GoWests!

Fruit from Cambodia, Dec 2015 December 15, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 9:39 pm

On my way back from Cambodia. …Such a worthwhile and fruitful trip.

It was a joy on two fronts. Firstly the opportunity to teach and encourage the new generation of disciplers. I taught on effective discipleship skills, strategic discipleship for the long term, and core spiritual identity.

Secondly, encouraging the old friends who have been working for a long time there. They are taking significant ground, but you don’t always see the victories across the landscape when you are fighting day to day in the trenches. Even the long-termers – the leaders of the others – need encouragement too (who lifts their arms up?). It was such a privilege to be able to meet with people, acknowledge their work and lives, and say so many times to so many people, “We are so proud of you.”

The ministry here in Battambang is almost 10 years old. It is hard to comprehend all of the victories achieved, souls saved, difficulties faced, and even the seemingly endless vision that the people here keep producing. Among many others, we are very privileged and proud “spiritual parents”.

I believe we are beginning to see long-awaited (and hard-fought) fruit emerge: the shift from being a people who see themselves as poor Christians, survivors and recipients only, to people who are now becoming a training and sending nation, walking in their individual and cultural calling. I saw a body of Christians who are talking steps in their God-given calling as trainers, contributors and senders. Not just surviving day to day; the sense of a nation crippled under a poverty mentality and the brutality of the past feels like it is slipping. The believers here are standing up, and going out.

Part of that is the formation of the upcoming ASEAN DTS, combining DTS’s from 8 nations in the region, for the region. What I witnessed up close was a group of young leaders, dedicated to applying the Word to themselves, because they see their role in changing an entire nation within their generation, as well as influencing the nations around them. It was absolutely amazing to stand there with them, to help draw out the leadership, vision and discipleship within them.

Coming up in the next blog:

In January I will share possibly the greatest highlight of the trip. Stay tuned, you DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT. This event impacted me deeply, but the story actually started 20 years ago! I only saw the results last week.

People often ask us, “what do we do?” Over the next few months we want to highlight a few people we have helped train and got to know over the years who are making a tangible and eternal difference. I think that these people have been among the most important “work” we have been involved with. As Paul says,^“You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Cor 3:3)

Justin and Garth. Dear friends – and their families – who have been part of our lives since the early Kona days.

Yuka and Deem: met them in Cambodia, now heading toward Laos.

Elizabeth, or “Izzy”. She was a student in our 2008 DTS in Montana.

Mala and Kirsten.

Kellee and Molly.

What a way to end the year – so blessed. That is a glimpse of Cambodia December 2015, and some of the upcoming stories on our blog for 2016.

Love and blessings this Christmas season. He is the reason we all do this!

JW

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Equipping November 3, 2015

Filed under: DTS Equip,Family,Photos,Updates — GoWests! @ 9:43 am

molly eden pumpkins

Hello Friends!

We hope you have been enjoying the change in season, regardless of where you are. Here in Montana, fall has officially arrived, and in true north-west fashion, is almost gone; winter is hard on its heels! Read on for some short updates from various parts of our lives and ministry.

Equip

2015: I recently received two encouraging emails from participants of our last leadership school (DTS Equip) for trainers, evangelists and disciplers from various parts of the world. It’s good to know the work is hitting the mark. They write,

“I honestly can’t say enough about you or DTS equip so I’m hoping we have more guys out there next year.” (Pacific)

And,
“I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for equip… I have been processing all of equip lately going through my notes and listening to the audios from lecture. I am so thankful; the school taught me so much!” (Eastern USA)

2016: Next year will be another year of empowering leaders and bolstering discipleship training and evangelism across the globe. We have Equips planned for 3 global regions: Armenia (for Eastern Europe and Russia), Cambodia (for South East Asia), and in Montana, USA (for the Americas).

Family

Joel on the Scout trail

Samuel with friends

Summer included Mum West visiting us for an extended time. She was able to have 2 great months of relaxation, input into our family, grandkid-time and of course the opportunity to mother me around! It was wonderful and we look forward to the next visit.

The family keeps us on our toes! Eden just turned 8, the boys are well into 6th and 8th grades, basketball, Scouts, friends and who-knows-what-else, keeps us “active”.

