I'M GOING HOME!

This years title, CHANGE! Shifting from a challenging but thriving ministry in Norway to going back home. Simple? Yes! The decision anyway, as I know its God’s will. Emotionally! No. Although God has graciously prepared my heart to leave my church in Norway, saying good-bye to those who have become my Norwegian family will be challenging for my heart. I know this is not the end of my ministry; it’s a shift…a big shift. It’s taking what God has done in me, and through me to move ahead wherever He leads.
I am called back to Washington... For how long you ask? I don’t know but I'm coming in just 11 days.
Am I ready? Yes and no. I’m ready for the next season but saying good bye to my wonderful friends here, no.
What will I do? well for now I'm going to work on reconnecting with family and friends after that get involved with what I love doing the most... Missions.

Superbowl Drake Down

I was watching the Superbowl with some friend (getting in touch with my American side:-) With it being a live feed the game got over around 4am. While driving my friends home the van started showing signs of electrical failure (this has happened before) I dropped off the last person in an area far from my house and in a place I'm not to familiar with. The radio went out then the headlights, next the dash lights all came on, sputtering started, all dash lights went haywire, everything went black! I could still drive and all I could say is "Oh Lord please just a little further so I can get to the main road" van went dead as I rolled down the hill… to the main road. Pulled into the bus stop and thought “way to early to call someone” so I called the taxi, not really wanting to pay for the extreme cost but what was I to do. Trying to explain to the lady where I was on the street, with no address, became more challenging then I thought. Not getting any where with her, "Oh Lord what do I do now?" at that thought a car slowed to a stop a few meters away "could they be stopping to help me?" "Thank you Lord!" Unexpectedly I hear my name. I turn to find my friend puzzled as to why I'm out this way at such an hour. I screamed his name as I was so exited to see some one I know. This all was just a matter of minutes so I never had time to really panic or feel stranded. I explained the situation and he gave me a ride home. This man is a pastor and it came out that he had a house call at 1am helping someone else till 4am had he not been driving home I don't know what I would have done he to was grateful he was driving by. I just have to say I love Kristiansand and how small it is here but I know God was at work in this one... God is so funny at how He works things out some times. Oh yeah the van… it’s still dead.

Leadership

Being challenged to lead! This I don’t know how to put short. I prayed and asked God to challenge me because I was getting board I knew what I was asking and was ready as I know God will never give me more than I can handle. He answered that with challenging me in my greatest weakness, leadership! Through everything this year with out asking for it I was just put into leadership positions God new I would never ask for it so time after time I was asked or just put into it. Learning about leadership, reading the books, and taking the classes just doesn’t compare to hands on leading. I had many good tears before the Lord, times of feeling incapable, thinking why did You pick me, will it ever end and I can say I look at leadership in a hole new way. I don’t fear it like I did but I still don’t like it but I love doing it I know that doesn’t make sense but some time working for God just doesn’t make sense. The reword of investing my hole heart and time into other’s lives is so incredible I’m just sorry I didn’t ask God sooner for the challenge. I would say after every thing in my life this was one of the most challenging, rewording years I have ever experienced and I don’t say that lightly.

Better tuning into the Holy Spirit speaking to me and just understanding on another level how God works in me and through me and know better when it’s God wording as apposed to Satan working. Hearing the voice of God more clearly in my life and for others. Growing in the spiritual gifts God has given me as well as discovering new ones.

I have been stretched and torn this past year and looking back I never thought I could say, I’m truly thankful for all of it. My life is not my own but still I go through kicking and fighting the will of God and I’m sure making it harder then He intended. But in the midst of hard challenge (meaning in the time of the challenge) I’ve learned to note that God chose me (it’s His’ will) in this time and place and God does all things well so I need to except God’s challenge and know it to will pass and not to give up.

4th of July flag taker

We were doing out reach in the city center and I had brought with me a little tiny american flag... very proud of it I let Max ,who is 2, wave it around a bit. As I was taking pictures along come a man and places 100kr (about 20 USD) in to his hand, not knowing what it is Max drops it the man picked it back up and places the money back in Max's hand and slips out the flag then quickly walks away leaving little Max standing there confused and troubled. All I could do is laugh and thought WOW! if I knew they were worth that much I should have brought more. However I was sad I didn't have an american flag to wave the rest of the day but I guess that man really needed one to have payed so much. God bless the flag taker.

