A Work in Progress

As we usher in the New Year, it is easy to look over your shoulder at 2018 as a time of reflection while looking forward to what lies ahead. As many of you know, we experienced the dichotomy of two worlds in 2018 bringing a mixture of emotions, challenges and joy. Our ministry here in Kona and globally through the University of Nations this past year has been fulfilling, settling, and a testimony to God’s goodness as well as being life giving for us both. Yet, opposing all that, last year has been one of the most difficult, painful and trying years (minus Chris’s accident in 2010) of our 22 years serving in full-time missions- with 2018 bearing what was essentially a governmental shut down of YWAM DP in Belize, Central America.  

The phrase “A Work in Progress” keeps rattling around in our minds of late. It is an interesting phrase to dissect as we process and debrief the whirlwind of activity that has taken place last year with these two ministry worlds colliding. On the one hand, the YWAM training center we founded in 2003, ran with much success for many years, transferred to great staff almost four years ago and agonizingly closed in 2018; and on the other hand, the awe inspiring season we have had since leaving Belize to follow God’s call to serve more globally within YWAM. The “Work in Progress” includes a challenging mixture of the closure of the base with the intense weight that falls so heavily upon our shoulders and the solid, kingdom calling, continuation of the far reaching work we are privileged to do.

 Scripturally, the phrase a “Work In Progress” is so fitting for the journey we are all on as Christians: Not complete and not perfected.  Romans 15:13 reminds us that hope, joy and peace come from Him. Whether in the midst of an arduous task, a painful season or when life is humming along with jump in your step; God is near. He can be trusted. We need only to rely on Him. 

 A “Work In Progress” we are. Sometimes we are battered and bruised, sometimes things are easy and not so hard- but we are always victorious- always looking to Him to sustain and to strengthen us giving us hope, peace and joy in times past, now and forever. 

Deeper and Wider

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“Our net will go deeper and wider”. This statement is one of many that we have heard over the course of our transition which has lead us to serve with YWAM much more globally than ever. The casting of our “nets” has begun with our roles being more and more defined here at the base in Kona. Many of you on our support team are not aware that I have been doing biblical (lay) counseling for years. My net has expanded to not only counseling students here at YWAM Kona, but also staff and leaders. What a privilege to counsel, mentor and coach those on the front lines!

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Our Latest Newsletter

A Family on the GO!

Hi Friends and Family,
As a result of much prayer, listening to the Lord and extensive preparations, the transition we’ve been talking about for a long time has come to its culmination. We are very excited to now be serving globally from Kona. Please read on and be updated on our family’s extensive travels and great work around the world.

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In Kona!

After over 3 years of praying, listening, and preparing, our transition to Kona is now complete!  We arrived on Saturday the 10th and are getting settled: learning more about our roles, teaching and travel schedules and what it’s like to live on the Big Island.  We’ll send more updates soon!

House Offer Received!

We are very excited to announce that after months of prayer, hoping, strategic planning and hard work, we have received and accepted an offer for our house on Whidbey Island. As an important step in our transition to serving with YWAM globally from Kona, we initially listed the house back in July 2015 and unfortunately had to come down further than we wanted to on the price, but as long as everything goes through as it now seems it will, we should be able to close in April.  If we are able to close as expected, this brings us one large step further forward in our transition and opens the door to our upcoming move to Kona and our work with YWAM globally.  Thanks so much for your prayers!  Please do continue to pray for the sale of our house on Whidbey; that we are able to close as expected.

 

In Southern California

We are currently together in Southern Cal where Chris working toward a Masters in Theology / Biblical Languages at Fuller Theological Seminary and Lynn is working toward a certificate in counseling through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. The degree Chris is working on has a residency requirement that states he needs to be on campus some of the time.

Our Transition Continues

Not long ago, we announced that we are in the midst of a transition between serving on the campus of YWAM DP in Belize to serving with YWAM globally (including YWAM DP) from Kona, Hawaii. This transition is well underway and going very well. We’re very excited about growing from starting and leading a very successful YWAM base to roles where we’ll have an even greater impact globally as we seek to be a part of ending bible poverty, bringing the gospel to the last, lost and the least and see God glorified throughout the earth.
We have identified four primary areas of transition. Here they are briefly:

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A Transition Back to the Pacific

World in HandsThe major oceans of the world are all connected.  We’ve had a chance to see that first hand over the years.  When we the Toney family, accepted God’s invitation to join him in His mission to the last, lost and least of the world, our kids were 4, 2 and just 1 year old.  Now they are 23, 21 and 19 and each following God’s call on their own lives.   God has taken us to some very exciting and wonderful places.  Continue reading “A Transition Back to the Pacific”