International training

Focused leader development

In December I head out to Cambodia to train DTS staff for an upcoming 8-nation DTS. It is a collaborative DTS focusing on Asia and the opening of “ASEAN“, becoming a truly border-less region. This “ASEAN DTS” consists of DTSs from 8 nations (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Philippines, and USA (Kona).

News from teams in the field:

Here is an excerpt from a DTS team on outreach in Taiwan right now. This is a specialized DTS focusing on the outdoor industry and backpacking culture.

“Currently, we are in Xsinchu serving at ‘Rock Climbing Church’.

This church was started by a pastor and his family who had the idea 20 years ago to reach out to the aboriginal people (Hakka tribe) through outdoor activities. He hosts a kids summer camp where he uses rock climbing, biking, river trekking, along with other outdoor skills to share Jesus. “

Thank you for following us, and for all of your involvement in making practical missions happen in the world today. Lives are being changed, a generation is being affected, and good work is getting done! To Know God and Make Him Known, Together!

Jeremy & Molly

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Which comes first: salvation or discipleship? September 14, 2015

Filed under: Family,Uncategorized,Video — GoWests! @ 4:32 pm

Hello everyone! Jeremy sermon

Which comes first: salvation or discipleship? What is “Lordship”?

These are the questions that formed that core of my sermon last week in church. Asked to preach on discipleship, I had a short opportunity to contribute my ‘crumbs’ to the topical feast of discipleship-through-Christ. Since then I have been asked by people if it was available electronically. Follow the link below to our Church’s website and you can view/hear it for yourself (note: the message itself starts at minute 6, and finishes at 1:01).

Be blessed, and thank you for the very real role you play in the lives of the West family as we work together to expand God’s Kingdom.

http://www.hopech Feedback urchmt.com/stand-alone-messages/2015/9/11/discipleship

Summer 2015 (and a peak into 2016) August 29, 2015

Filed under: DTS Equip,Family,Photos,Uncategorized,Updates — GoWests! @ 5:49 pm

Hello everyone.

Too long since our last update! One reason was the extreme schedule of our summer: running schools, kids on break, YWAM celebrations, and visiting relatives. Good times.

We have just completed another Equip leadership training program here in Montana. That makes it 16 since 2007, on four continents. This last school hosted 19 participants and 6 staff from various parts of the world. It was a true privilege to serve these people who are committed to evangelism, discipleship, and Godly leadership in locations such as Taiwan, the Pacific, North America, Mexico, and Europe.

Two such participants were Angelina (Taiwan), and Ascala (England). Among others, they are committed to working with YWAM Taiwan to reach the Taiwanese and other Chinese speakers. For security reasons, more can’t be said right now, but we are proud of them and look forward to potentially working together again in the future.

Samuel carries the Cambodia flag at YWAM Montana’s 30th celebrations

Currently we are enjoying the end of our summer here. The YWAM ministry here in Lakeside Montana celebrated it’s 30th anniversary! Hundreds of people–staff and students sent out from here over the years–came from all over the world to join in and reunite. A special blessing for us, Jeremy’s mum and sister also arrived in time to take part. While Liz needs to return to Australia soon, Mum is staying on into October giving us all a great time of family reunion and fellowship (especially with the grand kids!).

2016 is looking like one of the fullest years since being in Montana. Family-wise, the kids are in full-swing with school: Samuel will be in 8th grade, Joel in 6th grade and Eden in 2nd! Time flies. Ministry-wise, we could potentially be running 4 Equip training programs next year. We are scheduled to run Equips in Montana, Ukraine, and Cambodia, with the possibility of another one emerging. On top of this are the teaching invitations Jeremy is receiving. We need wisdom to decide which ones to invest in.

Wests-001

Thanks to everyone who stays in touch over the distance, prays, and supports us in various ways. It’s a joy having such a great team.

Until the next blog…

The Wests!

