year during a worship meting I (Mollie) very clearly heard the Lord ask me, “Will you lay America down and pick up Cambodia again?” Through tears of grief and joy I said “yes” and then after a couple of days we were invited by the Iris Global leadership to go back to Cambodia to help serve the team there.
Around this time I was also reminded of a vision I had the previous year (before being pregnant) of having a little baby on my knee and travelling in a tuk-tuk (Cambodian taxi) with loads of suitcases - which to me seemed to mean we would be moving back once we had another baby.
Since leaving Cambodia 4 years ago we have dreamt of returning and knew in our hearts we would but every year we asked God we felt Him say “not yet”
In February this year during a worship meting I (Mollie) very clearly heard the Lord ask me, “Will you lay America down and pick up Cambodia again?” Through tears of grief and joy I said “yes” and then after a couple of days we were invited by the Iris Global leadership to go back to Cambodia to help serve the team there.
Around this time I was also reminded of a vision I had the previous year (before being pregnant) of having a little baby on my knee and travelling in a tuk-tuk (Cambodian taxi) with loads of suitcases - which to me seemed to mean we would be moving back once we had another baby.
We were already a few months pregnant in February and we began to get filled with joy and excitement for a return to the nation that is so dear to our hearts.
Then in March the door seemed to very firmly slam shut, and we were pretty shocked and disappointed. Through events that we couldn’t control on the ground in Cambodia our return was seemingly blocked, and we both were heartbroken and confused.
In the months after I graduated from my final year of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry and then we left America for the UK in May.
Then in March the door seemed to very firmly slam shut, and we were pretty shocked and disappointed. Through events that we couldn’t control on the ground in Cambodia our return was seemingly blocked, and we both were heartbroken and confused.
In the months after I graduated from my final year of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry and then we left America for the UK in May.
Waiting on God
This transition out of America has been our most difficult so far. It’s honestly not always easy following God and His leadings from continent to continent and it’s not always comfortable waiting on His timings especially in this season of having small children, not having our own home and waiting on God in the midst of seemingly regular disappointments and closed doors.
This transition out of America has been our most difficult so far. It’s honestly not always easy following God and His leadings from continent to continent and it’s not always comfortable waiting on His timings especially in this season of having small children, not having our own home and waiting on God in the midst of seemingly regular disappointments and closed doors.
However even in all of the discomfort and uncertainty Jesus has truly been so faithful to us. It’s a lot easier to experience the comfort of the comforter when you are going through discomfort! This stretching process has helped us to know Him even more deeply than ever before.
He is so worthy, faithful and we have complete trust that He is good!
It was in these times of pressing into God that He reminded us of what He had clearly spoken earlier in the year and through a series of events the Cambodia door that we thought was closed God had miraculously made open again.
We really prayed and asked many trusted leaders in our lives about what we should do and laid out a fleece to God to see if we should be returning. We asked the children to pray too as we feel it’s important, they are as involved with this process as much as possible.
He is so worthy, faithful and we have complete trust that He is good!
It was in these times of pressing into God that He reminded us of what He had clearly spoken earlier in the year and through a series of events the Cambodia door that we thought was closed God had miraculously made open again.
We really prayed and asked many trusted leaders in our lives about what we should do and laid out a fleece to God to see if we should be returning. We asked the children to pray too as we feel it’s important, they are as involved with this process as much as possible.
Returning to Cambodia.
At the beginning of October, after many confirmations, we made our decision to return and will be helping to lead the ministry that we helped to establish for the five years we were in Cambodia (now called The Mission Worldwide). We have the full support of Iris Global and will be returning as co-directors of the ministry with another missionary couple and a local leader.
We are so excited to see all God has been building since we left and how we can support and serve the incredible Cambodian team who have been serving so faithfully through the challenges of Covid and other transitions they have navigated so well. We also look forward to reuniting with our friends and family in Cambodia who we love and have missed greatly. We also have a long term vision to plant house churches in the slums and raise up local leaders who can raise up leaders after them transforming communities from the inside out for the long term.
We could potentially fly back to our new home in Phnom Penh as early as January! But this could change depending on some circumstances mentioned below. As it stands now Covid restrictions are easing up as most of the city (over 99%) has been immunised. We are praying things continue to open up for us and that we have no issues returning!
At the beginning of October, after many confirmations, we made our decision to return and will be helping to lead the ministry that we helped to establish for the five years we were in Cambodia (now called The Mission Worldwide). We have the full support of Iris Global and will be returning as co-directors of the ministry with another missionary couple and a local leader.
We are so excited to see all God has been building since we left and how we can support and serve the incredible Cambodian team who have been serving so faithfully through the challenges of Covid and other transitions they have navigated so well. We also look forward to reuniting with our friends and family in Cambodia who we love and have missed greatly. We also have a long term vision to plant house churches in the slums and raise up local leaders who can raise up leaders after them transforming communities from the inside out for the long term.
We could potentially fly back to our new home in Phnom Penh as early as January! But this could change depending on some circumstances mentioned below. As it stands now Covid restrictions are easing up as most of the city (over 99%) has been immunised. We are praying things continue to open up for us and that we have no issues returning!
Where We Are At Now
Over the next couple of months we are going to be raising support. We have about 15% of our monthly expenses covered and in order to get there we need more monthly partners to join with us in the work. It’s a bit of a bigger personal jump of faith going out as a family of 5 rather than before when it was just the two of us and a little baby. However, we feel confident in our provider! We would love to share more about this with you if you are interested or if you would like to partner with us and the work we are doing you can find out more here.
We are also preparing our hearts as it has been a huge transition from USA to UK and now to Cambodia. We feel very blessed to have some incredible mentors in our lives who we hope to connect with lots over the next few months. We will also be language learning and preparing our prayer support team and all the other admin involved with moving across the world 😂.
Steve has been having some fatigue over the last few months so we are just making sure there is nothing underlying these symptoms and he is focusing on getting as healthy as possible before we go. We will be meeting with his neurosurgeon from 6 years ago to make sure everything is fine before we leave. Please pray for continued improvement in his health.
Over the next couple of months we are going to be raising support. We have about 15% of our monthly expenses covered and in order to get there we need more monthly partners to join with us in the work. It’s a bit of a bigger personal jump of faith going out as a family of 5 rather than before when it was just the two of us and a little baby. However, we feel confident in our provider! We would love to share more about this with you if you are interested or if you would like to partner with us and the work we are doing you can find out more here.
We are also preparing our hearts as it has been a huge transition from USA to UK and now to Cambodia. We feel very blessed to have some incredible mentors in our lives who we hope to connect with lots over the next few months. We will also be language learning and preparing our prayer support team and all the other admin involved with moving across the world 😂.
Steve has been having some fatigue over the last few months so we are just making sure there is nothing underlying these symptoms and he is focusing on getting as healthy as possible before we go. We will be meeting with his neurosurgeon from 6 years ago to make sure everything is fine before we leave. Please pray for continued improvement in his health.
How You can be Involved.
We cannot do this alone and want to invite you to consider being part of the support team for our little family of world changers. If you would like to be part of our team ; in prayer, in finances or if you would like to come to Cambodia either for a short term visit or a long term stay then please click here or email us at stevebrown@irisglobal.org for more information.
How You can Pray:
- Full health over Steve ; as he has been struggling with fatigue and pray for the “all clear” from his neurosurgeon ( from his operation 6 years ago) who he we will be meeting in the next few weeks.
- The hearts of our children; that they would feel the closeness and security of the Lord in the transition.
- We would raise 100% of the monthly financial support needed (we are currently at about 40%) and also have a solid group of prayer partners covering us as we go.
- All the logistics e.g. visas, flights, home, school, vehicle would fall into place as God goes before us.
- The grace for language learning and re-adapting back to life in Cambodia.
- Our families in England as we prepare to say goodbye
- Our team in Cambodia and the amazing people who are impacted by them.
- Strategies from heaven and the Holy Spirit wisdom in walking them out.
Thank you so much! We very much love and appreciate you all!!!
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Wow what a year it’s been !
We apologise for the lack of updates !! We hope you are all doing well and managing to navigate this unique season well knowing God is with you and for you ! We so appreciate your love and support to our family over this year ! We could not be here without you !
Drive Through Graduation!
For Second Year BSSM
I (Mollie) have just graduated from my second year of BSSM ! It’s truly been a very unique and challenging year for many of us.
We started our school year with an emotional charge from our Papa Bill Johnson that our class was a “class marked for glory”. This felt like a marking moment for many of us as we felt the weight of his prophetic declaration over us. In the time that followed I personally had many incredible unique and powerful encounters with Jesus and the realities of the heavenly realm which we already have access to.
We started our school year with an emotional charge from our Papa Bill Johnson that our class was a “class marked for glory”. This felt like a marking moment for many of us as we felt the weight of his prophetic declaration over us. In the time that followed I personally had many incredible unique and powerful encounters with Jesus and the realities of the heavenly realm which we already have access to.
A few weeks later as a community we contended for the life of a precious baby girl who died suddenly. She was the daughter of our worship pastor. Our school and church contended for 5 days for this baby’s life with all night prayer and worship. It felt like as a body we were being so unified in our pursuit to see Gods power move. The atmosphere during that time was heavenly, thick and Gods nearness and presence was so apparent! Although precious Olive was not resurrected we saw an awakening happen in each of our hearts ! We watched as Kalley ( the mother of Olive) worshipped wholeheartedly and stood in such faith in the midst of heartbreak - this marked each of us with a new standard of faith. As a class our hunger went to a new level and the weeks following were incredibly sweet; God was really moving and revival was tangibly in the air.
In addition to pursuing His face we also got the opportunity to learn so much and be taught by the best teachers on the planet. It has been stretching, hard and scary at times but I am so thankful I got to be here at this time.
It seemed like just as we were seeing God move powerfully in our school and church COVID19 happened. It was such a disappointing blow to me personally as I was truly expectant that something special was happening. Plus it meant mission trips and any travel was cancelled.
In addition to pursuing His face we also got the opportunity to learn so much and be taught by the best teachers on the planet. It has been stretching, hard and scary at times but I am so thankful I got to be here at this time.
It seemed like just as we were seeing God move powerfully in our school and church COVID19 happened. It was such a disappointing blow to me personally as I was truly expectant that something special was happening. Plus it meant mission trips and any travel was cancelled.
In my moments of grief and heartbreak for what was going on in the world God met me powerfully and held me in my brokenness and despair. I had such a powerful time of resting in His love ; He is my fortress and strong tower ! I think I had bought into the illusion that I had control and independence - when I realised the truth that I am fully dependent on Him and He is so good I felt so much peace.
God is so good !!
A week later our school and church moved online !! This was a hard transition for me because I love people and there wasn’t really much closure as people left Redding without saying goodbyes etc. ;however it’s been extraordinary to see what is possible through a computer screen and now on Sunday’s there are people from all over the world checking into our ministry rooms to receive a touch from God ! The healing rooms and encounter rooms have also opened up to people around the globe and so it feels like the possibilities are endless with what God can and will do !
God is so good !!
A week later our school and church moved online !! This was a hard transition for me because I love people and there wasn’t really much closure as people left Redding without saying goodbyes etc. ;however it’s been extraordinary to see what is possible through a computer screen and now on Sunday’s there are people from all over the world checking into our ministry rooms to receive a touch from God ! The healing rooms and encounter rooms have also opened up to people around the globe and so it feels like the possibilities are endless with what God can and will do !
I was also incredibly honored and shocked to receive a special award at my graduation. This was a kiss from God as I know only He could have made this happen !
What's ahead?
