Ten years ago, before boarding the aircraft for Cairo to commence our wonder-filled, eight years assignment with Maadi Community Church, I did something quite strange … I whispered to my wife, Beryl, “This is going to be bigger than Ben Hur” (referring to that gigantic, blockbuster movie production, starring Charlton Heston – and what took place in our lives and Kingdom expansion impact was indeed bigger than Ben Hur!
Ten years later 
this has given birth to the Vision of Visions – a truly visionary and strategic plan for CCI to be actively involved in the lives and development of churches and individuals in Africa, Europe and the UK.
Just before Christmas 2010 Beryl and I asked the Lord if CCI had reached it’s “shelf-expiry” date. Our experience has (sadly) been that Australian churches don’t appear to be ready to buy-in to our radical Small Groups Church Plan, and our flour and oil reserve was running seriously low. After emailing an Australian mining company, expressing interest to work with them, doing anything, the Lord whispered to me, “We haven’t finished yet – We’re just getting started. We’re about to do something greater than the human mind can imagine”. Even though we see ourselves as the smallest of all garden seeds, Beryl and I believe wholeheartedly in this “vision of visions” revelation that the Lord is about to do wondrous, mind-boggling things throughout the world, through the CCI team and through our Kingdom expansion partners.
If you would like to partner with us in our “Vision of Visions” we invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation to support our mission. We will personally acknowledge all gifts received and keep you posted with regular news and updates – and please remember, you are free to discontinue your support at any time, without giving any reason. Your faith in God’s calling on our lives is greatly appreciated – thank you very much.
Click on the articles below to follow our journey – and we invite you to join with us as you feel called in our Vision of Visions.
Can you help our partners in Nigeria?
Our partners in Ibadan, Nigeria – Dominion Impact Church – have courageously stepped out in faith with an ambitious project to construct a building for their church family. Our dear friend, Reverend Kola Emiola, says, “The purpose of this project is to enable us have our own permanent place of worship in Ibadan. Present lease read on
Thank you for the part you have played!
On behalf of the CCI Team, a heartfelt “thank you” for the part you’ve played in helping us to cover so much good ground in 2011. We give all credit to the Lord for His perfect plan and power that has brought us to where we are … a little higher in our climb, and read on
Vision of Vision – a preview of 2012
Dear partners and friends, Our wonder-filled “vision of visions” blossomed beautifully in 2011, and revealed new and exciting opportunities for us in Poland, Lithuania, and other places. I can understand the thrill the apostle Paul must have experienced as he returned to familiar places in Asia Minor to strengthen the work the Lord accomplished through read on
Iza says “It works!”
What can I add to this fantastic testimony from Iza at Christian Fellowship North in Warsaw – especially so soon after our visit… —————————————————— Bill, I’m excited! So much is happening! Marcin and I each chose three current small group leaders to serve as coaches. I chose Pavlina, Justyna, and Gosia; and Marcin (and Agata) read on
Vision of Visions – Debrief
Dear Friends, It has taken seven days for Beryl and me to feel revived and refreshed from our wonder-filled assignments in Europe. Our seven-weeks stint in the harvest fields of Poland and Lithuania is by far the greatest investment we have made so far in empowering the Lord’s people in the work of expanding His read on
Finding Mazeikiai’s “Timothy”
Beryl and I had hoped for an easier time with our last assignment at Mazeikiai. But that wasn’t to be. As we landed at Riga Airport, I sensed pain in my left foot. When we arrived at the home of our host family I removed my shoe to discover that the reason for this pain read on
All set to go in Mazeikiai, Lithuania
Another country, another language, another culture … and another great place in which to invest. Our flight from Gdansk – Warsaw – Riga went according to schedule. Our host family, Vaclovas and Marija Paulauskiene, were waiting to greet us at Riga Airport (Latvia) with a warm Lithuanian welcome. We travelled 3 hrs by car with read on
Finding Gdynia “Timothy”
Dear friends My greatest joy when working with churches is finding a “Timothy” who would receive the mantle of a small groups champion. I began my search for my Gdynia-Timothy before we left Australia, in September. I began my search through prayer … Lord, help me to find Your Timothy for Gdynia. The day after read on
God of the second, third, fourth, fifth …. chance
Ania Świątczak, was one of the members of the small groups development training groups that took place recently at the Christian Fellowship South church, in Warsaw. With unusual attentiveness and keen interest, Ania stood out from others in the group. During a short recess in our second week of training I had the opportunity to read on
Receptive, fertile soil at Gdynia
After travelling 5 ½ hrs by car, we arrived safely at Gdynia, a Polish seaport city of 250,000, situated on the southwest coastline of the Baltic sea. Directly across the sea, lie Norway, Sweden and Finland. Gdynia was established in 1926, and, in its short history, has been dominated by Germany and Russia. The residents read on
“Journey’s End” at Warsaw
Two days ago (on Tuesday) we concluded the last session of small groups development training with Christian Fellowship South’s AM group. Soaking in a hot bath that evening was a great way to reflect on the many, many great things Beryl and I experienced in our 34 days at Warsaw. What made this fifth visit read on
More from Warsaw
A little while ago I posted about the opportunities that the Lord has been providing for us in Poland and one of those was to make a short video about Small Groups. Christian Fellowship North and South have a fantastic media ministry and this video has ended up on their media website, facebook, etc. So read on
Paulina – inspired to lead!
