Over the last couple of months the Lord has been speaking to us about our future! At the end of April I was invited to go on a scouting trip to a Nation in the 10/40 Window with a group of men who will be moving there to joyfully labor in Church Planting. The Lord brought much clarity during this time for what He has been birthing in my heart for unreached people groups. After much prayer and confirmation Keri & and I will be transitioning out of New Zealand
For the full story behind all this please contact me and I will send you a copy! What I will say here is related to us leaving New Zealand now! While in the 10/40 last month I had a heart transplant! I have been sitting on the idea of moving to a specific city in a specific Nation for a few years now and was in essence waiting for God’s timing. Upon returning Keri and I began to pray about timing! Our main concern was that we did not dishonor our leaders by making rash decisions! We submitted this before our leaders and took some time to pray! We also asked a few mother like and father like friends who were completely unaware of my recent trip to pray for us! A few days later we were given a response by one of these couples who while praying for us saw a prophetic picture that described the specific Nations flag! About a week later a good friend of ours told Keri that the Lord wanted to minister to her in her dreams and that she needed to make sure and journal her dreams! That night Keri had a dream that clearly showed us that our time here in New Zealand was to come to a close and that we were to transition!
What it will Look Like
Our team of between 15-25 will initially locate in a low-risk area. This will serve as a non-threatening environment where our families can safely adapt to the new culture and way of life. We will connect there with an incredible kiwi couple – Chris and Sus D. Chris and Sus are well seasoned in frontier ministry and have been gracious in offering to serve our team as “entry coaches” (their words) as we settle in the land. We’re so thankful for their invaluable friendship and experience. In the early years, as we gel and grow as a team, we will have a few different aims under girding our long-term trajectory. Our primary goal for the future will be to see indigenous congregations established where very few churches, believers, or Christian workers exist. While there is always a possibility in this region that the door could close, as long as the Lord provides a way to labor, or clearly leads us elsewhere, a church planting movement will be our overarching aim.
The Driving Conviction
The fundamental urgency behind our labor, however, is much wider in scope than this spefic region alone. The apostle Paul wrote, “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation” (Rom. 15:20). Our burden, defined generally (but not dogmatically), encompasses the broader region of the Middle East with its high concentration of unreached and unengaged people groups. To be clear, our primary focus is decidedly a specific Nation. But, our growing group will seek regional as well as local impact in the coming years. And if the door was ever to shut there, our conviction over the region would remain and we would seek another point of entry elsewhere.
Keri and I will be back in Columbus, Georgia in late July and will look to move some time late 2012! Over the next few months we will be busy with visiting family in multiple states, missions conferences and necessary preparations for the move. We very much appreciate your prayers and support! We value your input as well.
Love & Blessings,
The Robbins
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