Dear Family and Friends Who Pray for Me,

I know what some of you are thinking..does he really have to go serve in such a drab place. You are right, it is one of the most beautiful spots in the world...but still has kids with very significant needs. I leave this evening for a short trip of 9 days to New Zealand. The ministry is young and developing but has a great team of staff working with kids. I will spend 5 days in Auckland on the north island and 3 days in Christ Church on the south island. Most of the time will be spent with staff and committee doing training on fundraising and establishing a compelling vision for the country. This will be a different kind of trip in that I will get a great deal of time with a few people and there are only two stops. SO here is how you can pray:

1. Pray for the time to be deeply encouraging spiritually to the staff. Mike and Jewel Turinsky have been there 5 years having been deployed from Portland, Oregon. They have done a great job developing nationals but have experienced some real loneliness being so far away from family. Jewel almost lost her dad last year to a heart condition. Matt and Stephanie are an outstanding young couple who are Kiwis and very gifted with kids. Dave and ElMarie, also Kiwis, are new to staff this past month and I have never met them. Pray that I can see where the real needs are for the staff and particularly for Mike and Jewel as they lead the team in Auckland.

2. Pray for the training of the local committees as we work on fundraising and ownership of the local ministries. The goal is to have every work in developed countries be self-sustaining, and this is an important trip in making sure that vision is clear for area committees. Ask the Lord to raise up others around them to assist in supporting the staff and may their vision be fresh and clear for their country. Pray for Peter Browning who is the Chair for the New Zealand Young Life Trust, the legal entity for YL in that country. He is a solid man and needs encouragement in his role.

3. Pray for Marilyn as she prepares for the launching of a new elementary school in September. I had anticipated she would be with me on this trip, but she has much to do to get ready for the Fall....signing up kids, curriculum, facilities issues, etc. Yes, if you haven't heard, she really is starting another school. In focus here are our grandchildren and a great place for them to go to school. Also pray for safety as our home was broken into last week which is a bit unsettling. An alarm goes in on Friday, yet there is still a sense of being violated that is real. But no one was harmed which is amazing given the circumstances.

4. New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world per capita. Pray for God to give the staff insight as they serve kids in this country. It is also very secular and church attendance is low.

5. Finally, we will meet with contacts God has given us from other countries with friends who have moved to NZ....from the Philippines, China, and Tonga. All of these are minority populations in NZ that need ministry, and we will talk about how to serve these different groups. Tongans are a huge population and are very responsive to the Gospel. Pray for wisdom as we talk about ministering to all of these groups.

Daily Prayer Log

June 10-12 Depart SFO 9:15 pm and arrive 5:45 am in Auckland. Pray for a good rest and lots of time with Jesus for refreshment. No upgrades possible on Air New Zealand...13 hr flight. We will meet with a gathering of youth pastors on Masterplan of Evangelism that day and time with the staff. Evening with staff.

June 13 Spend the day with Mike and Jewel to get a feel for their work and the needs of the ministry. Pray for insight into how I might help them. Ask Jesus to minister deeply to their hearts as they consider the future and how long they will stay in NZ.

June 14 Staff day...pray for a wonderful time around Christ with lots of prayer and sharing. We will have the day away from the city and children, so ask the Lord to particularly refresh the wives.

June 15 Church and day with the committee. Just pray the things shared above on committee, for a fresh vision and growing ownership of the ministry.

June 16 Visit schools and fly to Christ Church in the evening. We will stay with the local committee chair in that city. Ashley Denton from the US spent three years here building a solid base, so I am anxious to meet some of his team in that city.

June 17 Meet with part-time staff and volunteers. Help to think strategically about the future and what it would take to get staff in a full time role. We will meet with some key church leaders who have a real heart for kids and are ministering in a group called 24/7. The leader, Duane, has joined us a number of times in Asia gatherings and is a wonderful partner. Pray for unity as we meet to talk about how we can work together in this country.

June 18 Visit local schools and go to club that night...time with leadership team. May we bless them and encourage them in their work with kids. Lord give us wisdom on how to come alongside as they dream about their vision for reaching more kids.

June 19 Fly back to Auckland in the morning, spend final time with staff in the afternoon, fly out in the evening and arrive home at noon the same day. Ask the Lord to make this final day significant in creating a clear vision for their priorities with Jesus at the very center. They are a hard working group and I want us to pray that they would be people who would focus on their own walk with Jesus as the central issue of their ministry.

As always, thank you for your partnership in prayer. The serious work of the Kingdom gets done because you are on your knees...I know it well and feel covered by your intercession.

Gratefully in Christ,

Clif

CLIF DAVIDSON is currently the Senior Regional Director of Young Life in Asia. Until recently he was the Regional Director in the greater SF Bay Area and has served in this ministry for 36 years. He loves to equip people to walk with Christ by teaching the Scriptures and practical ministry skills in leadership, evangelism and discipleship. One of his greatest joys is watching people, young and old, change and mature through interesting and accurate Bible instruction.