Happy New Year Friends and Family!
It’s always great to look back over a year and find the things that God had been doing all along that can only be seen and appreciated through hindsight. This year God proved himself in an entirely different way than I had expected or trusted him to do before. He gave me the testimony that he spoke of in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This is exactly what God did this year. I went to the School of Biblical Studies, not because I thought it would make me great or special, but because The Lord was saying to be trained to become a teacher, and so I went. He called me back to the YWAM Colorado Springs Strategic Frontiers Base and I went, not because I thought it was any great idea that would bring in big bucks- but because again, he was saying to do it. And all along the way, as I obeyed what I believed he was saying, he started bringing incredible opportunities my way.
As I mentioned in my last letter, a huge prayer has been answered in the form of a group of talented musicians called WorshipMob. I have been praying for over 6 years to be surrounded by talented musicians that I can learn from and become excellent at my craft on guitar and vocals with, and it is finally coming into fruition right before my eyes. I also have seen a much longer anticipated prayer answered- in the form of a lovely woman- that has blown every expectation of a relationship with a girl out of the water. And as I look back I see that it’s not simply that God “Added unto me” but he also fulfilled Eph. 3.20 by doing it far more abundantly than I ever could have anticipated.
This leads me into what I feel that God is saying for me and my ministry for this year- to continue the testimony that he began last year and see it grow to measures I never dreamed possible. I’m expecting testimonies that lead to a greater understanding of who God is and what he’s like that lead to trust him deeply and praise him ever more genuinely. Already, God has answered huge prayers that I can’t quite share yet, but am very excited to tell you all as soon as I possibly can!
On a practical level, this is what I’m looking at doing this year: I finish out my term as the Kitchen Manager on my YWAM Base in mid April, and while I’m serving in this position I will be challenging the students I work with. I want to encourage them to wrestle with God and tell them every testimony I have so that they can take it and go see God Move on their behalf, because they know what he’s done for me. From January to April the School of Biblical Studies Staff has been invited to teach the Discipleship Training School how to study inductively and teach the bible- this is a new opportunity for us and we are all SO EXCITED to be able to share with them and see them gain understanding on who God is and how to encounter him through studying his word. After the January school has ended I will have some time to prepare a teaching on how to study Prophetic Literature and present it as a seminar here on campus with the hopes that everyone who attends leaves with an understanding of prophecy’s roll in today’s church and it’s purpose (And especially how to do it with excellence!). Come summertime, I’m hoping to take a Seminar on Church history and soon after that we begin training for running the School of Biblical studies and I can finally begin learning how to teach!
Prayer Requests:
- I’m trusting the Lord to double my support- I’m currently working 40 hours a week as a missionary and making less than half of the regular minimum wage through donations and monthly support.
- I need new people to contact and for hearts to be opened to supporting what God has called me to do in training and equipping missionaries to effectively teach God’s word to the least reached.
- I need wisdom and God’s heart for the individuals who will be working with me in the Kitchen so that I can be a vessel for discipleship, encouragement and one who calls out God’s best in them.
Thank you all for your love, prayer, and support this past year, and I look forward to sharing even more of what I get to see God do throughout this new year!
- Peter Byers