I received a word that in February we would get more clarity on whats next and on the 1st February I had a dream where God asked me if I would stay another year at Bethel for what he was doing in my kids’ lives. Throughout our time in Redding I have received so many words from people about my children and I know God has great plans for them. Our hearts dearly miss the mission field and long to be back but I felt like I couldn’t ignore this dream. We sought advice and council from multiple different leaders in our life to discuss this; they mainly confirmed that we couldn’t ignore Gods leading. When Covid hit we felt like it was another factor that helped us in our decision to delay moving continents.
I was then invited to intern for a couple who I love dearly and respect who are truly powerful revivalists and apostolic leaders ( Ruth & Steve Moore ) . They oversee BSSM online / school planting / allumni /raising up the body of Christ in the supernatural . I received a word from a close friend that I should be with them and I didn’t think there was any chance this would happen but God opened the door for me to serve them ! I also have my third year tuition fees paid for because I received the award! So it seemed like God is being very clear that we should stay for a final year here!
I was then invited to intern for a couple who I love dearly and respect who are truly powerful revivalists and apostolic leaders ( Ruth & Steve Moore ) . They oversee BSSM online / school planting / allumni /raising up the body of Christ in the supernatural . I received a word from a close friend that I should be with them and I didn’t think there was any chance this would happen but God opened the door for me to serve them ! I also have my third year tuition fees paid for because I received the award! So it seemed like God is being very clear that we should stay for a final year here!
Throughout the year I have felt and been in awe of Gods incredible intentionality - from the Revival group pastor, to the mentors he has put in my life, the groups I was a part of and the lessons God was walking me through each week. He is truly so in every detail of our lives and I am in awe of such a beautiful and majestic Father!
Currently we are trying to find a way to get a new stamp for our student visa before the beginning of August, this will probably involve doing a border run of some kind. We really wanted to return to the UK but we felt with the current international situation that we should stay and serve here. We are praying that either the Canadian border opens up otherwise we might fly to Mexico for a few days.
In all honesty one of the hardest things we have navigated is financial challenges and keeping our faith that God is our provider for us to stay here in the USA. The living costs are significantly higher than anywhere else we have lived and the visas don’t allow us to work. So it has felt like finances has been the mountain that we have faced on a constant (sometimes daily basis) for the time we have been here. We want to stay full of faith and hope and also discern what God is asking us to personally do. (Please be praying for us as we navigate this and plan and pray for the year ahead.)
Steve has felt the leading of Holy Spirit to learn and study the financial markets and stock trading with the aim to eventually help towards provision while on the mission field. This has been such a hard and challenging journey and at times very humbling for him too. However he has felt God’s hand upon it and there have been some encouraging testimonies of the Lord’s specific direction. He has been working hard studying to learn this with a view to have it as a skill that will help us in the long term. He has also been continuing to volunteer in the church planting side of BSSM and also at Iris Global; which he will continue to do this year. It has been such a joy for him to mentor BSSM students as they have planted their micro churches across the city.
In all honesty one of the hardest things we have navigated is financial challenges and keeping our faith that God is our provider for us to stay here in the USA. The living costs are significantly higher than anywhere else we have lived and the visas don’t allow us to work. So it has felt like finances has been the mountain that we have faced on a constant (sometimes daily basis) for the time we have been here. We want to stay full of faith and hope and also discern what God is asking us to personally do. (Please be praying for us as we navigate this and plan and pray for the year ahead.)
Steve has felt the leading of Holy Spirit to learn and study the financial markets and stock trading with the aim to eventually help towards provision while on the mission field. This has been such a hard and challenging journey and at times very humbling for him too. However he has felt God’s hand upon it and there have been some encouraging testimonies of the Lord’s specific direction. He has been working hard studying to learn this with a view to have it as a skill that will help us in the long term. He has also been continuing to volunteer in the church planting side of BSSM and also at Iris Global; which he will continue to do this year. It has been such a joy for him to mentor BSSM students as they have planted their micro churches across the city.
The kids are doing great and we are truly amazed by them. Grace has such a heart for the homeless and loves to pray for them. She also has a dream to have an orphaned and rescue babies . She has such a heart for others and for justice. She is growing in understanding of her faith and loves Jesus. Benji is a comedian and loves to bring joy wherever he goes. We are excited at the prospect of him going to the Bethel Christian Preschool in the autumn as we believe it’s a great opportunity for him to grow in his relationship with God.
Over the summer I am assisting Ruth and Steve Moore and also helping with online ministry for people from around the world. (Bethel Sunday ministry teams / encounter rooms) I am also wanting to go deeper with God as I have more time to focus on Him and pursing a deeper friendship with Him.
I have made some beautiful friendships with my neighbours and have started a little weekly discipleship and bible study group which has been great and I’m excited about; they have been such gifts to me ! I am hoping to spend more time observing ministry in the transformation centre (Sozo ministry) when that opens up again.
Also we just want to stay obedient in the big and the small everyday leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Over the summer I am assisting Ruth and Steve Moore and also helping with online ministry for people from around the world. (Bethel Sunday ministry teams / encounter rooms) I am also wanting to go deeper with God as I have more time to focus on Him and pursing a deeper friendship with Him.
I have made some beautiful friendships with my neighbours and have started a little weekly discipleship and bible study group which has been great and I’m excited about; they have been such gifts to me ! I am hoping to spend more time observing ministry in the transformation centre (Sozo ministry) when that opens up again.
Also we just want to stay obedient in the big and the small everyday leadings of the Holy Spirit.
We thank you all for your love and support and we welcome any words or impressions you might have from the Lord for us.
We pray that you would all feel the tangible love and power of God in this season. We pray protection over you all and a peace that surpasses all understanding!!!
If you would like to pray for us below are some things we are focusing on at the moment:
- More of God! Greater intimacy with Him.
- Breakthrough in our finances
- Steve’s business / Gods leading in that
- Easy and safe border crossing to get our new visa stamps
- Grace for being away from family and friends in UK for extended time ( it’s difficult at times)
- Wisdom in parenting 2 world changers ! ( sometimes / often I feel completely inadequate )
- The children going deeper with God and having hearts of worship!
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A tornado warning over Redding a few weeks ago.
For the last 11 years every major decision in my life has actually been made by someone else and not myself.
In 2008 I had a powerful and tangible life changing encounter with the living God. Since then He has guided, me directed me and led me. Jesus has been the Master and I have been the slave.
“Leave your job as a teacher”
“Yes Lord.”
“Get rid of your house and things and go to Mozambique”
“Yes Lord.”
“Go to Thailand on outreach”.
“Yes Lord.”
(I might add that most of these decisions were actually quite joy filled and life giving in the moment - and not reluctant and pain filled as some might envision the usual definition of slavery to be!)
“Move to Cambodia”,
“Yes Lord”
“Move to Sihanoukville”
“Yes Lord.”
“Live in a slum for a month”
“Yes Lord.”
“Move to Phnom Penh again to help there”.
“Yes Lord.”
The list goes on, and it leads us up to this point and America. Following His lead.
In 2008 I had a powerful and tangible life changing encounter with the living God. Since then He has guided, me directed me and led me. Jesus has been the Master and I have been the slave.
“Leave your job as a teacher”
“Yes Lord.”
“Get rid of your house and things and go to Mozambique”
“Yes Lord.”
“Go to Thailand on outreach”.
“Yes Lord.”
(I might add that most of these decisions were actually quite joy filled and life giving in the moment - and not reluctant and pain filled as some might envision the usual definition of slavery to be!)
“Move to Cambodia”,
“Yes Lord”
“Move to Sihanoukville”
“Yes Lord.”
“Live in a slum for a month”
“Yes Lord.”
“Move to Phnom Penh again to help there”.
“Yes Lord.”
The list goes on, and it leads us up to this point and America. Following His lead.
The apostles when writing their epistles often introduced themselves as slaves, for example in Romans 1:1. (They used the word δοῦλος doulos “...this means 1- a “slave,” who completely belongs to his owner and has no freedom to leave, or 2- a “servant,” who willingly chooses to serve his master”. - NIV study Bible).
In nearly all modern English translations of the Bible they either use the word “servant” or “bondservant” and barely use the word “slave” even though that is exactly what it means in the Greek. Maybe that is because of the negative connotations of the word “slave” but I think slavery is not always negative, it depends on what or who you are a slave to.
If you are a slave to one who is evil, who destroys and steals from you (like being a slave to sin) then slavery is a terrible concept. But what if you are a slave to a Master who is perfect Love, perfect kindness, overwhelming generosity and endless wisdom? A slave to someone who is a better leader for your life than you are? One who has all foresight and perfect insight. Then I believe that kind of slavery is good. We are all a slave of something! We just need to choose the right master!
In nearly all modern English translations of the Bible they either use the word “servant” or “bondservant” and barely use the word “slave” even though that is exactly what it means in the Greek. Maybe that is because of the negative connotations of the word “slave” but I think slavery is not always negative, it depends on what or who you are a slave to.
If you are a slave to one who is evil, who destroys and steals from you (like being a slave to sin) then slavery is a terrible concept. But what if you are a slave to a Master who is perfect Love, perfect kindness, overwhelming generosity and endless wisdom? A slave to someone who is a better leader for your life than you are? One who has all foresight and perfect insight. Then I believe that kind of slavery is good. We are all a slave of something! We just need to choose the right master!
I write this to give a bit of a context for the things we have been wrestling with in the last few months. In every major decision since fully trusting Jesus we have habitually (and rightly so) waited for a command and then obeyed.
So when a major decision (about what’s next for us as a family) is to be made and you wait on the Lord for a specific command and you get something different to the “usual” it is really unsettling. It certainly was for me anyway.
After praying lots and waiting for a specific direction; all we kept hearing back through trusted prophetic voices we know, mentors and leaders was; “What do you want? You are free to choose”.
So when a major decision (about what’s next for us as a family) is to be made and you wait on the Lord for a specific command and you get something different to the “usual” it is really unsettling. It certainly was for me anyway.
After praying lots and waiting for a specific direction; all we kept hearing back through trusted prophetic voices we know, mentors and leaders was; “What do you want? You are free to choose”.
I (Steve) am going to be quite honest and vulnerable when writing this. When I first heard Mollie coming back home from Ministry School with these kinds of prophetic words (“I feel like the Lord Is saying “What do you want, You choose”) some not so very gracious judgments popped up in my heart.
“That’s not real Christianity, this is some twisted Westernized version”. I thought.
Or “Maybe this is “Bethel culture” and not Kingdom Culture”?
As Mollie kept getting these words and we started praying more into what the Lord has for us for after her BSSM first year. We sent out a prayer request and update asking friends and family to join us in praying as we try and make a decision. We also had a really wonderful nearly 3 hour conversation with our Iris Cambodia directors to hear their hearts, needs and honour them by asking their thoughts. The same theme kept coming back to us.
Then one Sunday I was in church and I went to the front to receive prayer from the ministry team (responding to the specific preach that day about something completely different, not requesting any guidance for decisions or the future). The kind elderly gentleman who prayed for me stopped mid way through praying and He said; “I hear this phrase; “What do you want? You are free to choose””. I was taken aback, I didn’t ask for prayer on decision making, nor did he know a thing about me or my situation.
“That’s not real Christianity, this is some twisted Westernized version”. I thought.
Or “Maybe this is “Bethel culture” and not Kingdom Culture”?
As Mollie kept getting these words and we started praying more into what the Lord has for us for after her BSSM first year. We sent out a prayer request and update asking friends and family to join us in praying as we try and make a decision. We also had a really wonderful nearly 3 hour conversation with our Iris Cambodia directors to hear their hearts, needs and honour them by asking their thoughts. The same theme kept coming back to us.
Then one Sunday I was in church and I went to the front to receive prayer from the ministry team (responding to the specific preach that day about something completely different, not requesting any guidance for decisions or the future). The kind elderly gentleman who prayed for me stopped mid way through praying and He said; “I hear this phrase; “What do you want? You are free to choose””. I was taken aback, I didn’t ask for prayer on decision making, nor did he know a thing about me or my situation.
