The Unstoppable Gospel
October 19, 2020 - January 1, 2030
The Unstoppable Gospel
Anika Hochstedler, 25, New York
[January 2018 DTS, Wild Heart, Outreach location: Solomon Islands]
My favorite part of outreach was when we went to the outer islands of the Solomon Islands. For a week, our team went from village to village; some of the places we visited had never even seen white people before. We had ministry time where we would share a “program” with them, bringing testimonies, leading worship, and giving a message from the Word. We were able to hand out bibles that were translated into their native language and pray with them.
A week before, our team got words about getting the chance to pray for people who were practicing ancestral worship. One night, one of the beach villages invited us to speak to them, and we had no idea, ministry wise, what we were going to bring. Going with the Holy Spirit, we hoped that everything would come as He led us. And boy, did He surprise us! We were sitting in this little chapel on the sand, waiting for the Lord to give us direction with where to go. Honestly, we just sat for a while. The whole village was outside staring in at us, expecting something to happen.
Finally, we received the words “simple gospel”, leading us to do a skit that we made up highlighting creation and Jesus’ ministry. Afterwards, one of our team leaders shared his testimony, where he was taken out of witchcraft and gang affiliation and into a life with Jesus. He was able to relate to these people, yet also share how Jesus changed his own life and revealed God’s loving nature. We had just about every hand raised when we asked who wanted to receive Jesus as their Saviour. We prayed for everyone that night! There were so many with pain that were hungry for freedom and in need of healing. We explained that they needed to renounce the gods that they worship, and accept Jesus as their only God. The chief of the village stood up and HIMSELF declared that he would no longer worship other gods, but God alone.
We then went into an incredible prayer time with them, where I sang some worship in the background and my team went and laid hands praying for healing. The chief and some of the elders of the village gave us this vision that they saw tongues of fire standing over our heads like the church in Acts during pentecost. Come to think of it, it was in the time between Easter and Pentecost Sunday that this happened. Pain left and blind eyes opened! I think the coolest part of this was that even though we didn’t speak or understand each other because of our language barrier, they still received a revelation of who God is, and His healing through the Holy Spirit. The chief again stood up and thanked us saying they thought we would have come with material things like clothes, glasses and medicine, but instead we brought something so much better. Late in the evening as we left that village we praised God for all that we had just witnessed. It was one of the most remarkable and memorable nights of my life!
“Before I attended my DTS, I believed that justice was an act of revenge. I had hate toward the perpetrators and love toward the victims. Being apart of the Justice Movement Stream has shown me the Father’s heart of justice, which actually demonstrates the endless love of the Father for both the victim and the perpetrator. Through this I learned that we should also carry that same love and forgiveness in our hearts.”
Savannah Mantel,18, California, USA
“I have just finished my Worship DTS at Marine Reach NZ.
When I signed up for the worship DTS I thought it was just about praising God. It’s about the role we play as worship leaders, it about how you lead the worship session, when to pray, and when and how you end. I recommend the Worship DTS to everyone who is inspired by the worship at your home church.”
Adam Pelletier, 36, BC. Canada
“At the beginning of the DTS I did not believe in the power of prayer neither did I believe that God even heard my prayers. By the end of it I had no doubt in my mind at all that we have a Father in heaven who always bends His ear to us when we speak and that when we pray in the name of Jesus miracles will be birthed by our words and God’s power.”
Calvin Joubert, 20, South Africa
“In the worshipstream I learned why we worship God, because he loved us first and because he’s worthy to be praised!
Also I learned that If you lead worship you have to be filled first in order to lead others into worship because you lead others in the intimacy that you have for yourself.”
Jaspar Wandtke, 20, Germany
“The Justice Movement stream really opened my eyes to what justice looks like through the eyes of God. Justice is more than making wrong right, it’s walking in mercy and humility. Justice is bringing light and life to orphans, widows, immigrants, and hope to anyone who is oppressed.”
Naomi Wilson, 18, AB, Canada
“Since being here at Marine Reach, my hunger for God has continued to grow more and more. In the Kingdom Come stream, our heart is to see the world changed by the message of His love and the demonstration of His power. It’s such a privilege to be apart of a group of people so on fire for Jesus!”
Joseph Pope, 25, Virginia, USA
“Doing SPHC was an amazing experience. Not only was I given the opportunity to continue to grow spiritually, but I learned things that can be used in a very practical and much needed way. SPHC gave me the opportunity to show the Father’s heart to people in a very unique way and love on the person in front of me while helping them in such a simple way.”
Karunia Been, 20, Portugal
“Upon first coming to DTS, I had settled for a mundane and ordinary life. But over time, He has captured my heart and instilled in me a new passion for His purpose. This has given me confident hope that I am worthy of intentionally being part of the greater good.”
Taya Newton, 20, Alberta, Canada
“Did you know that according to WHO more than half the world does not have access to healthcare? After seeing those statistics first hand, while in the mission field, I was heartbroken, but I was not without hope. God used my SPHC team and me to meet the needs of many individuals both physically and spiritually, and He opened my eyes to the possibility of a career in healthcare. I now attend the University of Missouri and I am pursuing a degree in Public Health. I hope to one day work for the WHO and take on the challenge of reaching those without healthcare with God’s healing hands.”
Caroline Wilson, 21, Colorado, USA
“Being a part of the Justice Movement Stream has really challenged the way I see and define justice. It has made me more passionate and aware of the help this broken world needs, and what I can do to bring a stop to the injustice. I can now confidently say that I am able to take on the world, seeking justice and mercy for people in need.”
Chelsea Logan, 19, Newcastle, Australia
