Halls Update - November 2013

Hey everyone,

first, we'd like to say thank you for all your prayers and support.  We've been deeply loved and blessed and are extremely grateful for your fellowship with us!  Through your financial contributions we've paid off our immigration fees, medical fees, and auto repairs...Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and your generosity!  

Aside from all the cancer stuff we've been very busy over the past month; Christy and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary (we enjoyed watching the musical production of South Pacific at the Sydney Opera House), Jesse turned 16 and received his Learners Drivers License, and Nina just had her birthday party last night, she turns 13 on November 7th.  Malena will be returning to Oz on December 17th and plans to go to University in Sydney, starting in February.

I've been speaking at different churches and events; I spoke at Narraweena Baptist church a few weeks ago and at a men's fellowship called Joshua Challenge on Mentoring.  I'll be attending a 1 night Christian youth camp this coming weekend, and the following week I'm sharing an evangelistic message to the year 10 students at Covenant Christian School.  Christy was offered a permanent part time role at Covenant as a library assistant and accepted the job about a month ago, she's loving it!  

We've come to another crossroads regarding ministry and work, please pray with us on the following:  

I've been offered an associate pastor role at a church, which is part time.  I would be responsible for the leading the Sunday Night service which caters to youth and young adults, as well as the youth group on Friday nights.  It would be a 12 month contract, coinciding with my role at Covenant (2.5 days at the church, 2.5 days the school).  But come December 2014 I'd be looking for another job.

I've also been offered to join the pastoral staff of another churchl.  Though this would be a voluntary role, next year the senior pastor would take about 8wks of holiday and the other pastor would be gone for about 5 months, during which times I would cover their roles as an employee of the church.  In addition, this pastor has a vision to plant another church in the Northern Beaches in next 1-4 years, which is on my heart as well.

I'm still involved with Christian Surfers and will be going away later this month with the guys to pray for vision/direction for the coming year.  Really praying about my involvement with Christian Surfers and how God would use me in the coming months/years, there may be some leadership opportunities ahead??

Finally, we're looking at new or newer vehicles to replace our "money pit" car that continues to have problems.  

We covet your prayers on the car, direction for ministry options and continued wisdom for decisions regarding treatment for Christy (she is doing very well!).  Again we're so grateful for your prayers and are blessed by your fellowship!!

Many blessings,

Brad & Christy Hall

14 May 2013 Update

Hey everyone,

wanted to send out a brief update to let you know the happenings...

We're rolling into Autumn weather and temperatures are cooling, especially tonight!!  It's been a bit crazy lately with the kids' school, soccer, and student excursions but we're pressing on as families do.

We found out some disturbing news yesterday which is a bit of a set back.  The visa application supposedly submitted 6 months ago has somehow been lost in processing, the government has no record of our application ever being submitted.  Which means we're back to square one.  Honestly we're feeling a bit discouraged but trusting God has a plan in all this.  My employer (Covenant Christian) has graciously taken it on the chin and has re-submitted the application.  We've got a number of issues to work through with job title and work experience, hopefully all would be acceptable to the government.  The big issue are the fees; the visa fee alone is $3060.  Plus medical exams ($1600) and skills assessment which is around $1000...all up we're looking at around $5000-6000.  We're glad God has deep pockets because we don't know where this money will come from!!

Aside from the visa stuff, God has opened many doors to minister and teach.  Evangelism training at Covenant for teams to go to an Aboriginal town up north; Men's accountability groups also at Covenant (we had a Joshua Challenge night to encourage men to walk in integrity); teaching weekly bible studies at the college; I taught at French's Forest Anglican a few weeks ago. Following is the link to the message from their website if you're interested (there's a lady doing the bible reading at the beginning...and I sound like I have a lisp):  http://assets.forkie.com/e229b68ba0b3bed811add4a104f0ee3f/media/Ephesians%20-%20Salvation%20Gods%20Way1.mp3

I'm teaching at another church this weekend, doing a one day mini-conference on "the joy of the Lord is my strength."  I've been meeting with a couple guys on Tuesday mornings for prayer and fellowship, its been a very rich time!!  This morning we had a Christian Surfers meeting to catch up and pray.  And there are a few other ministry opportunities coming up as well. Christy has been attending a weekly Monday night women's bible study which has been a blessing and meeting with ladies for tea and breakfast.