As I (slowly) started to listen to the constant and clear prophetic words and not dismiss what God was consistently saying. You mean You want me to choose?? All sorts of insecurities that were in me started to raise their ugly heads.
In a way it’s sometimes easier having all the big decisions made for you (being a slave). You receive specific guidance and you do it. You are not responsible for the consequences of your actions because you were just doing as you were told. But with this new level of input and responsibility I was entering a whole new realm insecurity and doubt.
-What if I make the wrong decision?
-What if I mess up?
-What if people don’t understand the decision I make?
-Can’t you just decide God? Then if the decision upsets people I can just blame you.... “well sorry guys but God said so, so you know, I have to be obedient.”
I started to share my journey with some friends and mentors, and they all said the same thing. “It looks like God is moving you into a deeper level of relationship with Him, where you are not just a slave but a friend also", "He trusts you to be more involved in the decisions”. Others said it was a part of deeper maturity in knowing Him and Mollie shared her journey with her revival group pastor and he encouraged her in some similar things.
In a way it’s sometimes easier having all the big decisions made for you (being a slave). You receive specific guidance and you do it. You are not responsible for the consequences of your actions because you were just doing as you were told. But with this new level of input and responsibility I was entering a whole new realm insecurity and doubt.
-What if I make the wrong decision?
-What if I mess up?
-What if people don’t understand the decision I make?
-Can’t you just decide God? Then if the decision upsets people I can just blame you.... “well sorry guys but God said so, so you know, I have to be obedient.”
I started to share my journey with some friends and mentors, and they all said the same thing. “It looks like God is moving you into a deeper level of relationship with Him, where you are not just a slave but a friend also", "He trusts you to be more involved in the decisions”. Others said it was a part of deeper maturity in knowing Him and Mollie shared her journey with her revival group pastor and he encouraged her in some similar things.
After the long Skype chat with our Iris Cambodia directors and receiving some other prophetic words Mollie and I chatted together and for the first time, instead of listening to a command from the Lord and following, we sat down and dreamed with God.
It may sound strange but sitting and “dreaming” was a very weird and very new experience for us. We had just spent many years on the missions field purposefully “dying to self”, “dying to our dreams” and now God was gently and lovingly encouraging us to dream again! But this time WITH Him and according to His purposes! You can see how much of an uncomfortable shift in thinking this was for us compared to what we had gotten used to; just listening and then doing.
As we dreamed we thought through some things. Ok, what would things look like if we had an extra year in Redding? Or what would things look like if we went straight back to Cambodia now? What equipping could we receive and benefit from if we stayed? What further training do we need for the things God has called us to do in ministry? Ministry School planting training? (Only available In BSSM second year). Further leadership training (also in second year). What mentors could we connect with and go deeper with if we stayed in this environment a little longer? And there was so much more we thought about and processed.
No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 (NASB)
I am very much at the beginning of this friendship journey with Jesus so there is still so much that I have left to learn. But I do know this; Friendship with God does not take away from obedience, servanthood and Jesus being our Master. It just adds another dimension of relationship with Him on top of that..
When the apostles Peter and Paul used the term “a slave of God” to describe themselves when introducing themselves in their letters it was often even towards the end of their ministry (as in Romans 1:1 and 2 Peter 1:1). To me this shows that there is no growing out of slavery to Jesus!!
So I intend to still see myself as a slave (to a wonderful and perfect Master) just as the early church did. BUT we have been asking to know God more and we are not going to pass up an opportunity to experience another dimension of relationship with Him in friendship (even if this has exposed some insecurities in me, but even that is good because they now they can start to be dealt with!)
When the apostles Peter and Paul used the term “a slave of God” to describe themselves when introducing themselves in their letters it was often even towards the end of their ministry (as in Romans 1:1 and 2 Peter 1:1). To me this shows that there is no growing out of slavery to Jesus!!
So I intend to still see myself as a slave (to a wonderful and perfect Master) just as the early church did. BUT we have been asking to know God more and we are not going to pass up an opportunity to experience another dimension of relationship with Him in friendship (even if this has exposed some insecurities in me, but even that is good because they now they can start to be dealt with!)
Below Mollie writes about what we are dreaming of ahead…..
I have been so blessed and impacted this year at BSSM. It has been full of life changing moments ; incredible highs encountering Jesus and realising the vastness of the inheritance we have been given ; as well as dealing with hurts and pains I didn’t realise I had and allowing Holy Spirit to do whatever He wanted in my heart.
For me the biggest change I have encountered is really truly knowing the goodness of God ! 100% knowing in every fibre of my being that He is so good, so faithful , so trustworthy , so kind and that He is for me and loves me. I “knew” this before coming but I had some lies I believed which caused me to sometimes doubt the nature of God. I had so much focus on being “dead to sin” and dying to myself but I have been learning so much about the vast inheritance we have in the resurrection life. The supernatural is a huge part of that; the Kingdom of Heaven that we are seated in and have access to. The abounding hope and joy that Paul writes about us a reality we CAN live in !
It’s been a year of recognising the cracks in my foundations, the subtle deceptions I had partnered with and then relearning the truth. I feel more alive than ever before and yet I still feel there is some building work to be done. I dearly miss Cambodia and the people there ; but I don’t want to return there whilst this specific process is “half finished”. It’s a huge cost and a huge sacrifice to us but we believe that staying another year is a better decision for a more sustainable and effective long term future in ministry on missions. We are currently in the UK for two months for visa reasons. We are so excited to be reconnecting with our families, friends and our church family. We hope to come back to Redding early August and I aim to do the second year of BSSM!
PRAISE POINTS!
_I Mollie - I feel more empowered and encouraged than ever before and I am able to dream that God will truly do the impossible in every aspect of our lives! Such a breakthrough in hope and joy!!
_Grace. This year through attending Bethel preschool Grace has received such a transformed and even more tender heart towards Jesus, She loves Him so much!
_Steve has had a year of God doing some deep heart ministry in His life and replacing lies He believed with God's freeing truth.
_Benjamin - Received an amazing word over his life that he would be a revivalist even from an early age - and that people will write books about him and Grace’s Kingdom impact! We cherish these words over their lives and believe that both him and Grace are being empowered and raised up in this season just as much as we are.
_Steve has seen Jesus do some incredible miracles whilst serving in the healing rooms!
PRAYER POINTS!:
Please pray...
-That we get all that we came for. We are crying out for more of Him, greater encounter with Holy Spirit and greater impartation, not for us, but so we can take it to the nations!
-For fearlessness in moving forward. Over the last few years Steve has had many prophetic words about business and has a dream to start a “tent making” style business online that can be done from anywhere with an internet connection and can be used to cover our personal living costs whilst on the field. (Our dream is to be able to fund our own living costs so that we will have more than enough to be able to give to others, and that all donations we do receive can go straight into ministry work!). Steve plans to focus on developing this more this year whilst also watching the kids in the afternoons and volunteering part time at the Iris Global office.
-For Supernatural provision, the cost of another year in California is very high and we are trusting God that we will have more than enough so that we can overflow to others, nothing is impossible for God!
-For Smooth visa application process (including another trip to the embassy in London) and that Grace gets her new passport through ASAP so we can start with the US Visa applications soon!
-For wonderful times of connection with friends and family whilst in the UK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! For all of your prayers support and love. We value each and every one of you deeply!
_I Mollie - I feel more empowered and encouraged than ever before and I am able to dream that God will truly do the impossible in every aspect of our lives! Such a breakthrough in hope and joy!!
_Grace. This year through attending Bethel preschool Grace has received such a transformed and even more tender heart towards Jesus, She loves Him so much!
_Steve has had a year of God doing some deep heart ministry in His life and replacing lies He believed with God's freeing truth.
_Benjamin - Received an amazing word over his life that he would be a revivalist even from an early age - and that people will write books about him and Grace’s Kingdom impact! We cherish these words over their lives and believe that both him and Grace are being empowered and raised up in this season just as much as we are.
_Steve has seen Jesus do some incredible miracles whilst serving in the healing rooms!
PRAYER POINTS!:
Please pray...
-That we get all that we came for. We are crying out for more of Him, greater encounter with Holy Spirit and greater impartation, not for us, but so we can take it to the nations!
-For fearlessness in moving forward. Over the last few years Steve has had many prophetic words about business and has a dream to start a “tent making” style business online that can be done from anywhere with an internet connection and can be used to cover our personal living costs whilst on the field. (Our dream is to be able to fund our own living costs so that we will have more than enough to be able to give to others, and that all donations we do receive can go straight into ministry work!). Steve plans to focus on developing this more this year whilst also watching the kids in the afternoons and volunteering part time at the Iris Global office.
-For Supernatural provision, the cost of another year in California is very high and we are trusting God that we will have more than enough so that we can overflow to others, nothing is impossible for God!
-For Smooth visa application process (including another trip to the embassy in London) and that Grace gets her new passport through ASAP so we can start with the US Visa applications soon!
-For wonderful times of connection with friends and family whilst in the UK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! For all of your prayers support and love. We value each and every one of you deeply!
(If you would like to donate towards Mollie's tuition for the coming school year please click here https://my.bssm.net/donations/transactions/new?student_binder=511281)
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Happy New Year Wonderful People!!! Below is our latest update including some testimonies and some decisions we are praying into for 2019.
Highlights:
- We have been having a hugely impacting time here. Mollie has been having life changing moments in ministry school.
- There have been some great miracles and financial testimonies
- Mollie has helped to pioneer and start a small micro-church in Redding as a part of her course
- We are currently praying into what is next!
Recently a hunger has been stirring up in us for more of God and more of His fullness in us! Shawn Bolz a well known prophetic voice posted this scripture from Isaiah 43:19 for his first post of 2019:
Isaiah 43:19 for 2019
Last year I got a hugely impacting prophetic word from Lyndsay Coil (a pastor here at bethel) who called me out in the middle of a meeting. She got many accurate words of knowledge about my birthday, our names (Mollie, Steve, Grace and Benjy), my education, that we were missionaries and many more specific details. I had never before experienced such incredible accuracy in the prophetic. (Some of you may remember the testimony and the recording from an email I sent out last year, I have added the recording of the word at the bottom if you would like to listen).
While giving us this prophetic word Lindsay mentioned that she felt the Lord was saying that we are not finished in Cambodia yet! Then she also included this scripture (the same one as above).
While giving us this prophetic word Lindsay mentioned that she felt the Lord was saying that we are not finished in Cambodia yet! Then she also included this scripture (the same one as above).
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert. Isa 43:19
A few months ago while in ministry school Mollie felt like she heard the Lord command her (just like He had said to His disciples):
"I am going to send you what my Father has promised;
but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:29
With all these other things in mind it really got us praying and asking for the more of Him! We are so thankful to God for what He has already graciously given us but He has stirred up a hunger in us for more! We are conscious that without more of Him we cannot fully do what He has called us to in defeating the pervasive powers of darkness in Cambodia or wherever else He leads us to serve Him.
- Please pray for us as we continue to ask and pray for more of Him! Pray that we will not miss what He has for us here! (So that we can have greater impact wherever He sends us!)
We are also praying for discernment and wisdom for some really big and difficult decisions. The coming few months lead into potential transition for us again, with Mollie’s BSSM1 class finishing in May we are praying about what specific steps we are to take next and in what timing. Mollie’s mentors and pastors all mention that a second year of BSSM brings a more complete ministry training experience but at the moment we are both not sure what is next.
The main two options are to leave here with a view to return to missions after Mollie graduates BSSM1 or to stay and complete BSSM2 (potentially both of us together).
The main two options are to leave here with a view to return to missions after Mollie graduates BSSM1 or to stay and complete BSSM2 (potentially both of us together).
