Those couple of people were passionate about Jesus and the things of God and they were also very very humble. I did not see an inch of pride in them. They loved everyone the same..regardless of their choices in life. They had the unconditional love that the bible talks about oozing out of the them. I felt akin to these people but longed to find others who felt the same.
I had begun to think that I might not ever find others who felt like me and so I just spent time alone with God holding on to him in this time of drought. When my Son went to Lexington, Kentucky in the USA, to be Quests worship director, I still was completely unaware of what he had stepped into. I watched Quest online origiinally to watch my Son but as the weeks went on, God started doing something so beautiful in my heart. I was seeing that these people had the same heart as me....it was as if God had used the same cookie dough and carved us all out individually. During this time, I went to visit my son after the birth of my first grandson, and when I stepped into Quest physically for the first time, it felt like I had found ,"The Great Valley".
The Great Valley was in the childs movie, The Land Before Time. The movie is about the journey of baby dinosaurs whose land around them has become barren and drought like, and they begin a journey in search of "The Great Valley", a place where the grass and vegetation were fertile and green, the rivers and streams ran clear . It was like, the land of milk and honey that the bible talks about. I had been in that barren land for a long time, picking up little bits of sustanace along the way. I had long given up thinking that there would be a Great Valley here on earth.
I figured that I would have to wait for Heaven. As I stood at Quest and began meeting more and more people , I literally felt like "Littlefoot" standing on the edge of a mountain as my heart filled up with the realisation that I had entered in and was grazing on the fertile grass in "The Great Valley".
Please watch this video as it is a reflection of what God did in my life during this time.......
In May 1999, This church was originally formed by a group of around 60 people who felt led by God to build a church. They hadnt felt qualified and really were making it up as they went along but God was in it all the way. This church would love people radically and tear down barriers that prevented people from seeing Jesus for who he was. Their belief was that if people could truly see Jesus for who HE really was.. they would want him. This would be a community, who would love unconditionally as they loved people as Jesus loved people. Many would mortgage their homes, sell property , give their lives savings to build this church. Their "Yes" to God made a way for God to do an amazing work.
Today, 13 years on, more then 20,000 people have came to know and have a relationship with Jesus because of that yes. A few years ago , the church building expanded to accomnodate the growing population.. again, people from all walks of life , of all varying incomes, came together and gave an outstanding amounts to pay for the church expansions.
This church is like nothing I have ever seen on earth.. The Pastor, Pete Hise is a man of God who literally drips of Jesus. The words he speaks are like "life giving water". He is able to speak from the very heart of Jesus, because he spends time with Him and submits his life to him. You can tell those who have hung out with Jesus from those who havent, by their words and actions.
When Pete looks at you , you sense Jesus behind his eyes. You sense the same thing in others there too. Its as if their hearts are all beating with his heart. The most wonderful thing is that you can watch this church LIVE online and see previous services on their website at www.questcommunity.com
If you are feeling dry, or you are in a barren land or simply have no idea about Jesus.. come on over to Quest and step into "The Great Valley". To those original pioneers, Pete and Jackie Hise and the team, and every person who make Quest what it is today, I thank you. Who would have thought that all those years ago, that you would be feeding a Mum of seven here in Australia.
Thank you for everything you do in HIS name and for the sacrifices you make . Thank you for saying your Yes moment by moment.
Godbless. Jewell x
Here are some videos with the pioneers of the church sharing memories......