With all that God is doing it seems the devil is right there to oppose us...Please pray we'd remain steadfast and diligent in what God has set before us, also that He would provide for all our needs!

We're truly blessed to know you're with us on this journey and to know you've got our backs in prayer.  Thank you so much!!!

May God bless you richly as you seek His face!

Love the Halls

As you’re praying and seeking the Lord, if you sense God leading you to partner with us financially there are a few options for doing so:

FOR AUSTRALIA:
BSB: 082 116
Acct: 179391629
Bradley Hall

FOR USA:
1. If by credit card you can do so by going to: https://www.easytithe.com/f/k=6SSHN0DEHB4KG6DH
Under the ‘Missionary Name/Code’ prompt you’ll find us listed as “Hall, Brad”

2. If by check:
a. Make checks out to: Calvary Chapel, in the memo note: “Brad and Christy Hall.”
b. Mail checks to: Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, Attn: accounting
3800 Fairview
Santa Ana, CA 92704

31 January, 2013

Hey everyone,

Quite a bit has happened in the last couple months.  The big thing was our trip to the States.  We hadn’t celebrated Christmas in California since 1997!  It was great to see family and enjoy Christy’s family tradition of making tamale’s…well, she made them.  I ate em!!  We spent a few days in snowy Big Bear, did a bit of shopping, surfing, eating, went to the Missions Conference at the Calvary Conference Center in Murrieta.  The whole trip was refreshing and encouraging!

Though Christy and the kids didn’t go with me I stopped in Maui for a few days, shared with the church in Central Maui on Sunday and Wednesday night.  I’m so proud of our Maui Ohana, the church is doing great and God is definitely working in and through the body.  It was a tremendous blessing to see everyone!!  Got some great waves too!

We’ve only been back a short time and we’ve returned to a bunch of changes:  The kids have started a new school year (Jesse in year 10 and Nina in year 7.  Malena we’ve left in California to attend the Calvary Bible College in Murrieta, she starts 4 February and will be living on campus).  Jesse and Nina have signed up for the new soccer season and have jumped right in to the new year.

I’ve started my new role at Covenant Christian School (my kids’ school)…which is still being defined.  Last week I taught devotions for the staff & faculty of the school in preparation for the new year.  It went really well. This week I found out that I’ll be taking high school students to the beach on Thursdays for surf lessons…pretty cool!  I’ll be doing some graphic design for various marketing projects and I’m meeting with head teachers to discuss teaching biblical studies to years 7-12.  I’ll be doing evangelistic training for a couple teams going to an Aboriginal Community in Yarrabah (far north), and going with a group of students to the Outback.  We’re also discussing outreach ideas to parents and students of the school.  Aside from Covenant I’ll still be serving as the college chaplain at ICMS (former employer).  They’ve asked me to teach bible studies on the campus and consider starting a service for the students…praying about this!  I’ll be on the campus two days a week.  Christy is still working in the maintenance department at Covenant two days a week.

Jumped back in to Christian Surfers and my new role as Northern Beaches Coordinator.  Met with the Manly Beach crew on Monday, really excited about what’s happening in Manly and looking forward to serving the crew.  Will be meeting with the other missions soon to make myself available to them.  We have a regional leaders meeting on 16 February, will be good to touch base with everyone.  We’re praying about offering the Inductive Bible Study course to the NB missions and looking for ways to link the missions together for fellowship.

We just heard today that we’ve got to move out of our house by mid-April…our landlord wants his son to move in.  We’re bummed because we were just getting used to this place and we’re tired of moving (this will be our 6^th move in 2.5 years).  In light of all these things I feel our adversary, the devil, has ramped it up a bit with confusion and discouragement.  But we know God is on the throne and He’s equipped us to stand against the wiles of the devil.

We really appreciate your prayers and value your partnership immensely.  So stoked we’re not on this journey alone.

May God bless you richly as you seek His face.

Love,

The Halls