- Please join us in praying for clarity for what the next steps are. (We would also love to hear from you by email or message if you are sensing anything in this area!)
God has been doing some wonderful, amazing and powerful things in us and to us! Mollie has recently had some moments of encounter that have already felt like small installments of what He has promised.
Jesus has been taking me (Steve) on a journey of heart healing and renewing my mind this year (sometimes I feel like my mind is the "wilderness" that He wants to make a way in!).
He has been dealing with many lies that I have been believing about myself and Him (and didn’t even know about) and replacing them with His freeing truths. I have been blessed to be able to attend SOZO courses and other similar things that have been bringing me new levels of freedom and also some tools equipping me to help others to experience the same thing.
There have been great moments serving in the healing rooms and seeing God move powerfully, including things I have never seen before! Jesus has been growing people’s legs out after prayer, completely healing damaged joints, swollen shoulders and even recently He powerfully healed someone with breast cancer who had a huge mass and level 9 out of 10 pain. Jesus encountered her, she fell to her knees and when she got up all pain had gone and the tumor shrank; her shoulder and back were also completely healed in the same instance and she was able to dance again!!
Jesus has been so wonderful; as He always is. More than I can describe in a few short paragraphs here. There have been times of uncertainty, doubt and unbelief too though. But He is good and He is worth it all, all the unknowns, all the challenges and all the joys in this process of seeking Him and being transformed by Him. Below Mollie shares some more of the process God has been taking her on so far.
Jesus has been taking me (Steve) on a journey of heart healing and renewing my mind this year (sometimes I feel like my mind is the "wilderness" that He wants to make a way in!).
He has been dealing with many lies that I have been believing about myself and Him (and didn’t even know about) and replacing them with His freeing truths. I have been blessed to be able to attend SOZO courses and other similar things that have been bringing me new levels of freedom and also some tools equipping me to help others to experience the same thing.
There have been great moments serving in the healing rooms and seeing God move powerfully, including things I have never seen before! Jesus has been growing people’s legs out after prayer, completely healing damaged joints, swollen shoulders and even recently He powerfully healed someone with breast cancer who had a huge mass and level 9 out of 10 pain. Jesus encountered her, she fell to her knees and when she got up all pain had gone and the tumor shrank; her shoulder and back were also completely healed in the same instance and she was able to dance again!!
Jesus has been so wonderful; as He always is. More than I can describe in a few short paragraphs here. There have been times of uncertainty, doubt and unbelief too though. But He is good and He is worth it all, all the unknowns, all the challenges and all the joys in this process of seeking Him and being transformed by Him. Below Mollie shares some more of the process God has been taking her on so far.
From Mollie:
Where do I start?! This last four months has been phenomenal! God has been revealing to me the importance of a renewed mind - that it’s my mind that is the only limiting factor in what God can do in my life. Jesus often talks about the importance of faith; that if we truly had faith even the size of a mustard seed we could command mountains to be thrown into the sea. Paul also prays that we would "transformed" (same word used for Jesus’ transfiguration) by the renewing of our minds.
When we are renewing the mind and forming new ways of thinking there is actually a process of new neural pathways being formed in the brain (there are many scientific studies that highlight this). At first there is resistance though, metaphorically It’s like we have to form new pathways in areas where there is dense shrubbery and large boulders and obstructions (lies we are believing). A bit like making a way in the wilderness! (Isa 43:19). At first it takes much determination to make a new path which has much resistance when you first travel it. Especially when there are the 6 lane highways we are so accustomed to going down and have been using for years (our old habitual ways of thinking!!). Naturally our brains will choose to follow the path of least resistance, the easiest road to use; so it requires the empowering grace of God and our co-laboring with Him to renew our mind! This is so significant because what we think eventually creates our beliefs and what we believe shapes our actions. Our thoughts are incredibly important! We need the mind of Christ!
I am learning the value of truly knowing who I am and realising that each of us represents God in a different way. Bill Johnson teaches; "if we truly knew how God made us we wouldn’t want to be anyone else”. We wouldn’t dare criticize a work of art in front of the famous artist; yet we often are so quick to pick out the flaws in God’s most magnificent creations; ourselves (we are created in Him image!). So it’s been a journey of identifying lies and replacing them with God’s truth. The first few months I was either in tears or laughing most of the time!
On top of that I have been receiving powerful bible teaching, planting a micro church to college students, learning about prophecy, evangelism, discipleship and learning some core values for revival. We have seen the hunger and passion for God grow and grow in our class and the level of joy and hope has just exploded! We are seeing healings, miracles, fire and so much glory.
When we are renewing the mind and forming new ways of thinking there is actually a process of new neural pathways being formed in the brain (there are many scientific studies that highlight this). At first there is resistance though, metaphorically It’s like we have to form new pathways in areas where there is dense shrubbery and large boulders and obstructions (lies we are believing). A bit like making a way in the wilderness! (Isa 43:19). At first it takes much determination to make a new path which has much resistance when you first travel it. Especially when there are the 6 lane highways we are so accustomed to going down and have been using for years (our old habitual ways of thinking!!). Naturally our brains will choose to follow the path of least resistance, the easiest road to use; so it requires the empowering grace of God and our co-laboring with Him to renew our mind! This is so significant because what we think eventually creates our beliefs and what we believe shapes our actions. Our thoughts are incredibly important! We need the mind of Christ!
I am learning the value of truly knowing who I am and realising that each of us represents God in a different way. Bill Johnson teaches; "if we truly knew how God made us we wouldn’t want to be anyone else”. We wouldn’t dare criticize a work of art in front of the famous artist; yet we often are so quick to pick out the flaws in God’s most magnificent creations; ourselves (we are created in Him image!). So it’s been a journey of identifying lies and replacing them with God’s truth. The first few months I was either in tears or laughing most of the time!
On top of that I have been receiving powerful bible teaching, planting a micro church to college students, learning about prophecy, evangelism, discipleship and learning some core values for revival. We have seen the hunger and passion for God grow and grow in our class and the level of joy and hope has just exploded! We are seeing healings, miracles, fire and so much glory.
“But do not make a mistake: God cannot do a great work through you without doing a great work in you first.”
—Evan Roberts (leading figure of the 1904–1905 Welsh Revival)
I am more hungry and enamoured for His presence than ever before as I love Him more than ever. It’s been so life-changing learning about the great revivalists of today and throughout history and seeing how it was often their great hunger for more of God that brought them into a place of total desperation where they couldn’t go on without knowing and experiencing more of God. Their hunger has been contagious to me and I don’t ever want to go back to being complacent with the place that I am at. This has been such a sweet season of learning tools and doctrine and lots of other invaluable wisdom; but if I came away with just these things I would feel I have missed the point of our season here. Nothing in this world compares to knowing God and being fully yielded to Him; my hearts cry is to be fully possessed by God. Below is a quote from the headmaster of the famous Rees Howells Bible college;
His beauty is all around us
“We felt the Holy Spirit had been a real person to us before; as far as we knew we had received Him ; and some of us had known much of His operations in and through our lives. But now the revelation of His person was so tremendous that all our other experiences seemed as nothing. There was no visible apparition , but He made Himself so real to our spiritual eyes that it was a “face to face” experience. And when we saw Him we knew we had never really seen Him before.“
I have also seen the children growing in their knowledge and love of God. We were blessed to be able go to the UK for a short visit and a family wedding over Christmas. While we were there Grace (my daughter who is 3 years old) prayed for a close family member’s eye to be healed. She had just had surgery due to a bleed in her eye and couldn't see anything but a blur. After Grace prayed for her she said her sight improved significantly!!
I am incredibly thankful to everyone who has helped to make this year possible so far! I’m about halfway through and I am already receiving such breakthrough. I know the victories we get now will help us for many many years to come.
Please be praying for us for clarity about what’s next. We are wanting to wait and see how God leads and are holding everything so lightly; our lives are His so please be praying that we follow His heartbeat so clearly about what is next.
All of our love,
-Mollie, Steve, Grace and Benjy
(Check out the pictures below for some more highlights and testimonies)
I am incredibly thankful to everyone who has helped to make this year possible so far! I’m about halfway through and I am already receiving such breakthrough. I know the victories we get now will help us for many many years to come.
Please be praying for us for clarity about what’s next. We are wanting to wait and see how God leads and are holding everything so lightly; our lives are His so please be praying that we follow His heartbeat so clearly about what is next.
All of our love,
-Mollie, Steve, Grace and Benjy
(Check out the pictures below for some more highlights and testimonies)
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This year has been full of God showing us just how kind and good He is. Not only have we been surrounded by an environment of outrageous testimonies of God working in people’s lives but we have been seeing His faithfulness first hand. Whether it has been through having a cheque given to us at just the right time (so we can pay our rent) or through encountering His presence directly and powerfully in a single moment. He has graciously and consistently shown us just how wonderful He is.
A few days ago I was privileged to be able to graduate from Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry 1. I can simply say that this has been the most incredible nine months of my life. Over the course of this year Jesus has taken me deeper into understanding my identity in Him, brought me to new levels of freedom and faith and has rekindled a lot of passion for Him that had gradually grown cooler over the years. To say the time here at BSSM has been impacting would be an understatement. In the journey with Him there is always more and always deeper levels, but I didn’t expect to see and experience as much as I have during this season.
A few days ago I was privileged to be able to graduate from Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry 1. I can simply say that this has been the most incredible nine months of my life. Over the course of this year Jesus has taken me deeper into understanding my identity in Him, brought me to new levels of freedom and faith and has rekindled a lot of passion for Him that had gradually grown cooler over the years. To say the time here at BSSM has been impacting would be an understatement. In the journey with Him there is always more and always deeper levels, but I didn’t expect to see and experience as much as I have during this season.
None of these experiences would have been possible if it wasn’t Mollie's love and support. When I was at school during the day she has stayed at home, holding the fort, caring for the kids and making space for me to be able to get as much as I can out of the school. We mentioned in a recent private email update (if you would like to join our email updates click here) that we felt we heard the Lord speaking to us about being here for longer so that Mollie could also do the school. In that update we requested your prayers for us while we considered and prayed into it. Below is written by Mollie on the decision we have made;
"When God spoke to me about staying at least one more year here it was very much bittersweet.
We have loved our time here so much. This place is an amazing environment to be in and it’s a beautiful place to live especially for the kids. More importantly we have been able to go deeper with God and receive so much healing and refreshment!
However, the cost of staying here another year is huge and our hearts long to be back in Cambodia, we miss our people there so much (and also our family over in the UK). Plus we are not fully sure how we will fund being here another year, so we had to really make sure we knew it was God and it wasn’t just a rushed decision.
But when God speaks to me I never want to make excuses to not say yes! That would be my greatest regret! After some confirmations from a few different sources we decided to move forward and I applied for the 2018/19 ministry school starting this year. I feel a real sense of God’s peace as I pursue this; which is totally supernatural as there are lots of unknowns right now!
Seeing the growth in Steve and watching him flourish has made me hungry for more! And I feel so blessed that he is willing to be a stay at home dad and watch the kids to enable me to receive all that I know God has for me!
After I applied for BSSM they booked me in for an interview and during it I had one of the most profound encounters with God and healing experiences of my life. The man interviewing me and I were both in tears by the end of it and I came away feeling so loved by Father God and closer to Him than ever before! (He took me through some healing prayer ministry right there during the interview!) I felt like this was a taste of what is to come this year for me. Sometimes I just want to cry at the awesomeness of God’s love! I am desperate for more of Him whatever the cost and whatever the sacrifice for being here for longer He is worth it all! And we know He is using this time as vital preparation for times ahead serving Him in the nations.