Last days at Café Jabes

April 18, 19 were the last days before the café closed for good. About 200 to 250 people crammed into the café for one last time. Despite the sad eyes and down cast spirits every one was enjoying a night of worship, played by 5 local Christian bands well know to Kristansand. Gretchen, Luda, Lindsey and I worked hard behind the counter to makes sure everyone was well taken care of we also gave out gratis (free) coffee, tea, fruit and cake. It was our goal to end this season praising God for all He has done here and to go out with a smile knowing God won’t stop here but there is even greater to come. Many people came to me through out the night asking, “What am I suppose to do now? This was my second home.” with a sad heart for these people all I could say is “God will provide, He has not forgotten you.” I had the opportunity to be interviewed by the local TV news (TVSør) they asked me questions about the café, why it’s good for the city, and should the city step up to open something like this. It’s the TV stations goal to make the city more aware of the need for a Christian, alcohol free café environment. We ended the night later then normal, Mike and I didn’t want to leave knowing we would never walk through those doors again to see and connect with these people. The doors are now closed and into the hands of the Lord we trust He will still make way for us to connect with all those we have made relation with. God is not done!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

The funds I need for 2008 will come soon.

Pray God will bring the right people for starting a café, and a place that is big enough to carry out the vision.

That God would prepare my heart for all the changes coming at WB.

CAFÉ JABES UPDATE:

Sad news, Café Jabes will be closing down April 19 dew to the rent going up to a price the Salvation Army can’t pay. It seems like a dad thing that the only late night alcohol free environment will be closing down but I know God has bigger plans and for that I’m very exited. The city and community is very upset about this news and won’t let it go quietly so we shall see what God wants to do. I have vision for starting a café, through foursquare, in the city but this will require many people, a place, and time.

BACK IN NORWAY:

Now I have been back in Norway for four weeks and it feels really good as is when you are in the place God has called you. I’m back into the swing of ministry here or should I say swinging of my hands as I have been painting and remodeling a home this last two weeks for a family in the church.
I’m getting ready for some changes here at WorldBase that will be challenging and wonderful we are talking about starting back up the Field Ministry School… more on that later to come.
Wonderful News! I took my driving test this last Thursday and PAST! I now have my Norwegian driving license so I can legally keep driving here, this is also very good since we are very limited with WorldBase drivers so needles to say Pastor John Henry is very happy I passed.

VISITING HOME SWEET HOME:

It was so nice to be back home in the states for the Holidays. It was very refreshing to see and visit with so many of you. Dew to the short time and busy schedules I know there are many I didn’t get a chance to see and wish I could have… my apologies.
My time back home was also spent fund raising for 2008 it went well but I still have a long way to go if I’m to make it in Norway for the next year as expenses have gone way up dew to the USD going down. After my time in WA I got to visit with my sister and brother-in-law in Nashville, Tennessee through the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Discipleship

Looking back over the last 5 months I have noticed how God has been creatively putting young women in my life that are at a place of wanting discipleship. I don’t typically seek out younger women to disciple so each one coming into my life has been completely orchestrated by God. Seeing them go deeper with God has been such a blessing and with several now going to the foursquare

Café Jabes

Overseeing Café Jabes has been very challenging for me and discouraging at times but I’m so excited because we finally are getting a strong crew of people that have a heart to serve and want to be a part of what God is doing there so thank you so much for your prayers. We also have several groups coming on the weekends with the sole purpose to minister to people hanging out at the Cafe this includes; YWAM, the Mission House of Kristiansand, Salvation Army, and Foursquare. Together we have seen so much fruit in peoples’ lives. Being a consistent familiar face at Café Jabes has been a big deal in building trust with so many people. Most everyone knows now that I’m a missionary through Foursquare so coming up to me and asking questions about God and faith is quite expected. What is really cool is when people, who would never step foot into church, ask what church I go to and end up give it a go and feeling very at home there.

Carpenter for Jesus

Doing practical work for the body of the church here in Kristiansand has been such a blessing for me. A family in the church just got a new fixer upper house so I have been helping with the remodel which has been so much fun now several others have asked if I can help with construction projects at their homes. This is so good because at WorldBase we want to help strengthen the body of Christ spiritually as well as be a practical blessing to them. This fall I have also been working on fixing up the WorldBase apartment, doing some painting, putting in flooring and getting the yard spruced up so we can get it rented out.

Setting out the welcome mat!

torsdag 4. oktober 2007
We are pleased to welcome into our house new roommates Sarah and Christine. Sarah is from Norway and has been a part of the church plant team Kristiansand Foursquare has sent to Denmark. She is back for one month and living at the WorldBase to take care of practical matters. Christine is also from Norway and has been accepted into Kristiansand’s beauty school. She will be studying for one year. We wish them both success while they are here!

Though not a part of the WorldBase program, they are a welcome addition to our house, and interns Tylene and Gretchen are happy to have some more people around.