Jeremy, Molly, Samuel, Joel, Eden (& Boomer)

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Jeremy in Las Vegas March 23, 2015

Filed under: Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 2:50 pm

Hello everyone. What was one Australian guy (me) doing in Las Vegas with 27 ladies aged between 18 and 25? Teaching in a Discipleship Training School focused on abolishing human trafficking and slavery and ministering to orphans, of course! Youth With A Mission runs Discipleship Training Schools that carry a specific theme or focus. The one I have been teaching in this past week is preparing to send out two teams on outreach: one going to Nepal and India to work among orphans, and the other to Thailand and Cambodia to amid the human sex-slave industry. The school consisted of 24 young ladies, plus their staff (of 4 ladies; where are the men?!). We had a great week. My topic: the cost of discipleship. It is a huge privilege to work among such committed young people, willing to be trained and sent out to some of the darkest places, to do some of the darkest work. Back home, the family is doing well. Samuel and Joel just turned 13 and 11. Eden continues to be a confident—and darling—7 years old. At the mission here in Montana, we are just finishing up the January quarter. Our DTS has just left for their outreach in Thailand and Nepal. I was privileged to teach in that school too, that time on grace. Thanks for following us, being on our team, or just even thinking about us! It means a lot.

Blessings and love to you all out there,JW.

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Samuel. A work in progress February 26, 2015

Filed under: Family — GoWests! @ 9:51 pm

The other day my 12 year old said a surprising thing. We were having a family dinner before an evening community worship meeting. It was going to be an open forum where anyone there would be encouraged to share a “testimony of God’s goodness”: what He has done or, what is He doing in one’s life. So, at dinner before the meeting we asked the kids, “What is a [testimony] in your life?”

Samuel, my 12 year old replied, “I don’t have a testimony”.

“Why not?” was my reply.

“Well”, he said, “my testimony isn’t finished yet. I’m in the middle of it. It has been going for a while, but isn’t over yet.” I was stunned. Such simplicity, yet such uncommon depth of perspective.

Too many times we see God and what he is doing, with too narrow a perspective. Too short-sighted. Being the consumers we naturally are, we commonly only recognize God’s handiwork after it is done, or in a single moment in time. Unfortunately, if the process eludes us, so too does the recognition of an ever-present and involved God; lacking also is the day-to-day gratitude.

I encouraged my son to share this at the evening’s meeting; we adults need to hear his ‘testimony in action’.

He does not like attention; the thought of sharing publicly in a meeting, simply scares him! After several others shared pieces, including a couple of other kids, Samuel got up to share. I was facilitating the meeting, and in truth, I thought that what I had heard earlier would be all he would say. Instead he actually unpacked it!

20150225_183625 “Hi, my name is Samuel; that is my dad…” “When I was younger, in 4^th or 5^th grade, I didn’t really know who I was. I would try to “dress in other kids clothes”, and look like others. But God has been showing me who I am more lately. The testimony isn’t finished yet, I am still in the middle of it. Thanks”

That was humbling. So proud. So important. We are all trying so hard to arrive somewhere, we so easily miss the journey. I know that we all hear stuff like that all the time. But hearing it from a 12-year old did something. It encouraged us. We are all in the middle of our testimony; in the middle of His testimony is us.

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A Final Update for 2014 December 17, 2014

Filed under: Family,Photos,Uncategorized,Updates,Video — GoWests! @ 9:48 pm

Hello everyone!

For those of you in the USA, Molly and I hope you had a great thanksgiving, and for all of us, a great Christmas season ahead. We approach the end of 2014 with gratitude to God for all we have been allowed to partner with Him over this last year. At the close of 2014, we wanted to give an “overview-update” of the year.

As most of you know, 2014 has been busy for the Wests. I led two leadership training programs (“DTS Equip”) here in Montana (Spring and Summer), as well as overseeing and teaching in two others internationally (Ukraine and Cambodia). In addition to these schools, there is other work we do to move missions forward. This means that you are also part of many more initiatives and work which build the Kingdom of God locally and globally.

I also travel and train other students, staff, and leaders—both inside and outside—of YWAM. I have just returned from a week of teaching the 130+ staff and leaders of all the Discipleship Training Schools at our Kona campus. I have also taught in other locations in the USA, Asia and Europe. Equipping local church members and leaders is also a joy and passion, equipping and contributing to reaching the local community. In this vein I designed and ran a 9-session leadership development series over 18 weeks at our church here in Montana, called “CORE”. All of the church ministry leaders, small group leaders, and pastoral staff were involved in this. Our involvement continues to grow with our local church family, as we co-lead a small group, and I am also part of a preaching rotation.

