Not sure if you have already heard, but when we came back to Redding, Ca we knew it was going to be for a short time. We didn’t really know how long it would be though.

Well as of two weeks ago we have decided we are going to be moving to Los Angeles, CA.

We hope to be down there within the first week of March. I will talk more about what we will be doing there a little later. For a few months we have been thinking about leaving Redding, but we didn’t know where to or why. God has been using us so much here in Redding at the Stirring, and we have loved every minute being here, but we have always felt that it would be short lived. For the past 6 months God has been really challenging me and my family. Every message I heard, every devotion I read, and most importantly every scripture that was referenced and read was really challenging me to take a step. A leap of faith, to go out on a Magical Mystery Tour with Jesus, as Brian Houston once said.

What am I doing?

There are a few specific messages that really forced me to look at what I was doing. I just want to highlight one of them. I listen to a message by Judah Smith, a great pastor speaker up in Seattle, WA. at City Church. He used the scripture passage in Matthew 17 – the Transfiguration of Christ. He pointed to the fact that Jesus brought three normal guys up the mountain with him to witness this amazing thing that was going to happen. Judah asked the question,

“Why did he invite these guys to come with him, and why does he invite us into his story?”

He then points to the very first thing that Peter tries to do, he tries to build something. Judah then asked,

“Why is it when we are in the presence of God we feel like we have to do something?”

He then points out that as Peter was still speaking, God interrupts him. God basically says stop, look, and listen. Judah’s main point was that the reason Jesus invited those three guys up the mountain, and why he invites us to be part of this journey, is to witness what Jesus is doing and has done. I took this a step further to bring it more into my own personal life. I believe what God is asking me to do in this season, and maybe all of us, is to really stop doing and start being. The best witness we have is Jesus in our lives. We don’t have to go door to door and ask people if they are “Christians” or “Saved”. We just need to love people and share what God has done in our own lives. That is a powerful thing.

So let’s talk about why Los Angeles, CA.

Most of you know I went to Hillsong College in 2011 in Sydney, AU. Every since we took that first crazy step, we have been on a journey with God. We have been following closely with what has been happening over in Sydney as well as New York. While following along with social media and friends from Hillsong we heard an announcement of a Hillsong Church plant in L.A. This past year we had a chance to meet up with some friends from Hillsong at the Hillsong Conference in L.A. It was great catching up with and hearing what God was doing in everyone of their lives over the past few years. We also had a chance to meet up with the pastors who will be leading the charge for the new Hillsong L.A. church plant. We heard their hearts for the city of L.A. and their vision for what they want to do, and it really resonated with our hearts. It was simple. They want to love, and share Jesus with people. To transform the city of Los Angeles from the inside out.

Hillsong L.A. – The Gathering

This past week we had a chance to travel down to L.A. and hang with some of the team for our first Hillsong L.A. – The Gathering. We were blown away by the response of people who showed up and were interested in what we were going to be doing in L.A. Many people heard about the event and just wanted to check it out. We held the event in a sweet night club, in fact this club is the same club that Jay-Z had his Grammy after-party just nights before. It was a gathering to share a little bit of what we are thinking we are going to be doing in L.A. and also to say that we have no information at this point, just that we are doing something, sometime. I was able to meet a ton of people from right around the city of L.A. and hear a little bit of their story. So fun..!

This is not going to be easy..

It will not be crazy big packed out venues, and tons of people accepting Jesus and transforming their lives. No, this will take lots of work and dedication.  We aren’t going to be paid, we aren’t going to be on staff, we are just going to be joining a team of people who are raising our hands to do whatever needs to be done. We are believing for the venues and life transformations, and know that God can do anything. All things are possible! And, the best is yet to come!

Some of you may have questions, thoughts, concerns.. Please feel free to express those.

We are so excited and humbled to be a part of this great adventure.

It feels like God has everything planned, and we’ve been invited to be part of it. The story of Ruth and Naomi has been a model for us in this season. Ruth tells Naomi

“Where you go, I go, where you stay, I stay.

Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

Please be praying for us as we go.

Stay connected to this blog as we try our best to chronicle the journey we are about to embark upon.

We love you all and want to see as many of you as we can before we go, at least those in Redding, CA.

Also, feel free to look us up in L.A. Our home will most certainly be open to all, no matter how big or small it is.