Justice Water with Jamie

What a blessing to get to be a part of this wild ride with such a radical, excited, God-loving group of people! I have loved getting to spend the last ten weeks in Kyrgyzstan, getting to see a completely different part of God’s world. It has been stunning to see such love built between a bunch of white westerners and our new Kyrgyz friends. I can safely say for everyone that love crushes language and cultural boundaries and builds relationships that point to our heavenly Father. Jesus says in John 13:34-35 – “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” For me, getting to see the reactions of deep sadness to us leaving showed me that living in and showing true love really did make lasting, eternal impact. It seems to me like the more we can show love to others and truly “look out not only for our interests, but also the interests of others,” the more we have an influence, and this outreach has showed me a really cool example. - James Boyce

“All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God” – (Psalm 86:9-10.) He is so worthy of praise from all of His people. God loves Kyrgyzstan. He loves the people of Molovodne and He cannot wait until the day where His name is praised from that place. He has given us His heart for the nation as a whole, and He has shown us how committed He is to each heart…each individual. He has blessed us and chosen us to be a part of His story for Kyrgyzstan. He put people in our path so specifically that we are privileged to be able to call our friends. He has been so faithful opening doors and opportunities for us to tell and show people who Jesus really is and how much He loves them. Whether it was by playing basketball and jump rope, sitting for hours drinking cups of tea, digging a hole for a toilet, leading a church service, or preparing and sharing a massive feast with friends…God really gave us ways to show Jesus to people in ways they could relate to and understand. It has been such a joy to get to do this. I am so thankful that we can rejoice and trust in God’s faithfulness, and that His promises are Truth. He was in Molovodne long before we were, He prepared the way, He walked with us step by step the whole time, and as we leave He will continue to pursue their hearts and reveal Himself to them. He is worthy and He loves them so much. - Annie Rollins

I would like to thank the Academy for nominating me for this award. I was quite surprised to be nominated to be honest; looking at my compatriots and all the others who were nominated for this award I think that they all are worthy to be standing where I am now standing. I honour them. Many people got this little independent project of ours off the ground and I would like to bring them to the attention of the Academy. A big shout out must go to Grace and The Call, these two great friends of ours who started us on this journey in the first place, A Desire to Save and A Heart For the Lost, both of you deserve a mention. Prayer, you Sir, provide us with all the energy and special help we needed, thank you. Compassion: a sterling effort Madame. Well done you. Honour! You honoured us, thank you. A special shout to the parental units, the M and M’s for providing vital project funding: the jiving Crowes, EVJ Bathurst and his good lady wife, Tracey, the Church of the Trinity and the funked-out bobcat. All deserve an exceptional mention for prayerful and financial support. Thank you. The extended family Bathurst: Holler! Finally to our wonderful director, without whom I would not be standing here today: this was your inspiration and your vision, all we did was carry it out. Take a bow Father, Son, and Spirit. Take a bow. - Stephen Bathurst

During outreach God told me a lot of things. He also used me in big ways. I would like to use this time I have to tell you a little of how God used me in Kyrgyzstan. God showed me that He loves people that are different in vast ways. It was a good reminder that God loves people I have never even thought about. God showed me that He is never changing and that I shouldn’t rely on myself but rely in Him and Him alone. Even the little things matter. The small things make a big impact in the Kingdom of heaven and can change things for the better. Thanks for all the love and support. - Westin Reynolds

As some of you may know, this was my first mission trip I have ever been on. It was the most amazing, exciting, stretching, and humbling experience. Learning and being a part of a different culture, language, and people was such a privilege. God chose us. Out of the entire world, He chose us to go to Kyrgyzstan and live in the village of Molovodne. Not only did God provide for us and remain faithful, but He also blessed us with the most amazing friends and family here. I know only a tiny bit of how much my Father loves me and other people. His heart and His love for these people are so big. He gave me His heart for this country and I am so incredibly thankful to be a part of it. I’ve realized how much it’s not about me, it’s about Him and He is so worthy of it all. "Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess…" I’m so thankful that we serve a God that is almighty and all-powerful. We can’t do anything on our own but we can depend on Him. His promises are true. Leaving this place has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, but God has given me such comfort in knowing that He will always be with them, He has never given up on them, and He wont stop fighting. - Grace Carroll

This entire trip to Kyrgyzstan has been a life changing experience. I have realized the value of what can happen if I have fear of God over fear of man. I have physically seen the power of prayer and have experienced the realness of God’s promises. Everyday I am reminded of how desperately I need Him in my life, and it is heartbreaking to see all these people who don’t know Him (yet.) The people of this amazing and beautiful country truly have my heart, because God gave me His heart for them. Sure, I can’t speak to anyone in this country due to the language barrier, but I was called to do a DTS and come to Kyrgyzstan, and if it was only to help bring one person a step closer to God, it was worth it. You might think this entire outreach might not have been productive since we didn’t see a salvation, but I strongly disagree. While here, my amazing team and I have brought the people we have come in contact with one large step closer to God and knowing His ultimate truth, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience in this country. - Kolin Schinnell

Traveling to different countries to share God’s love is the greatest thing I have ever done. “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” – (Acts 20:24.) Each time I go somewhere, I get the Father’s heart for His people and the nations. It’s hard pouring out His love on people knowing I will become attached to the people and the place, and then having to leave without a piece of my heart. It is a piece I will never get back. But God is so faithful, and He continues to give me more of His love and compassion regardless of how much I pour out. No matter how many weeks, months, or years pass, I will always remember the time I spent two and a half months in Kyrgyzstan fulfilling the work my Father set before me – I will hold in my heart the people, names, and faces that I have grown to love. What an honour - He has blessed me beyond anything I could ever hope for - connecting with brothers and sisters in Christ in a closed Muslim country. His blood runs deeper than the blood of this world. I will hold onto the promises the Father spoke to me about these people…about this place. I will persevere with the work that continues here even as I get ready to depart. God has been speaking to me about the gravity and the impact of what my team has left in Kyrgyzstan. In redeeming mankind, Jesus retrieved what man had lost through the fall. He declared, “…I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18.) Then He says, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20.) In other words: I got it all back. Now go use it and reclaim mankind. I have been given the keys to the Kingdom – “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven” – (Matthew 16:19.) This is the authority to trample over the powers of hell and plunder the pits of hell – “Look I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you” – (Luke 10:19.) In Isaiah 22:22 it says, “I will give him the key to the house of David – the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.” And in Revelation 3:7 – “…This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open…” The powers of the key of David consisted not only in deciding who was and who was not to be received into the King’s service. All the Father has is mine through Christ. His entire treasure house of resources, His royal chambers, is at my disposal. But the serious part of this truth is found in regulating who gets in to see the King. This is what I do with the Good News. When I proclaim it, I give opportunity for people to come to the King to be saved. When I am silent, I have chosen to keep those who would hear away from eternal life. It is a costly key for me to use. But, it’s even more costly to bury it and not obtain an increase for the coming King. My team has been faithful. We have stepped out. We have proclaimed the Good News. We have opened the door for our new friends, and as they continue on their quest for truth, Christ will draw them through it. - Ansley Ozment