If you are interested in being a part of our ministry at WorldBase read up on the website and find out all about what we do and who we are. If you like what you see, send us an e-mail at worldbase@foursquare.no, and let’s start chatting and see if we can’t get you over to Norway for a bit of missions adventure! Norway is a harvest field waiting for some ready workers!

written by Gretchen Pikop

What God is doing in England

The youth camp was challenging in so many ways for me personally as I don’t work with youth that often but to see what God did in their lives was worth every minute. Every day we started off with quiet time followed by breakfast, what we ate I’m still not sure, then team devotion just before going to the team activities. Lunchtime was nice for regrouping with everyone else and catching my breath in the warm sun. The evenings were the highlight for most with worship in the big tent followed by a special speaker each night. The night meetings had a big impact on the kids as God was challenging them and moving in their hearts. Many came up for prayer and 8 were saved. Two of the 8 were just walking by and wanted to check out the music and ended up being moved by the spirit and committed there lives to Jesus Christ… how cool is that!
The night Gretchen spoke, God moved through her in such a way that got to the hearts of those kids, and we got to pray and prophesy over them. All 5 girls from Estonia received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the same time.

Please be praying…..
-What God did in the youth would stay strong.
-Passion to serve in the church would grow in the body.
-To have more Norwegians volunteering at Café Jabes…. We really need people to help as Mike and I have been there most the time. We want to see the Norwegians take on the vision of what God is and will do there.

Foursquare Europe youth camp VIDEO

Back from England

Gretchen and I just came back from the Northwest Foursquare Europe youth camp in Southampton, England. Sixty-six people from Ireland, Great Britain, Estonia, and Norway came together for the camp with the theme, “No Plan B” based on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus commands His disciples to go into all the world and baptize them in the the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and to teach them everything He has commanded.

Aside from worship and teaching times, the campers enjoyed a variety of activities from rock climbing to canoeing to learning how to build rafts that could actually float on the water! The results of the camp were amazing -- six were saved / re-dedicated their lives to the Lord, fourteen were baptized in the Holy spirit, and eleven responded to the call to missions. I thoroughly enjoyed being a discipleship group leader for the campers, and Gretchen had the opportunity to be a discipleship group leader in addition to speaking at one of the main sessions and playing piano one evening with the worship team.

Thank you for all your prayers!

More photos go to- (tylene's pictures) under links it's in the right hand column

What is God doing at Café Jabes

My duties at Jabes have increased this summer as we have been short on staff, but God has also increased those I’m getting opportunity to disciple and build relationships with. Because I am at Jabes every weekend, it has opened a window of trust with so many people to the point I don’t need to go up to others anymore; God is just bringing them to me so they can be disciple or prayed for.

One girl came to me at the end of the night asking if I could pray with her I knew her as an acquaintance but didn’t even know she was aware I am a Christian. Before I could get a word out she began confessing her sin to me. Realizing the seriousness of the situation I began praying for wisdom and discernment as to what God would have me say. After a long conversation I prayed for this girl that had been struggling for years to get out of the bondage of alcohol. At home that night I asked God to help this desperate girl out by making her sick the next time she drinks. The following week I saw her in the city several times each time remembering to pray that prayer. The next week as I was going home from Jabes at 2am I saw her heading down to the pubs so I was sure to make eye contact with her hoping she would recall the conversation we had. The following week she came to me at Jabes asking to talk with me again. I assumed it was to confess a repeated sin, instead she was full of excitement as she told me she did go to the pub that night I saw her but after her third beer she got really sick and so it wasn’t fun anymore. And the next night by the third sip she was sick again. She didn’t understand why but was very glad. I told her the prayer I had prayed for her and then shard with her the deep love God has for her and how He wants to use her to lead others away from the same bondage she had for so long. The following week she went out again not really wanting to because she didn’t want to be temped to drink and get sick but that’s what all her friends do so she went but this time she wasn’t even temped to drink. To see the excitement on her face as she told me this was priceless. If you can imagine years of this bondage bringing her down to the state of depression and to see her now you would never know. God’s grace is amazing.

Driving in Norway

Wahooo I got my international drivers license this is a very big deal for me and everyone else as we have been short on drivers for quite some time. The only thing is my international license is only good for the first year I’m in Norway… ya that will be up in November so I’m considering getting my Norwegian drivers license however this can be very expensive which is why I have not gotten it yet, but at this point it’s looking like it will be worth it in the long run as God has been using me to take some of the driving lode off of Pastor John Hery.

Kia Norwegian Language class party

59 people from 17 different nations together in one room celebrating in worship and fellowship, what an incredible sight it was. Almost everyone had a turn getting up to sing a song in there own language and yes even I did, that’s something I never want to do again. Very different cultures but two main things in common learning Norwegian and the love of Jesus but not all who were there are followers of Jesus so how incredible it was for them to experience such unity and love in one room of such different people.