While all of this work is valuable and meaningful, what really gives us satisfaction is sending students and staff out into the field. This happens at the end of each quarter, as it did a week ago; these are special nights. At our community worship meeting we had the opportunity to worship together, hear from the students and staff, and then prayerfully commission four teams for their outreach assignments. Over 50 people headed out on 4 teams to: Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, and India. For the next two months they are not only the hands, feet, heart and voice of Jesus, they are also our hands, feet, heart and voice. This is why we do what we do, and why YWAM exists: to obey the great commandment, and to perform the great commission.

YWAM Lakeside Montana is training and sending out dozens of teams out each year. These teams are Bible teaching teams, discipleship teams, evangelism teams, community development teams, children’s ministry, human-trafficking ministry, English teaching, and more.

Finally, a word about our car situation. As many of you know (and have been communicating and praying with us) we were looking hard for a car. Well, the time of waiting came to an abrupt end with 4 degree Fahrenheit weather forecast for an upcoming weekend! We just bought a 2007 Toyota Highlander. It’s a great solution for us. Smaller than our van, but with 4wd and studded tires it tackles our icy hill nicely. Just as well, too: the night we got it we had 6” of snow and the low temperatures I mentioned. We took the money we had, and took out a loan for the remainder (that’s info for a lot of you who had been following our “car adventure”).

We have included a few photos also. Our Christmas tree adventure, teaching in Kona, and [for family members and those who walked with us through Samuel’s school transition] some video of Samuel’s Middle School choir. He is front row, center. Each are about 35-40 seconds (they were actually very good). (Forgive the quality – most were taken with my phone, in poor light)

Merry Christmas!

Jeremy, Molly, Samuel, Joel and Eden (oh ok, Boomer too)

Kona Staff Training

Molly the tree-hunter

16 ft of glory for $5: You gotta love Montana!

To hear Samuel’s Choir, click links below:

Samuel Choir 1: http://youtu.be/sbQp95lg1Vg

Samuel Choir 2: http://youtu.be/VOP5q7wlMCY

Samuel Choir 3: http://youtu.be/QxArNPErA0w

Samuel Choir 4: http://youtu.be/mkQaPB-P0QQ

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Greetings from Cambodia: Sept 3 Update September 6, 2014

Filed under: DTS Equip,J's Journey,Photos,Updates — GoWests! @ 1:42 am

2014-09-003

Greetings from Cambodia!

This year is going so quickly. In the past month we have wrapped up the Montana DTS Equip leadership training school, the following week I was in Mexico conducting leadership training for a group of YWAM school leaders, trainers and staff (by the way, the Eastern European DTS Equip in Ukraine just finished their second school, too). The Mexico trip was special to me; it was the first time I was able to take one of my kids, Joel, along with me. Just him and me, it was a fun and special time. A week later we were back in Montana and preparing to move house. On August 23rd the Wests changed address! As many of you know it has been a busy, but exciting year as we built our new home. So many God-stories are to be told, all accumulating to make-up the blessing and miracle of our first new home! We are already using our guest room for hospitality, receiving family and friends the first weekend after we moved in.

As our friends were arriving, I was off again—this time to Cambodia—from where I am writing now. I am here helping to kick off the third South-East Asian DTS Equip, running in Battambang, Cambodia. This is first time we have not brought our whole family here for the two-month program. Our roots and our relationships here are deep, so not coming as a family is something of a disappointment for us. As hard as it is for our family in Cambodia at times, the kids still wanted to come! But our intention has always been to pioneer it, empower others, and hand it off.

We have always wanted to develop regional leaders to facilitate this program who can take it to places we can’t. So it is an answer to prayer, but it’s also hard transferring something that you have worked so hard for to other leadership; even if you pick the leadership team! It has, in fact been a great joy. The leadership team we put together is diverse, complimentary and committed. This is an exciting time, but also a little tenuous. Please join with us in prayer to support these leaders who are attempting to take this school to the next level; they are already experiencing some obstacles, but I am confident of their abilities, faithfulness, and of course the Lord’s empowerment, both practical and spiritual. This school has 16 diverse participants, representing 7 nationalities (Costa Rica, New Zealand, Cambodia, USA, Canada, Sth Africa, Vietnam). Collectively they represent ministries in the Philippines, Thailand, USA, and Cambodia.

