Newsletter no. 1

Dear Friends,

On 24th February I will be flying out to Christchurch, New Zealand to begin a six month discipleship training school (DTS). The school is run by a worldwide organisation called Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to give people a flavour of what it would be like to be a missionary overseas and the essential training required.

The course comprises two phases:
A twelve week lecture phase, where we will learn from the Bible, worship God and receive teaching. An eighty day outreach phase, where we will be backpacking around the world connecting with different travellers we meet and assisting different missionary projects.

That’s the facts. And now here’s the theory.

I first felt lead by God to do a DTS about a year ago. Although many other options seemed more sensible, the idea of doing a DTS kept presenting itself. Every time I prayed about the dreaded NEXT YEAR any fourth year student faces, God seemed to confirm the DTS idea. Sometimes it was in 20ft high letters, but mostly in a whisper to my heart. Beautiful scenery is important to me and travelling is just about my favourite thing, so when I heard about this particular DTS in NZ my heart began to race. I wanted to go now. To an impatient person ‘Now’ is the bit of time in between you and your dreams. That bit of time was longer than I had expected, more like eight months rather than three. I had originally planned to go in September, but my finances were in a bad shape and I didn’t have that sense of peace which I experienced about DTS in general. I was confused and pained for a while. After deciding to go in February everything kind of made sense again. It’s good to be wrong sometimes, it’s the best opportunity for learning something new.

So I’m leaving in about ten days now and I’m excited. I feel God has taken me by the hand leading me through each step to bring me to this point. The closer I get to going the more I feel I need Him, which feels right and good. It’s a strange paradox that the more things are out of your control the more peaceful you feel. I guess it’s like being a kid. Do you remember how stress free it was going out to a restaurant or to the zoo with your parents? No worries about paying the bill, attracting the waiter’s attention or even finding the toilet. Simply put your requests to your father and he’ll see to the rest. How amazing is it that we have such a Father at whose table we sit and whose means are infinite.

I’m not sure what comes next, but this feels like an essential step, in a sense, in my growth as a Christian. I hope to learn more of God’s heart for me and others, but also practical skills in helping others. Working with God like this I hope to learn more my own calling, because we all have one. Wonderful people – who have asked to receive this and others - friends, it excites me to be going through this with you. I’ve prepared a few suggestions for how you can pray for me.

NOW

Practical preparations: Thank God for how He has brought me from idea to reality. For provision of good flights, other material things, jobs and donations. Pray that God would continue to provide and help me to be a good steward of all the things He has given me.

Spiritual preparations: Thank God for how He has held me up through good and bad times over the last few months. Please pray for
continued protection over my head and heart
Good use of my remaining time at home
For my family and Lucia, who I will miss a lot.

PHASE ONE 26th Feb 2005 – 20th May 2005

Please pray for…

A deeper revelation of God’s love for us and for others.
Good relationships within the team. For understanding, openness, vulnerability, bonding, ministering to each other, healing.
Guidance as to the exact locations of our outreach and how God would have us spend our outreach time.

PHASE TWO 21st May 2005 – 12th Aug 2005

Please pray for…

Protection as we travel in to difficult places.
Provision of funds and materials necessary to help.
Rejoicing in the face of persecution.
The Holy Spirit to be our strength and our source of energy.
The love of Jesus to be evident to others through us.
Peace in everything we face.
God to be Glorified at all times and Christ exalted in all we say and do.

I want to tell you about how I love being part of the true vine Jesus. It’s from John 15 and it’s wonderful. God comes to you, flows through you, renews you and uses you. Being part of Him we bare much fruit. Apart from Him we can do nothing.

Thank you so much for even reading this. As you know I really appreciate your friendship and support. I hope to write to you again soon, but if you want more news and to pray for more things check out my website thing given below. I hope to be adding to it fairly regularly. Until then…

Take care
God Bless,

Conor Hull
8 Stewart Road
Newtownards
BT23 7AZ
e. conorhull@hotmail.com
t. 02891 815820
m. 07742 030 292
www.conorhull.blogspot.com