So we are excited to be aiming at staying and having another year here and I am so so excited to be hopefully doing BSSM this coming September! "
We have loved our time here so much. This place is an amazing environment to be in and it’s a beautiful place to live especially for the kids. More importantly we have been able to go deeper with God and receive so much healing and refreshment!
However, the cost of staying here another year is huge and our hearts long to be back in Cambodia, we miss our people there so much (and also our family over in the UK). Plus we are not fully sure how we will fund being here another year, so we had to really make sure we knew it was God and it wasn’t just a rushed decision.
But when God speaks to me I never want to make excuses to not say yes! That would be my greatest regret! After some confirmations from a few different sources we decided to move forward and I applied for the 2018/19 ministry school starting this year. I feel a real sense of God’s peace as I pursue this; which is totally supernatural as there are lots of unknowns right now!
Seeing the growth in Steve and watching him flourish has made me hungry for more! And I feel so blessed that he is willing to be a stay at home dad and watch the kids to enable me to receive all that I know God has for me!
After I applied for BSSM they booked me in for an interview and during it I had one of the most profound encounters with God and healing experiences of my life. The man interviewing me and I were both in tears by the end of it and I came away feeling so loved by Father God and closer to Him than ever before! (He took me through some healing prayer ministry right there during the interview!) I felt like this was a taste of what is to come this year for me. Sometimes I just want to cry at the awesomeness of God’s love! I am desperate for more of Him whatever the cost and whatever the sacrifice for being here for longer He is worth it all! And we know He is using this time as vital preparation for times ahead serving Him in the nations.
So we are excited to be aiming at staying and having another year here and I am so so excited to be hopefully doing BSSM this coming September! "
Recently while praying into the practicalities of all of this we were wondering about what to do with all of our furniture over summer and whether to move out, lose our apartment and put all of our things in storage while we are away. Only to return and then try and find a new house all over again and move all of our furniture out of storage into a new place and start again (this would also mean our 5th house move in 2 years!). It has been a big unknown but every time I (Steve) have prayed about it I felt peace about keeping our apartment over the summer even though it didn’t make financial sense to do so and we couldn’t afford it.
Then Mollie was having coffee with a friend a few days ago and her friend felt led by the Lord to give her a cheque for the full amount of two months rent to enable us to keep our apartment over the summer! We were so blown away by this wonderful couple’s generosity. God is so good!
Then Mollie was having coffee with a friend a few days ago and her friend felt led by the Lord to give her a cheque for the full amount of two months rent to enable us to keep our apartment over the summer! We were so blown away by this wonderful couple’s generosity. God is so good!
His goodness has not just hugely impacted ourselves but many others as well. There have been many breakthroughs in the lives of our friends and fellow students and many others who attend the church. It’s faith inspiring to be in a place that values the testimonies of Jesus’ workings and it really makes them contagious for others to receive as well.
A few weeks ago I was serving in the healing rooms here and had the privilege of praying for an older lady who was visiting from Korea for a few days. She had endured having excruciating back pain for 20 years which was at the time of praying at a pain level of about 8 out of 10. After I laid my hand on her back prayed a simple prayer God completely healed her. She was astounded and jumping up and down bending over and moving about everywhere trying to find the pain. Her daughter (who was translating for us) was so overwhelmed and surprised that she could barely stand and was weeping under the weighty presence of God. That same day Jesus also healed a lady who had tinnitus (ringing ears) for 12 years and many others. Serving in the healing rooms has been one of my favorite things to do here (the above is just a small snapshot of what a day can look like here!).
We both been blessed be able to serve in different areas whilst being here. Mollie has been helping out at the Bethel Transformation Centre, learning how to minister an inner healing Ministry called Sozo. I have been able to volunteer at the Iris Global main office for one day a week and will continue to do so over the coming year.
A few weeks ago I was serving in the healing rooms here and had the privilege of praying for an older lady who was visiting from Korea for a few days. She had endured having excruciating back pain for 20 years which was at the time of praying at a pain level of about 8 out of 10. After I laid my hand on her back prayed a simple prayer God completely healed her. She was astounded and jumping up and down bending over and moving about everywhere trying to find the pain. Her daughter (who was translating for us) was so overwhelmed and surprised that she could barely stand and was weeping under the weighty presence of God. That same day Jesus also healed a lady who had tinnitus (ringing ears) for 12 years and many others. Serving in the healing rooms has been one of my favorite things to do here (the above is just a small snapshot of what a day can look like here!).
We both been blessed be able to serve in different areas whilst being here. Mollie has been helping out at the Bethel Transformation Centre, learning how to minister an inner healing Ministry called Sozo. I have been able to volunteer at the Iris Global main office for one day a week and will continue to do so over the coming year.
After all the wonderful things we have experienced and this incredibly impacting year all we can summarize to say is that we are thankful. Thankful for what God has done is doing in restoring and refreshing us and equipping us for what’s ahead, but not only that. We are so thankful for every single amazing person who has been supporting us along the way. Every message, every financial gift (you know who you are!) and every kind word sent to us has been another beautiful testimony of His love and it is contagious! It’s all wonderful proof that He is who He says He is.
As we look ahead there are still some unknowns and hurdles to jump through (including a full round of visa applications and embassy visits again) but as we continue to follow Him into the unknown we hold on to the many testimonies of all that He has done and we know that whatever happens He is faithful and good.
As we look ahead there are still some unknowns and hurdles to jump through (including a full round of visa applications and embassy visits again) but as we continue to follow Him into the unknown we hold on to the many testimonies of all that He has done and we know that whatever happens He is faithful and good.
Please pray for:
-Thank you so much!
Lots of love from us all,
Steve, Mollie, Gracie and Benjamin x
- favour in our full round of new Visa Applications ahead for Mollie to be able to attend the school.
- continued financial provision as we look ahead and believe for return flights, Mollie's ministry school tuition fees and other costs included in living out here.
- God's grace as we transition from Redding to the UK for Summer and then back here again in August. That our time in the UK with Family will be all that God wants it to be.
- Steve to find lots of work as a supply (substitute) teacher while back in the UK before the schools break up for the summer.
-Thank you so much!
Lots of love from us all,
Steve, Mollie, Gracie and Benjamin x
(If you would like to give a small donation towards Mollie's tuition fees for the coming year you can do so by following this link: https://my.bssm.net/donations/transactions/new?student_binder=24401)
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We have been in Redding for over three months now! It feels like we have been here longer! God has been doing so much in our hearts!
We arrived after a pretty long journey to our new home - a city in the north of California which feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere ! When we drove up here the forest fires were raging it was hazy and hot and we couldn’t see or appreciate the beauty of the mountainous landscape surrounding the city. At first it seemed like a very bizarre place; built around a huge freeway with so many warehouse type shops. Around 1/10 of the population attends Bethel Church (9000 people ) and there are also hundreds of other big churches here too! So there are a lot of “Christians” here! However I wasn’t prepared for the many homeless / drug addict / alcoholic population there are in the city. This was a big surprise to me, it’s really heart-breaking to see such brokenness all over the city. Although it does open up so many opportunities for these precious ones to encounter Jesus through His people here!
We arrived after a pretty long journey to our new home - a city in the north of California which feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere ! When we drove up here the forest fires were raging it was hazy and hot and we couldn’t see or appreciate the beauty of the mountainous landscape surrounding the city. At first it seemed like a very bizarre place; built around a huge freeway with so many warehouse type shops. Around 1/10 of the population attends Bethel Church (9000 people ) and there are also hundreds of other big churches here too! So there are a lot of “Christians” here! However I wasn’t prepared for the many homeless / drug addict / alcoholic population there are in the city. This was a big surprise to me, it’s really heart-breaking to see such brokenness all over the city. Although it does open up so many opportunities for these precious ones to encounter Jesus through His people here!
When we first arrived it was ridiculously hot (46ºC), smokey, hazy and overwhelmingly different to what I had expected ! To add to the challenges we were homeless for nearly 2 weeks, I (Mollie) crashed our 1996 car (which is older than many BSSM students!) and I was feeling really anxious about arriving in America. We had no friends, no family and no money (the sale of Steve’s flat fell through two days before we came)! Everything seemed alien, weird and surreal (some people wear cowboy hats here)! Our first Sunday we didn’t even get to church as Grace was unwell and then the next Sunday our car didn’t start!
But God is FAITHFUL, KIND, LOVING and such a GOOD FATHER !!!
But God is FAITHFUL, KIND, LOVING and such a GOOD FATHER !!!
I admit during that first two weeks my peace wasn’t flowing like a river; “What have we done?“ was the main thought I was battling! “God I know you called us here, what’s going on?” Despite my lack of faith and my lack of trust - (which is crazy as He has never and will never let us down!!!) Jesus proved himself again and again here.
On one occasion, just after we had moved into our house (after staying with some new friends for the first 2 weeks) we had some furniture but not much. I had been asking God for a few things I knew we couldn’t afford including a vacuum cleaner and some kitchen stuff, groceries and a pass to the kids centre here. Then a precious local family invited us over for dinner one night and blessed us with an incredible meal – without us sharing our needs or desires to them at all - they blessed us with all these things and a sum of money which enabled us to pay everything we needed that month! We were just sat having dinner and they said “theres a vacuum at the door we want to give you”. Then they said “have you heard about this kids centre, we want to pay for a years pass so you can take Grace” The very things I had been praying about and they gave them to us without us even mentioning our needs to them. We felt so loved by them and they really demonstrated the heart of God to us with their outrageous kindness and generosity!
On one occasion, just after we had moved into our house (after staying with some new friends for the first 2 weeks) we had some furniture but not much. I had been asking God for a few things I knew we couldn’t afford including a vacuum cleaner and some kitchen stuff, groceries and a pass to the kids centre here. Then a precious local family invited us over for dinner one night and blessed us with an incredible meal – without us sharing our needs or desires to them at all - they blessed us with all these things and a sum of money which enabled us to pay everything we needed that month! We were just sat having dinner and they said “theres a vacuum at the door we want to give you”. Then they said “have you heard about this kids centre, we want to pay for a years pass so you can take Grace” The very things I had been praying about and they gave them to us without us even mentioning our needs to them. We felt so loved by them and they really demonstrated the heart of God to us with their outrageous kindness and generosity!
Since then other people have given us furniture we have needed, we have received other financial gifts and even had meals brought round for us. They have been just the most incredible moments (someone is even paying for Grace to go to ballet lessons with their daughter, what a blessing!!)! At times this journey of being completely dependant on God for our needs (in a place at least three times more expensive to live than Cambodia) can be quite stressful and hard but we also feel really thankful to be on this journey as we are learning more and more through experience of God’s faithful provision.
God has also provided us some wonderful friends who feel like family to us and to Grace (which was my biggest prayer coming here). In Cambodia and in the UK she had a handful of friends but now she has so many it’s hard to keep track of them all! She is also absolutely thriving at her daycare as well! It’s wonderful to be in relationship with the families here who are all on a similar journey and all hunger for more of Jesus. Getting to journey alongside them in their victories and their testimonies of breakthrough has been a highlight of our time here too!
Being able to go to Bethel church is also absolutely incredible! It’s so much more wonderful than I could have imagined; the presence of God, the way they equip the body, the way they love everyone who comes through the doors! Steve is studying at BSSM and with around 1200 others in his class and his mind is getting blown everyday! The quality and anointing of the teaching (from Kris and Bill and many other inspiring leaders) and the worship is all having a huge impact on his heart and already God is doing a big work in Him! I am getting to do 3 classes a week too; sozo training , something called Thrive and another class called “ fire starters “, plus there is worship 3 nights a week - really you could spend every night at church ! I feel God is doing a really deep work in me and already and like Steve I feel like my heart is getting some major surgery! For the first time in a while I feel like my taste buds have been awakened and I’m so hungry for more of God! The testimonies I have heard from people in the church are unbelievable; from 11 year olds praying for people dying with cancer getting healed , to rain falling in the Church building ( a few weeks ago) , to 5 year olds prophesying with accuracy. The other day Steve was in a healing class learning from someone who God had used to raise 5 people from the dead. It’s an environment of excitement, faith and God’s glory! Plus it’s so great as many people here are living by faith and sharing with me testimonies of money appearing in their home, multiplying in their hands and crazy stories that are really helping us to have faith to get through our financial challenges here!
