Missions Short-Term Mission Reports Surrey 2024
HOKU: Isaiah 43:18–19 says, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 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.”
On the surface, the landscape of Surrey is changing. The presence of homeless and substance-addicted communities has decreased. Affordable housing and infrastructure improvements have plowed away things that represent the old ways. Family businesses—houses passed down for generations—were removed to make way for the new. On the surface everything looks good, planting ideas of prosperity, growth, and hope for the future; but underneath, Surrey still needs healing. Surrey needs the Lord to do something new.
We partnered with VFC Surrey, coming under the authority of Pastor Jhan Goh. His heart is to leave a legacy of children and leaders who are better—better pastors then those that came before, better evangelists, and better intercessors. Our task was to stand in unity with him, assisting in training the leadership to come under one authority in planning the first annual kids camp. We contended for God’s will and plan to be established in being flexible to serve in season and out of season. As we preached God’s word we shared our testimonies transparently, pointing others to how His power manifested in our lives, allowing us to be a shining light in Surrey.
JAMES: Missions is as much about raising the level of commitment in the hearts of believers as it is about reaching the lost. The seeds for a chain of command, alignment and organization to a spiritual authority are sprouting in Surrey. Being there to support that transition means a lot, and I’m excited to share about the prophetic sifting that God is doing to prepare Vancouver for revival. God is separating sheep from goats, wise virgins from unwise virgins, those who invest their God-given talents and those who hide them in fear of the Master, and those who seek unity to reap a greater harvest and those who divide with watered down agendas.
NELLIE: I’ve known the Lord and have been saved for many years. I’ve attended Red Hill for decades, attend a Connect Group, and volunteer at church—yet while I was doing all these things, I was not giving my all to the Lord. There was something missing. I felt so blah. I don’t know if you have ever felt that way. I was living what you would call a comfortable Christian life. One day I inquired of the Lord and I felt the Lord say, “I want all of you, Nellie.” The Sunday before we left for Canada, Pastor Ko gave a message about “selective obedience” being a sin. I had to ask God to forgive me because that was exactly what I was doing.
1 Samuel 15:22 says, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” God selected me and each member of our team for his purpose. We learned to rely more on the Holy Spirit as the Lord started shaking things up. I had let go of needing everything planned out in advance. Having detailed information and schedules to the minute. Boy, the Lord just blew all of that away! All I could do was surrender to God; he humbled me and taught me to trust in Him. The night of our departure, when Pastor Scott called us into the conference room and gave us the news that he was not flying with us, I was not surprised at all. I just said, “OK God, we’re trusting in you.” And that’s exactly what we had to do—trust God, not man.
LUTRELL: After my husband passed away in 2016, my spiritual life changed completely. The Lord began speaking to me about getting more involved in serving him. I was as they say a comfortable Christian: praying and reading my bible daily and being satisfied in going to church to fellowship on Sunday. But when the Lord started dealing with me, I said, “OK, Lord.” I made a decision and committed myself to the great commission and in obedience doing all I could to prepare for what came next.
Being one of the rookies on the team and my very first time out, I was like a sponge absorbing all that my leaders were teaching, stepping out in boldness and telling the Lord, “OK, here we go, Lord, It’s me and you, all for your glory.” On this mission I learned that I couldn’t use age as an excuse for not going any longer, and that age really doesn’t matter. I only had to be willing to go, because God can use anyone at any age. So at 81 years old, I answered the call. I also learned that wherever the Lord sends you, He’ll go with you; He won’t leave you to fend for yourself. He set everything up: the mission plan, my preparation, the godly leaders and encouragers—all I needed to do was step out in faith!