Handing off the school was a step of faith. But now, with a house that was completed late, with rooms still full of boxes, the kids entering higher grades at school, and an overly packed year behind us, we see God’s wisdom. I will continue to oversee the DTS Equip programs internationally, teaching, training and supporting, but my direct leadership of each school is on a deliberate decrease as I develop and release others into that role.

As always, we are so grateful for your partnership and support. You are sharing the work and you will also share in the inheritance. Thanks.

Jeremy. Cambodia, September 2014.

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Equipping in Ukraine, and my new friend Sergie July 18, 2014

Filed under: DTS Equip,J's Journey,Uncategorized,Updates — GoWests! @ 11:01 am

Hello out there!

I just finished the first week of the Eastern European DTS Equip here in Ternopil, Ukraine. This is a great group indeed. A very solid feeling of being unified and focused, and just amazing as the Spirit is so evident in their lives, calling, and every one of our classes. It was such a privilege to be here.

As you know this is a leadership and staff training school. Those in the classroom represent several nations and ministries; Ukraine, Georgia, Finland, Russia, and the USA. The current political [regional] climate here is unstable, yet they are moving forward “business as usual”. Unfortunately some participants were turned back at the border, or unable to come due to the tensions and fighting. As we can see from recent news, the fighting is real, and in so many cases, the injustice indiscriminate. This has the potential to affect multiple ministries (and all who work in them) in many nations over here, especially Russia, Ukraine, and the other Eastern European nations.

A character snapshot…

One guy over here I connected with is called Sergei. He is a Ukrainian-born American, from New York. At 23 with an engineering degree, he is now moving here to live and work among orphans. Why orphans? Because, as he says, “God told me, ‘Sergei you will be working with orphans'”.

When he told me this he didn’t mention that he was an orphan himself. In fact, he doesn’t talk about it unnecessarily or volunteer it at random. This is what amazed me so much about Sergei. He is such a great guy, so relaxed and gentle, so balanced, you would never guess the horrific first 9 years of his life. In Ukraine, his father was an alcoholic and his mother a prostitute. Sergei had been through 4 orphanages, at each one being tortured as part of a covered-up child medical experimentation program. Despite the cruel punishment and treatment, he is literally a walking testimony, amazingly alive today.

Finally, at the age of 9, he was adopted by an American couple while at an orphanage in Kiev; they also found and adopted his 3 siblings from 3 other separate orphanages around the country, simultaneously! (This amazing couple are pastors in NY and have also started “Justice for Orphans”). Most of his family have been in missions, as well as Sergei today. But it hasn’t come easily for him.

Troubled years followed as he grew, and more than a decade of nightmares began taking their toll. Less than 3 years ago Sergei came to the end of himself, and while considering suicide to stem the pain from repeat nightmares, other trauma, and other pressures of life, God literally spoke to him: “Sergei, don’t do it. I really love you. You are going to work with orphans”. God began an even deeper work in Sergei that night. The years of sowing into him by his family, and his own devotion to Christ have brought him to the place he is today. He has even traveled back to Kiev to these orphanages to walk out the process of forgiveness (today it is a legitimate orphanage).

Sergei is here being trained for further discipleship and leadership, and to work as YWAM staff with a ministry that focuses primarily on orphans in Ukraine. He is a living, if young, Moses who has come back to Egypt. Meeting people like this is an unbelievable joy, encouragement, and challenge. Thank you to our support team who makes it possible to invest in and help launch people like this.

Now, it’s time to make my way back to my family in the USA and to our own DTS Equip in Montana, where our staff are finishing up week-3 without me. Three more weeks with them and then off to Mexico to run a leadership development week for leaders and disciplers from several different YWAM ministries and schools.

Blessings to you all, and thanks for following!

JW

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To Seek and Save the Lost July 13, 2014

Filed under: DTS Equip,J's Journey,Uncategorized — GoWests! @ 11:45 pm

Equip is up and running in Ukraine for the second time. Given all the recent unrest, we were unsure if the course would even run, but it is!

And Jeremy is there teaching this week!

We would appreciate your prayer – that all the participants receive the encouragement, revelation, and training that God has for them! What a privilege it is to be part of the Gospel going forward in Eastern Europe and Russia. Go God!

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost”
Luke 19:10

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