A BSSM Class
In the first 3 weeks God gave us a word about Cambodia and Asia and many times since then during worship I have been smelling lemongrass so strongly ( which takes me back there instantly ) , plus God has been speaking to me too about going back ; but equally I really sense He is wanting us to go deep here and focus on everything He wants to do in our hearts before we think about what’s next ! It’s been wonderful as we have seen many friends from Cambodia here in Redding and even been able to speak Khmer with them! What a blessing!!
I’m so thankful God has brought us here as He knew we needed this time of being equipped, realigned and given a good MOT - I hadn’t realised I was believing so many lies about myself and honestly I felt very close to being burnt out (which is totally my responsibility). A few weeks ago Mike Bickle shared powerfully on how the first and greatest commandment - to love God with all our heart, soul and strength is all that really matters - this really helped me see how I had lost focus on this as my main priority everyday - I’m so thankful for God’s kind and gentle ways of bringing us back on track ! Last night as I drove home watching the beautiful moon sink behind the spectacular mountains and seeing the stars I felt so incredibly in love! Wow what an honour and gift that we get to be His lovers!
I am also so blessed to have joined a woman’s core group and I am learning how community works here in all its vulnerability alongside honour and I feel I am learning so much which I hope will help me cultivate community wherever I go next !
I am also so blessed to have joined a woman’s core group and I am learning how community works here in all its vulnerability alongside honour and I feel I am learning so much which I hope will help me cultivate community wherever I go next !
We have been so blessed to have had some visitors from our home church also - Andy and Irene! We have had so much fun with them and they are such a blessing to us! We are also so excited Steve’s younger brother came and had a wonderful time and then recently Steve’s sister came and was able to get baptised here at Bethel during one of the church services! It was a powerful and very special time.
This week the Americans are celebrating thanksgiving, which is a really important holiday here! As we look back on the last few months we can’t help but be full of thanksgiving for what God has been doing! We are still learning and it is still really challenging and difficult at times but we are continuing to discover more and more that He is always faithful, He is exciting, He is fun, He is worth our all and the pleasure of knowing Him doesn’t compare to anything else on this earth. Even if sometimes the process is very uncomfortable it is completely worth it to get to where He wants us to be and to be able to discover the greater depths of His nearness in the process.
I pray that God wold continue to take us all deeper into our love affair with Him and that we would know by experience the greater depths of the riches of His love!
This week the Americans are celebrating thanksgiving, which is a really important holiday here! As we look back on the last few months we can’t help but be full of thanksgiving for what God has been doing! We are still learning and it is still really challenging and difficult at times but we are continuing to discover more and more that He is always faithful, He is exciting, He is fun, He is worth our all and the pleasure of knowing Him doesn’t compare to anything else on this earth. Even if sometimes the process is very uncomfortable it is completely worth it to get to where He wants us to be and to be able to discover the greater depths of His nearness in the process.
I pray that God wold continue to take us all deeper into our love affair with Him and that we would know by experience the greater depths of the riches of His love!
We are so thankful for each person who prays for us, supports us, loves us , blesses us , cheers us on and who has encouraged us, especially in the last few months! We wouldn’t be here without you all and we love you so much ! X We feel so thankful for each person and we greatly miss our family and friends spread over two continents! There are times I wish the world wasn’t so big! We are praying for all the amazing things going on in Grimsby (with City Church) and in Cambodia (with our beautiful Iris family)
Ps it’s so beautiful here and amazing so COME VISIT !!!!!!
Ps it’s so beautiful here and amazing so COME VISIT !!!!!!
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Cleethorpes not far from where we have been staying
Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Psalms 36:5
God is so faithful and kind. In every challenge he keeps proving Himself true.
This transition of our family from living in Cambodia, to moving to the UK, having a baby and then moving to the States, all in less than 6 months - is the biggest transition I have experienced so far! It has meant much uncertainty in many different areas! At the beginning of this whole journey if I (Steve) was to try and look at the "big picture" of everything that had to fall into place it would feel a bit overwhelming!
Every time that I would start to feel overwhelmed, Jesus would be so gentle and reassuring; reminding me of His promises and His faithfulness. From there I decided to just try and take things one small step at a time. In every single little step Jesus has proven Himself consistent, faithful and encouraging.
This transition of our family from living in Cambodia, to moving to the UK, having a baby and then moving to the States, all in less than 6 months - is the biggest transition I have experienced so far! It has meant much uncertainty in many different areas! At the beginning of this whole journey if I (Steve) was to try and look at the "big picture" of everything that had to fall into place it would feel a bit overwhelming!
Every time that I would start to feel overwhelmed, Jesus would be so gentle and reassuring; reminding me of His promises and His faithfulness. From there I decided to just try and take things one small step at a time. In every single little step Jesus has proven Himself consistent, faithful and encouraging.
An example of this happened recently when we sent out a private email update requesting prayer for a few things including our impending visit to the US Embassy for our visa interview. They could have denied our visa request after asking to look at our proof of funding for the year (we needed to show that we had at least $20,000 to finance our 9 months there). So we needed to really trust God that he would get us through.
We were interviewed by a man who actually had a cousin attend the exact school of ministry that we are enrolling at and understood about it all. What are the chances? Out of hundreds of possible interviewers!!?? In the end he didn't ask to look at our bank statements and our visas were granted!
Each small step like that, before and after, God has been re-enforcing his faithfulness and kindness. Even in the really difficult step in leaving Cambodia and all that is dear to our hearts out there He has been so faithful. We have at times missed the precious people and team there so much! But He has given us the grace to get through as we have followed him in obedience.
We were interviewed by a man who actually had a cousin attend the exact school of ministry that we are enrolling at and understood about it all. What are the chances? Out of hundreds of possible interviewers!!?? In the end he didn't ask to look at our bank statements and our visas were granted!
Each small step like that, before and after, God has been re-enforcing his faithfulness and kindness. Even in the really difficult step in leaving Cambodia and all that is dear to our hearts out there He has been so faithful. We have at times missed the precious people and team there so much! But He has given us the grace to get through as we have followed him in obedience.
While we were first settling back into the UK, we felt the leading from the Lord (from Matthew 13:44) to sell a one-bedroom that flat we own in Grimsby; to help part fund our time in America. It needed a new kitchen and lots of other work. I had never done anything like this before in my life and had absolutely no clue about renovating a property. Yet small step by small step we were blessed with help, by the right people at the right time and after a couple of months of hard work (and what seems like lots of small steps) it was completely finished. Then when it was put up for sale it had three different buyers in a bidding war and we ended up receiving an offer significantly over the asking price and much more than what I was hoping for (and more than the average value for the local area)! The sale is going through at the moment and we are praying for a swift completion!
There were a few times whilst I was renovating the flat (while I was also working as a supply teacher in a secondary school) that the task just looked too huge! I felt clueless, but I was just looking in the wrong place. When I looked at Jesus I just kept getting reassurance and encouragement from Him and He helped to make it happen in lots of little ways, including providing people to help me out.
He has proven himself in lots of other things in the last few months and there are may things which we are really thankful to Him for (included in the pictures and captions below):
He has proven himself in lots of other things in the last few months and there are may things which we are really thankful to Him for (included in the pictures and captions below):
My favourite of all of the things to be thankful for from our time here has been the safe arrival of our little boy Benjamin Robert Brown. Many of you already know about him and some of you have already met him personally. In everything from the pregnancy in Cambodia, the moment he was born, the following few months as a newborn - God has been faithful and we are so grateful to Him for this precious little addition to our family.
He is now 3 months old and just doesn't stop smiling. He is healthy and is such a joy to our whole family including his big sister Gracie who loves him so well (sometimes too well by giving him very big squeezes). He brings me so much joy every time I look at him.
During our time here there have also been some very intense situations and some moments of deep testing of our faith; which have been hard and stressful at times. However whenever we took the time to come to Jesus, to hear from His perspective; He has then given us wisdom, love and the faith to keep going, keep hoping and keep trusting in Him
He is now 3 months old and just doesn't stop smiling. He is healthy and is such a joy to our whole family including his big sister Gracie who loves him so well (sometimes too well by giving him very big squeezes). He brings me so much joy every time I look at him.
During our time here there have also been some very intense situations and some moments of deep testing of our faith; which have been hard and stressful at times. However whenever we took the time to come to Jesus, to hear from His perspective; He has then given us wisdom, love and the faith to keep going, keep hoping and keep trusting in Him
We mentioned also in a recent prayer request that we were trying to find a house in America to rent. It is difficult finding somewhere in a city that you have never been, you have no clue which areas are good to be in, a place that's the other side of the world and you can only look at photos on the internet of and not actually be there! We think we have finally found somewhere though! So thank you so much for your prayers!
It was a long process after 2+ months of looking at hundreds of different places online we were still clueless but we were blessed to be able to speak to someone in the Iris Global team based in Redding who really helped to point us in the right direction. Then after narrowing it down to a few options we decided to go for one that we thought was the right one so we applied for it! Then Mollie looked back at a random message that she received in June from a person from Bethel Church who she had never met before (see picture). This person said she felt "led to message" us about looking into a particular apartment complex. The ones she messaged about is exactly the same one we decided to apply for! After a long and gruelling process two months after we first received the message we ended up going with the very apartments which she felt led to tell us about two months previously (and that we had forgotten about). God is so good, even if we miss it and have to go through a process to get to the very place He intended us to be!
We are hopefully finalising paying a deposit for this place soon and then looking to start getting furniture so it's not completely empty when we arrive there. We fly out to San Francisco on the 27th of August and will stay there a night before driving the long journey North to Redding.
It was a long process after 2+ months of looking at hundreds of different places online we were still clueless but we were blessed to be able to speak to someone in the Iris Global team based in Redding who really helped to point us in the right direction. Then after narrowing it down to a few options we decided to go for one that we thought was the right one so we applied for it! Then Mollie looked back at a random message that she received in June from a person from Bethel Church who she had never met before (see picture). This person said she felt "led to message" us about looking into a particular apartment complex. The ones she messaged about is exactly the same one we decided to apply for! After a long and gruelling process two months after we first received the message we ended up going with the very apartments which she felt led to tell us about two months previously (and that we had forgotten about). God is so good, even if we miss it and have to go through a process to get to the very place He intended us to be!
We are hopefully finalising paying a deposit for this place soon and then looking to start getting furniture so it's not completely empty when we arrive there. We fly out to San Francisco on the 27th of August and will stay there a night before driving the long journey North to Redding.
I feel like in these last few months (and even for many years before). The constant pattern has been this; me realising I am completely clueless, me coming to Him for help, then after being with Him I realise that he is completely faithful and able to fulfil His promises, then I just try to trust him in the next small step of His leading.
Sometimes looking at the big picture of what Jesus calls us to do can be a bit overwhelming and scary! But if we just lean into Him, ask Him to show us things from His perspective, and then believe enough to follow Him in in the small steps of his leading, we can do "all things" through Him who is with us.
Now, because of these constant testimonies of His goodness, we choose to continue to follow Him in all the small steps ahead. We are learning more and more that He is fully able to fulfil His promises. He is so worthy!
Sometimes looking at the big picture of what Jesus calls us to do can be a bit overwhelming and scary! But if we just lean into Him, ask Him to show us things from His perspective, and then believe enough to follow Him in in the small steps of his leading, we can do "all things" through Him who is with us.
