California bound...

“…Lead me to the rock that is higher than I...” Psalm 61:2

We have been so utterly humbled that by Jesus’ grace and for the sake of his gospel, we have been called to join his mission in London for the last year, to live here on mission as a family and to serve as a worship leader at Reality London. It has been amazing to see and be a part of the birth of the first international Reality Church plant, as well as serve here alongside Pastor Mark Dyrud and his wife Lizzie. Amazing to even gain a better understanding of how the Lord is moving in an urban context and not to mention globally, as he fulfils his biblical promise of “I will build my church”.

Our prayer since before taking steps to move to London in late 2008, was that our steps would not be guided by our own hearts or desires, but that we would be solely led by God.

Looking back, I remember very specifically being led to Hebrews 11:8-11 very early in the process of taking steps forward to moving. The passage says this: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”

One certain truth that has been continually revealed to Michelle and I over this last year is stated in the above passage: “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God”. Simply put, we look not to a geographic location as our final destination, but by such undeserved grace we look forward to a Kingdom that cannot and will not be shaken, where we will stand in the presence of our Saviour, our Redeemer, our King. I believe the earlier we start to really grasp that, the more effective we will become on mission wherever God has us.

I mention this to say that, in what I believe is a healthy tension of looking forward to heaven as our ultimate goal, but also loving the cities the Lord has called us to, praying for the city and seeking its welfare (Jeremiah 29:7), our increasing prayer has been to cling to nothing other than God. Not to any one specific place, possession, ministry opportunity, etc.

We were caught off guard around February/March, when our prayers to be led by him and him alone took a really unpredicted turn… We were feeling that we may be called back to the Central Valley, but for obvious reason, didn’t fully grasp it or the timing. Over the last couple months, despite a large change in our long-term plans, we have had a growing confidence in the sovereign hands of God. We have had to truly wrestle with the fact that his ways are so much greater than ours. That he sends and redirects, removes and replaces, brings together and scatters… all strategically for the glory of his name. And in a humbling way, sometimes it’s all the latter rather then the formers.

It’s truly been a really difficult time of laboring in prayer, warring off the flesh and the enemy, filtering out our own desires and opinions and to just hear from God on how this would practically work out for a now family of four. The support of both Reality London and Reality Stockton has been such a blessing. Blessed to have brothers whose sole desire for our family is to point us to Jesus and are committed to seeing us serve him in the way he desires. The Lord has been faithful to direct in these following ways in which he is ultimately in control over:

1) Dates:

We didn’t really have to struggle too long to figure out a date for a move. Our year lease at our current flat is up on the 26^th of June, and my mum already had a plane ticket to come visit our family in mid June, which made her trip two-fold… visiting the family & helping pack (which she has gracious agreed to). What is hard about this short time frame is we will need to tie up a lot of loose ends such as bank accounts, phone contracts, etc. Also, we want it to be a smooth transition from Reality London and we have hoped and prayed that our leaving will not add unexpected burdens upon Mark and Lizzie and the others serving here (pray that God would continue to send laborers and build his church).

2) Location:

The direction we are feeling clearly led towards is moving back to Stockton (which is where the center hub of Reality Central Valley is). There, we will pray to be led where in the vision of reaching the Central Valley of California with the gospel would we be most effective.

3) Serving:

There is an opportunity presently to serve at Reality Central Valley as the worship pastor. While I feel very strongly that this is the direction we are being led, I also have to humbly be reminded that this might not be a super smooth and immediate transition. The last thing we would want is to show up to a church that we know God has grown in massive ways over the last year, and expect to fall into place without him preparing the way. From the hearts of the church, to the current worship leaders and worship team, and even our hearts becoming immersed once again into the heartbeat and vision of what Jesus is doing in Stockton, Lodi, Turlock…

We have been so extremely supported by friends and family over the last year of serving in London, and we know that this may come as a shock to some. We must continue to give thanks to God for calling us here for this time, for using us in the city of London, and for now calling us on. We would continue to ask for your prayer and support as we take the steps forward in returning to California. Thanks and God Bless.

In His Grip,

The Simas Family

ukmissions@realitystockton.com