Simply Jesus

Aloha friends and family,

Arriving in Kona, Hawaii was almost like a dream. Friends from last years school came and picked me up at the airport. It was like I'd never left. They couldn't stop talking about how the Spirit of God was being poured out on the campus like never before. They told me about some pretty intense encounters that they had and I was a little overwhelmed. Going from home and living the more normal American lifestyle to the largest YWAM base put me in spiritual shock. It took about a week to let go of my doubt, burn my ships and accept the fact that I am exactly where God wants me.

Right now our staff consists of fifteen with a possibility of five more. We have been meeting in the mornings to work on student applications and we spend the afternoons in prayer. These past two weeks we have had the most amazing times of prayer together and we have really been able to get to know each others hearts. We all went on a retreat to a nearby Christian center and spent three days sharing testimonies, praying, and prophesying over one another. God gave me his heart of love for each staff member and really bonded us together.

Being part of the staff for the first time is definitely intimidating. Having the opportunity of walking with Gods beloved and to be involved with their discipleship is a responsibility that I know I couldn't handle if I didn't have revelation of the simple fact that Jesus loves me! He not only loves me but he likes me! I know that there will be really hard times during this school but I also know that if I abide in His love than I don't have to worry about how much experience I have. It's God's love that flows through me and it's His Spirit that will transform the hearts of the students and make an eternal impact in the Kingdom. It is the simplicity of the love of Christ that I want to truly know first and foremost in my life. "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).

This is just the beginning. The students arrive in 26 days from all over the world. My prayer is that they would simply know Jesus.


With love,
Matthew Scaparotti