Now, because of these constant testimonies of His goodness, we choose to continue to follow Him in all the small steps ahead. We are learning more and more that He is fully able to fulfil His promises. He is so worthy!
Thank you all so much for your love, support and prayer over the last few months. We really feel so blessed to be connected to you and journey alongside you. Each prayer, gesture of support and kindness is a physical manifestation to us of the heart of God and reminds us of His goodness. We are so grateful for you.
If you would like to continue to pray for us as we move forward there are some prayer points below, please pray for:
-The last few weeks here in the UK with family and friends for while.
-Practical things, packing to move our whole family again, to a new continent this time.
-God's grace over the long travel times with the small kids, including the plane flight and the long drive up to Redding.
-That our application to rent the apartment in Redding will be successful and we will then be able to find furniture for it.
-That we will settle in well once we are in Redding as school starts a few days after we arrive!
-That the sale of my flat will go through supernaturally fast!
-For our family here who we have had a precious season really close to. That they will be blessed by the fact that they constantly are able to entrust us to Jesus so we can follow His purpose for us.
-Our family in Cambodia and all those we love there; we miss them greatly, God is doing amazing things with them all. Praying continued blessings on the team and those we love out there.
If you would like to continue to pray for us as we move forward there are some prayer points below, please pray for:
-The last few weeks here in the UK with family and friends for while.
-Practical things, packing to move our whole family again, to a new continent this time.
-God's grace over the long travel times with the small kids, including the plane flight and the long drive up to Redding.
-That our application to rent the apartment in Redding will be successful and we will then be able to find furniture for it.
-That we will settle in well once we are in Redding as school starts a few days after we arrive!
-That the sale of my flat will go through supernaturally fast!
-For our family here who we have had a precious season really close to. That they will be blessed by the fact that they constantly are able to entrust us to Jesus so we can follow His purpose for us.
-Our family in Cambodia and all those we love there; we miss them greatly, God is doing amazing things with them all. Praying continued blessings on the team and those we love out there.
**Please note because of our move we can no longer receive our financial support through stewardship.org.uk. If you support us through stewardship you will need to cancel any regular payments by the end of August.
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We have some big news about some huge changes ahead for us as a family!!
Firstly though, I have put some pictures below with short captions that mention some of our highlights from the last few months (as we have not posted on this blog for a while).
Firstly though, I have put some pictures below with short captions that mention some of our highlights from the last few months (as we have not posted on this blog for a while).
We got to have time in the UK with family for Christmas.
And then had wonderful time in the new year with Heidi Baker visiting our team...
...and ministering on outreach.
We have seen some incredible breakthroughs in the lives of some of our Khmer team members. One coming back from Mozambique completely transformed and another operating in the gifts of the Spirit for the first time.
God has been releasing some really clear strategy for what He has planned in Phnom Penh.
New things ahead...
Over 4 years ago we were in a worship service in the Phnom Penh House of Prayer. It was a powerful evening and during worship Mollie got a picture of us at Bethel Church, Redding, USA with a little girl (Grace) and a baby boy.
This was before we had plans for any children and right at the beginning of our time in Cambodia but we remembered about this back in June when we became pregnant again and we started to really pray into it. We also asked our fellow base leaders in the other Cambodia base to join in with praying with us for confirmations and spoke to our International Directors and asked them to be praying with us.
Since then we have had numerous prophetic confirmations from different people emailing us with pictures that they have had and other people prophesying over me in meetings -about a time of transition ahead and an open door into something new.
This was before we had plans for any children and right at the beginning of our time in Cambodia but we remembered about this back in June when we became pregnant again and we started to really pray into it. We also asked our fellow base leaders in the other Cambodia base to join in with praying with us for confirmations and spoke to our International Directors and asked them to be praying with us.
Since then we have had numerous prophetic confirmations from different people emailing us with pictures that they have had and other people prophesying over me in meetings -about a time of transition ahead and an open door into something new.
It's a boy!!
After praying lots and feeling great peace about it we went for the 20 week scan of our second child and it was confirmed to be a boy!! After much praying about it our Iris International Directors have given us their blessing too. In total I have a list of about 14 prophetic confirmations so God has been so gracious to make this next step really clear to us.
I had a friend email me out of the blue and said “I was praying for you this morning and I saw the picture of a clock and it went up to the number 5, does that mean anything to you?” I emailed him back thanking Him for sending it. We had received words about the number 5 and our time in Cambodia before.
This March (2017) when we return to the UK to prepare for the birth of our second child is exactly 5 years to the month since we set off on our scouting trip to Cambodia with the first ever Iris Team here!
I had a friend email me out of the blue and said “I was praying for you this morning and I saw the picture of a clock and it went up to the number 5, does that mean anything to you?” I emailed him back thanking Him for sending it. We had received words about the number 5 and our time in Cambodia before.
This March (2017) when we return to the UK to prepare for the birth of our second child is exactly 5 years to the month since we set off on our scouting trip to Cambodia with the first ever Iris Team here!
We plan to return to the UK in March for the birth of our boy and then after a season at home to leave for Bethel in the US in late August to attend the Ministry School starting in September. We are still in the application process so please pray for us!
Our hearts are still 100 percent for the nations and for missions and to follow Jesus but He has made it clear that this is our next step in following Him and our hearts priority is to do that!
It also makes huge sense to us that we have a season of training. We followed him out to the nations after only a short Missions School in Africa. By God’s grace we have been able to do what He has called us to in this 5 years since that but we feel like this season ahead will be a time of Him increasing our capacity, so we will be even better equipped to serve Him in the times ahead.
Our hearts are still 100 percent for the nations and for missions and to follow Jesus but He has made it clear that this is our next step in following Him and our hearts priority is to do that!
It also makes huge sense to us that we have a season of training. We followed him out to the nations after only a short Missions School in Africa. By God’s grace we have been able to do what He has called us to in this 5 years since that but we feel like this season ahead will be a time of Him increasing our capacity, so we will be even better equipped to serve Him in the times ahead.
What about Cambodia?
Iris Cambodia is in an exciting time. In Phnom Penh this year we plan to raise up local leaders and across our two bases have a flood of new longtermers joining us from the nations. We will have at least five new people in Phnom Penh and at least four people (two couples) joining the team in Sihanoukville. We believe this season ahead for the team is going to be full of expansion and increase!
It has been a huge honour to serve along side this beautiful team and learn from them but when God tells us to go we have to go and we trust that He will continue to propel the team into the amazing destiny He has ahead for them. We have some incredibly gifted leaders and servants on the ground here and more new people coming in who will be better equipped to move Iris Cambodia forward than we ever could. Despite us leaving Cambodia the team here are like family to us and we will continue to be a part of their journey and praying for them. We will miss living alongside such incredible heroes but we are thankful that geography doesn’t separate the special bonds we have with these people.
It has been a huge honour to serve along side this beautiful team and learn from them but when God tells us to go we have to go and we trust that He will continue to propel the team into the amazing destiny He has ahead for them. We have some incredibly gifted leaders and servants on the ground here and more new people coming in who will be better equipped to move Iris Cambodia forward than we ever could. Despite us leaving Cambodia the team here are like family to us and we will continue to be a part of their journey and praying for them. We will miss living alongside such incredible heroes but we are thankful that geography doesn’t separate the special bonds we have with these people.
We know we will come back to Cambodia as it has a very special place in our hearts. We have had words about it being our Jerusalem and the place from which that we go to other nations. But we do feel to not make any commitments about returning just yet so we can be fully open to whatever God has ahead for us in the future.
This last month we got to have a full Iris Cambodia Team get together in Sihanoukville and got to say goodbye as a family to the Sauder family (who are also leaving for a time) and also we ourselves received a good send off from the Sihanoukville team.
This next few weeks ahead we will be also saying goodbyes to our Phnom Penh team and other friends and finalising preparations for the team for the months ahead.
This time is full of mixed emotions. The thought of leaving this beautiful nation makes us feel sad; we have never met a people who are so loving, sweet, generous, caring and thoughtful. The Cambodian bride is truly magnificent and we feel so blessed to have spent the last few years learning how to love from them. But we believe that all those lives we hold so dear and who we have seen impacted by Gods love are so safe in the hands of our faithful Father.
We look forward to coming back one day and seeing the fruit of all the seeds sown and how God moves and breathes on the people and places our hearts burn for. Letting go is never easy but we trust that God has the best intentions for us and all those we love here and so we fully trust Him and know that there is no better place than the centre of His will.
We rejoice in God that we got the incredible privilege in serving in this nation and with this team. God has done some incredibly powerful things (mainly in us) and we are so thankful as we look back but we are also thankful as we look ahead with anticipation and excitement.
This last month we got to have a full Iris Cambodia Team get together in Sihanoukville and got to say goodbye as a family to the Sauder family (who are also leaving for a time) and also we ourselves received a good send off from the Sihanoukville team.
This next few weeks ahead we will be also saying goodbyes to our Phnom Penh team and other friends and finalising preparations for the team for the months ahead.
This time is full of mixed emotions. The thought of leaving this beautiful nation makes us feel sad; we have never met a people who are so loving, sweet, generous, caring and thoughtful. The Cambodian bride is truly magnificent and we feel so blessed to have spent the last few years learning how to love from them. But we believe that all those lives we hold so dear and who we have seen impacted by Gods love are so safe in the hands of our faithful Father.
We look forward to coming back one day and seeing the fruit of all the seeds sown and how God moves and breathes on the people and places our hearts burn for. Letting go is never easy but we trust that God has the best intentions for us and all those we love here and so we fully trust Him and know that there is no better place than the centre of His will.
We rejoice in God that we got the incredible privilege in serving in this nation and with this team. God has done some incredibly powerful things (mainly in us) and we are so thankful as we look back but we are also thankful as we look ahead with anticipation and excitement.
Please pray for us:
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! We love and appreciate all of you!!
- as we prepare to transition our lives to two continents in the next 6 months.
- as they process Steve’s application to join the School of Ministry (BSSM) in Bethel for it to be accepted.
- our team as we make final preparations for the next few months before their Phnom Penh team leaders Jason and Kellie arrive back in the summer. Especially for the person who will be leading the team in the interim.
- as we say goodbye to people we love ; we would have the grace to transition and finish well whilst processing all the emotions .
- Provision for this season ahead.
- There has been a real consistent attack on our health at the moment. Mollie in particular has had a lot of sickness recently. Not only so they can have strength to end things here well but also protection over what God has for us – as I write this Mollie is still unwell from another recent 5 day bug. Steve is now also unwell with the same sickness. In the next week we have an important team coming and Steve's parents coming to visit. Please pray we will get well and that the enemy will not be able to stop us from finishing well here.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! We love and appreciate all of you!!
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Since we moved to Phnom Penh lots has happened and even though we miss our close friends and (what feels like) family in Sihanoukville we are enjoying doing life in the capital.
We have already sent a few mini updates out so I’m not going to talk in detail about all of the things that have happened, but some highlights can be seen in the photo’s directly below with a short description. (Press play and/or the arrow buttons below if you want to see it).
We have already sent a few mini updates out so I’m not going to talk in detail about all of the things that have happened, but some highlights can be seen in the photo’s directly below with a short description. (Press play and/or the arrow buttons below if you want to see it).
Since moving to Phnom Penh we have hit the ground running. We seemed to join with the team just as they entered a season of increase and blessing and they have done an incredible job administering and enabling all that has been going on. In the midst of all this we have also had two trafficking cases in which we have had some involvement in and there have been some changes in our team personnel.
There has been lots happening, many encouraging things and lots to process. With so much going on and so many breakthroughs its easy to get lost in it all. In the midst of things going really well and some great testimonies happening (see photo's above) it is easy for it to become about just that.
