Ruby Red Slippers

Whangarei Falls

1 Corinthians 3:5-9: "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."  The church the Apostle Paul planted in Corinth, Greece was spiritually gifted and talented.  However, there were many moral & theological knots that needed to be undone and unraveled.  They had a lot of questions for Paul.  Although they were gifted, they were really immature in a lot of ways.  In fact, Paul said he couldn't address them as spiritual people, but carnal babes in Christ.  There were a lot of things wrong with this church. There was envy (jealousy), strife (contention & debate), divisions, to name a few.  This was due in part to the Corinthians elevating & exalting men, and putting those men on a pedestal that they didn't belong on to begin with.  Although, Paul was the founding Pastor/Bible teacher in Corinth, he would eventually move on, and other men of God would come to serve in this leadership capacity.  They needed to learn that the source of salvation, spiritual growth, reaping the harvest of a soul, was never in the instruments God used.  No, it was God himself who gave the increase...

Kieran at Weigh-Ins

Sunday August 18th, I had lunch with one of the Amateur MMA Fighters from Lion's Den MMA.  He has been training there on & off since 2013, with Head Coach/Founder Ryan Anderson.  However, he just started coming to Calvary Chapel Whangarei since Easter Sunday, back in April of this year.  I had met him in September 2018, when I came to New Zealand to "spy out the land."  So, when I arrived here June 20th, we just picked up where we left off.  Coach Ryan assigned him to be my assistant, with coaching the juniors in grappling.  From there, we struck up a friendship.  It was awesome to see him coming to the church as well.  On Sunday July 14th,  I had the privilege of teaching at Calvary Chapel Whangarei for the 1st time.  After service, he approached me and said..."When you have time & are available, I would like to ask you some questions about God.  I am still on the path, the spiritual path."  As the years have gone by in ministry, these type of comments never get old.

Kieran representing Lion's Den MMA Ministries

Pastor/Head Coach Ryan Anderson (Excerpts of their story): “While I was working at Te Ora Hou in 2010, running boys clubs, one of the young guys, Jimmy Waipouri, was nagging me to do some MMA training with him. After 2 years I decided to do some training with some young guys after our Next Level Bible Studies.
In 2012, we started in Terry Watts backyard. After a while, I felt the MMA training was taking away from the Bible Study times so we decided to start doing training early in the mornings before school...several young guys came on board and we saw the potential to reach young people and provide positive mentoring and role modeling, especially for young Maori boys whom might be influenced by the gang scene. We wanted to show them you can be tough and be a humble man and also show them what a real man looks like.
In March 2013, we decided to form the board of Lion's Den and incorporate into a full charity."  

Mission: "To use mixed martial arts as a medium to reach people from all age, gender, ethnicity, and background as a way to share the gospel of Jesus Christ."  Ryan has faithfully been plowing, planting, and watering.  So, over the course of our lunch together, Kieran Nelson (got his permission) shared his story and his background with religion and spirituality.  I could sense he was "ripe for harvest," and ready to surrender his life to God.  I shared a bit of my testimony, the gospel, and some key Scriptures with him.  After our meal was finished, we walked back to the car.  There I asked if he would like me to pray with him...to place his faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord of his life.  To receive this wonderful free gift of salvation.  Kieran responded he would like to do that.  So, there in his car, I had the honor and privilege of praying with him to give his life to Jesus Christ!  I couldn't wait to tell Ryan, so we can share in this joy together.  This young man would like you (the reader) to keep him in your prayers, as he learns what it means to walk with God.

Ruby Red Slippers worn by Judy Garland

Judy Garland played the lead role of Dorothy Gale, in the 1939 musical, The Wizard of OZ.  Multiple pairs of red ruby slippers were made for the film.  Now, although a pair only cost $9.00 to make, they were once auctioned for $15,000 in 1979, another pair for $666,000 in 2000, & another pair for $510,000 in 2011.  However, that is nothing compared to the value of the stolen pair that was taken in 2005, and found 1 year ago after 13 years. John Kelsch, executive director of the Judy Garland Museum, told the Associated Press in 2015, they were insured for $1 million.  However, they may be worth $2 million to $3 million. Why?  Well, because Judy Garland wore them, even if they were just worn for test and wardrobe shots!  What's the point?  Only this...

One of the Bible Verses for the Mission of the Ministry

Paul, Apollos, Peter.  Ryan, Eric, others...simply servants/vessels/instruments in the hand of Almighty God.  At this same lunch, Kieran also shared with me other Christians who were in his life influencing him for Jesus.  So you see God not always, but often uses various people, places, & situations to reach just 1 person.  Even as Christians, we often forget how much just 1 soul is really worth.  What incredible love!  1 Corinthians 1:12-13: "Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,' or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.'  Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"  The credit, honor, praise, worship, and glory goes to God alone for Kieran's salvation.  I am just so happy and humbled that I had a very small part in it.

By His Grace,
Eric