It is easy to make the slight adjustment in priority in thinking in your heart that these things are the ultimate goal.
There has been lots happening, many encouraging things and lots to process. With so much going on and so many breakthroughs its easy to get lost in it all. In the midst of things going really well and some great testimonies happening (see photo's above) it is easy for it to become about just that.
It is easy to make the slight adjustment in priority in thinking in your heart that these things are the ultimate goal.
A few weeks ago I was having some time with God on the roof of our apartments and I found that somehow I had almost made that mistake. Like it was becoming only about what was being achieved for Him, what testimonies were coming out or what great things were getting done for Him.
These things are important and needed but only one thing is fulfilling or truly satisfying to me. Only one thing satisfies my heart and soul, I would trade all the great achievements in the world for that thing; That peace that gives you wholeness and that deep satisfaction. That only comes by having Him who is Peace close to me. Him who is Fulfilment nearby, Jesus himself.
I would trade anything just for that feeling of being close to him, truly whole, truly complete truly fulfilled, and that only comes from relationship, close relationship, not from any significant works that can be achieved. Somehow I had found I had lost that a bit.
These things are important and needed but only one thing is fulfilling or truly satisfying to me. Only one thing satisfies my heart and soul, I would trade all the great achievements in the world for that thing; That peace that gives you wholeness and that deep satisfaction. That only comes by having Him who is Peace close to me. Him who is Fulfilment nearby, Jesus himself.
I would trade anything just for that feeling of being close to him, truly whole, truly complete truly fulfilled, and that only comes from relationship, close relationship, not from any significant works that can be achieved. Somehow I had found I had lost that a bit.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Phil 3:7 (ESV)
Someone can be doing the most amazing world changing things and yet be truly unfulfilled in their heart. People can also be doing nothing and be completely unfulfilled. The majority of the satisfaction doesn’t come from the doing or the not doing but knowing Him closely in the midst of it all whether doing anything or nothing at all. True and full satisfaction is in Him.
In the last few months I have learnt that it is not wrong to want to do great things for Him and see lives changed and impacted and achieve wonderful things in His Kingdom but it is wrong to not continually seek close and meaningful relationship with Him in the midst of it all. So the main focus is not on the doing itself but in knowing Him more and more closely, being ever closer to him in the midst of the doing.
If anything takes higher priority in our life than our relationship with Jesus Christ it has become an idol. Jesus is so wonderful in every dimension of His being that there is nothing out there that is ever worthy of even coming close to that.
In the last few months I have learnt that it is not wrong to want to do great things for Him and see lives changed and impacted and achieve wonderful things in His Kingdom but it is wrong to not continually seek close and meaningful relationship with Him in the midst of it all. So the main focus is not on the doing itself but in knowing Him more and more closely, being ever closer to him in the midst of the doing.
If anything takes higher priority in our life than our relationship with Jesus Christ it has become an idol. Jesus is so wonderful in every dimension of His being that there is nothing out there that is ever worthy of even coming close to that.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3 (ESV)
Family news;
One of the happiest bits of news to report out of them all is that we are expecting a second child, and little Gracie is going to be a big sister!
We went for a scan a few weeks ago mummy and baby are doing very well and we found out that the baby is due in May 2017! We are so excited!
While this has been some joyful news for our wider family we have in the last few weeks had my Grandma fall seriously ill to the point where she has nearly died numerous times. Last week I got a call saying she had a few days left so I went back for a week to be with family and hopefully see my Grandma again. Thankfully I got to see her and so did my brother who flew in from Australia. It was a precious time to be with her and family but also a very emotional time. Please pray for our family and my Grandma that everything would be in God's timing and in God's way!
We went for a scan a few weeks ago mummy and baby are doing very well and we found out that the baby is due in May 2017! We are so excited!
While this has been some joyful news for our wider family we have in the last few weeks had my Grandma fall seriously ill to the point where she has nearly died numerous times. Last week I got a call saying she had a few days left so I went back for a week to be with family and hopefully see my Grandma again. Thankfully I got to see her and so did my brother who flew in from Australia. It was a precious time to be with her and family but also a very emotional time. Please pray for our family and my Grandma that everything would be in God's timing and in God's way!
We have been blessed to have some wonderful visitors
In the space of a week Grace was ill twice, once with sickness and here with chicken pox (although in my opinion still very cute).
During this time we were blessed to have Mollie's wonderful parents here though, they encouraged us and helped greatly, (Mollie's dad is also a retired GP!) We are so thankful to God for them.
As we look ahead please pray for;
- My wider family that they would be comforted in this difficult time.
- The health of Mollie and Baby and ongoing strength and energy.
- Protection over our family including Grace.
- Wisdom for us to lead the team here well and serve them well.
- Breakthrough in the slum where we minister twice weekly that we would finally get to rent the property that we have been after so we can set up a base there.
- Our Cambodian team members for prayer covering over them and the provision they need, and ongoing faith and trust in Jesus above all.
- Ongoing favour in our relationship with the government.
- Our Directors Jason and Kellie, for Jason as he continues to make progress in his recovery and for Kellie as she continues to lead incredibly well, whilst she is still a full time mum and a carer.
- For the new believers from the last few months, that they would receive the mentoring and the encouragement they need and continue to stand strong in their faith.
Sunrise over Kampong Cham where many of the new believers live.
Thank you so much! Much love from Steve, Mollie, Gracie and baby Bump!
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Writing this has taken me longer to do than I anticipated. I guess it’s taken me a while to fully process what God has been teaching and showing us, so I wanted to have clarity before sharing, including about news on the decision we mentioned about in our previous update.
Steve and I have had an incredible last few months since getting back, I would say we have felt the acceleration of what God has been doing, felt His joy greater than ever before and also felt such love and unity amongst our team and with the people here. Since arriving back I felt I have had permission to dream again and so excited about what God was putting in my heart; specifically for Sihanoukville. We have also seen some exciting fruit including some breakthroughs in outreaches to the "girly bars" and I have had the privilege of seeing our Cambodian team members reaching them with such passion, love and dedication.
A few weeks ago our director Kellie was here and it was a wonderful time! She asked if we would consider moving to Phnom Penh for 6 months to help with leading the team there. Initially I thought “surely not…no.. no.. can’t be right! As right now we are carrying such promise for this place and we are so happy!" Etc, etc. However we wanted to honour the request to prayerfully consider it, so we set time aside to pray and process with the other leaders down here.
Steve and I have had an incredible last few months since getting back, I would say we have felt the acceleration of what God has been doing, felt His joy greater than ever before and also felt such love and unity amongst our team and with the people here. Since arriving back I felt I have had permission to dream again and so excited about what God was putting in my heart; specifically for Sihanoukville. We have also seen some exciting fruit including some breakthroughs in outreaches to the "girly bars" and I have had the privilege of seeing our Cambodian team members reaching them with such passion, love and dedication.
A few weeks ago our director Kellie was here and it was a wonderful time! She asked if we would consider moving to Phnom Penh for 6 months to help with leading the team there. Initially I thought “surely not…no.. no.. can’t be right! As right now we are carrying such promise for this place and we are so happy!" Etc, etc. However we wanted to honour the request to prayerfully consider it, so we set time aside to pray and process with the other leaders down here.
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognise and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)
During a powerful time of prayer Steve sensed that God wanted us to say “Yes” to this request. Initially I felt pretty upset and angry; why God? It doesn’t make sense! I had a million reasons why I didn’t think it was right. However over the following days I had some really amazing times of worship with God where I remembered that our obedience is greater than any sacrifice. How could I not follow Him if He asked us? Everything else besides that seemed irrelevant so I let go. From grieving and sadness I started to feel excitement; we have a good Father and so I know it’s going to be a great adventure with Him! Since then God has given us such a peace this is the right thing and confirmed it to us lots of different times, in lots of different ways and through different people. We feel our time in Sihanoukville is not fully over and that our time in Phnom Penh is just for "a season", which really helps; as our hearts are so connected with the many precious ones down here.
Its interesting timing as our last week here is also the last week of the Dream Centre (at its current location) before it has to close temporarily while we prepare our new property. Even in the timing of all that it feels so amazing that God would let us see the end of the first chapter of somewhere so precious to us. Recently we got to be part of the final session there and it was incredibly beautiful and emotional as we got to reflect and remember all the amazing things that have happened. We also took all the kids up to our new centre (which at the moment is just empty land), watching them run around with such excitement and joy was incredible !
Its interesting timing as our last week here is also the last week of the Dream Centre (at its current location) before it has to close temporarily while we prepare our new property. Even in the timing of all that it feels so amazing that God would let us see the end of the first chapter of somewhere so precious to us. Recently we got to be part of the final session there and it was incredibly beautiful and emotional as we got to reflect and remember all the amazing things that have happened. We also took all the kids up to our new centre (which at the moment is just empty land), watching them run around with such excitement and joy was incredible !
Another amazing thing is that another missionary , who is a close friend, has arrived back in Sihanoukville this week with a desire to work with our community in the railway slum. This is perfect timing as I know she will be able to continue with a lot of what Steve and I have been doing and will continue to love and disciple the sweet families there. Plus we have such a wonderful team here who will stay connected with them, and we are also in partnership with a local church who make weekly visits to share God’s word and build relationship.
This next week or so will involve lots of goodbyes (for now) and we will be aiming to finish this season down here really well. We are thankful that we have already found an apartment in Phnom Penh and we are excited to see all that God wants to do in and through us there.
In all honestly when our directors first asked us I felt completely inadequate for the job at hand but I have learnt this last year that He gives us all we need to fulfil the calling He puts on us; and I have learnt to not look at myself or my own lack but keeping my eyes fixed on Him!
The team we will be working with in Phnom Penh are so wonderful and feel like family already but I know leaving our team here is going to be challenging. We are praying God gives us the grace for it all! Everyday it’s a choice to surrender to God or to do things our way and sometimes that’s easier than others. However when we say “Yes” to Him He is always so faithful! We are both excited for this next season of new levels of dependence, stretching, and growth and most importantly for more of Him!
Thank you so much to all of the amazing people who have been praying for us in making this decision we really appreciate you all greatly.
Much love,
Mollie, Steve and Gracie x
In all honestly when our directors first asked us I felt completely inadequate for the job at hand but I have learnt this last year that He gives us all we need to fulfil the calling He puts on us; and I have learnt to not look at myself or my own lack but keeping my eyes fixed on Him!
The team we will be working with in Phnom Penh are so wonderful and feel like family already but I know leaving our team here is going to be challenging. We are praying God gives us the grace for it all! Everyday it’s a choice to surrender to God or to do things our way and sometimes that’s easier than others. However when we say “Yes” to Him He is always so faithful! We are both excited for this next season of new levels of dependence, stretching, and growth and most importantly for more of Him!
Thank you so much to all of the amazing people who have been praying for us in making this decision we really appreciate you all greatly.
Much love,
Mollie, Steve and Gracie x
Please pray...
- ...that we would finish well here! That we would not leave any “loose ends”.
- ...that divine relationships and the heart connection with the team here would continue to be strong despite distance and that this move would bring even greater unity between the two Iris Cambodia teams.
- ...that we would be equipped in every way to do a good job in our new roles and to be a blessing to the team in Phnom Penh.
- ...packing, moving, logistics would go smoothly.
- ...we would settle in well to our new home.
- ...God would grace us with the ability to learn quickly and have the wisdom to make the right decisions.
Our neighbour's new front gate. Our team have loved them so well over the last few years. Please pray for them especially for protection as they continue to grow in their knowledge of Christ.
Gracie may miss some of the fun things we do in Sihanoukville, especially the trips with daddy to the local zoo! Please pray for her in this time of transition.
Grace loves her neighbours and especially the doggy's! Please pray for great community and friends in Phnom Penh.