Christian leadership is a work of God – He inspires the ordinary to act in extraordinary ways. As Iza, the small groups director of Christian Fellowship North, and I partnered in facilitating small groups development training with three groups of people from her church in Warsaw, we kept a constant lookout for any person who read on
Opportunities Abound in Poland
Dear friends, I’m glad we didn’t have much control in planning our ministry time in Poland. With our limited sight, we would have missed out on the many “surprise” opportunities the Lord has opened to us. For example, when last night’s training session concluded, one of the trainees approached me and asked if I would read on
Developing Young Disciple-makers in Warsaw
Dear friends Paul urges us to “teach God’s truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others” (2 Timothy 2:2). Last Saturday (15 October), Beryl and I had a golden opportunity to do just that. With the outside temperature at minus 3 degrees, in a warm and comfortable teaching facility in read on
What the Lord can do in our weakness
When Monica signed up for cell pastor training at Maadi Community Church, Cairo, some years ago, she had no idea of the impact the experience would have on her life. Listen to what she says – her testimony attests to amazing things the Lord did in her weakened state. “Through the grace of our Heavenly read on
Half way point at Warsaw
Dear Friends At the half-way point of our assignment in Warsaw the small groups development landscape is shaping up well. Beryl and I are glad to share with you this encouraging, summary news update: . Five training groups are at the half-way stage of training: Saturday AM, Monday PM, Tuesday AM, Wednesday read on
Investing in “relay-runners”
Our present visit to Poland is quite different to our previous four visits. This time, we are focussing all our thoughts and channelling all our energy on equipping and empowering the small groups director (Iza Pazdyda) of the Christian Fellowship North (Warsaw), and her faithful assistants, Marcin and Agata Gochnio. They are ideal 2 Timothy read on
Zagraj dobrze na swojej pozycji
Or in case you don’t speak Polish, Play Your Part Well (1 Peter 4:10-11) Live recording of Bill preaching at Christian Fellowship North in Warsaw Poland on 2 October 2011. Click here to listen to the message. Visit Christian Fellowship North’s website here. read on
Training Starts in Warsaw
Saturday was launch-day for our small groups development training in Warsaw with the first of three training groups (Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday). I was quite stressed throughout the whole double-session experience. I’m someone who prefers to know in advance what to expect so I can prepare well. However, this was not going to be the read on
Rejoicing through Spiritual Sight
A few days ago, in a wooded area in Poland, the Lord reminded me that He always accomplishes much more through our service to Him than He, at times, allows us to see through our physical sight. Paul and Silas found themselves in a dark and damp “slammer” in Philippi for doing a good deed read on
Celebration at Christian Fellowship North in Warsaw
Dear Friends Yesterday (25 September), Beryl and I experienced, a rich time of worship and fellowship with the Christian Fellowship (North), a church family of 500 members, in Warsaw. Not being able to understand the Polish language did not inhibit us from experiencing the amazing presence, power, and pleasure of the Holy Spirit at work read on
We’re off to Europe soon!
[cetsEmbedGmap src=http://maps.google.ae/maps/ms?msid=206790065052260663564.0004acde5eb980112cd86&msa=0&ll=54.110943,23.269043&spn=10.535252,28.54248 width=550 height=300 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 frameborder=0 scrolling=no] Final preparations are underway for our departure next Wednesday to Poland and Lithuania. Here is the itinerary, and if you click on the words ‘View larger map‘ above we have made a Google Map showing where we are going to be and some comments, notes and links read on
Update from our Nigeria trip
During our visit to Nigeria we had the opportunity to see what Pastor Elijah’s wife Blessing was doing through a wonderful ministry to children in one of the most needy areas of Lagos. Their street children’s ministry has given birth to children’s small groups – which is amazing!!! When Nick and I visited them we read on
Small Groups Teaching in Nigeria
How fortunate we are to have Elijah Samuel, a mighty man of God, serving on our team as Director of Small Groups Development for Africa. He is gifted, humble, passionate and hardworking. Small Groups Development is what African churches need. The following is a report from Elijah. He says … It was a great day read on
A vision of visions 5 – Llanelli
Reconnecting with Gary and Aline in Llanelli was a wonderful experience. And the welcome we received from Pastor Bill of the Elim Pentecostal Church there was fantastic. I was greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm and commitment of everyone who attended the Small Groups Development conference and look forward to seeing the fruits of the training read on
A vision of visions 4 – on target in Poland!
When I aim at a target, and give it my best shot, I’m keen to know the result. So, after my recent visit to Poland, I asked Christian Fellowship Warsaw North to give me an impact assessment of my time with them in May. Marcin Gochnio, a member of the church’s cells coordination team, forwarded read on
A vision of visions 3 – Ibadan
We arrived late in Ibadan – badly dressed (jeans and t-shirts) with no time to change and knocked about a bit on the 3 hour journey from Lagos… and Bill was still feeling really crook from congestion and no sleep – Nick began to check out the projector, screens, laptop, etc. ready for the presentation read on
A vision of visions 2 – Lagos, the ‘Centre of Excellence’
Yep, the ‘Centre of Excellence’ is the slogan for the amazing city of Lagos in Nigeria where Bill and I arrived on May 6, just after lunch, and stepped out into a brick wall of humidity! Our brother and CCI’s Field Director for Africa, Pastor Elijah Samuel, gave us this wonderful feedback and testimony on read on
A vision of visions 1
When I wrote the 'Vision of Visions' article several weeks ago I could only imagine what the Lord had planned to do during this whirlwind tour to Lagos and Ibadan in Nigeria, Warsaw and Bialystok in Poland and Llanelli in Wales ... read on
Sermons from Poland (but not in Polish!)
During his recent visit to Poland, Bill had the opportunity to preach at two churches, the first in Warsaw at Christian Fellowship North, and then at Bialystok Baptist Church. You can listen to or download the messages from these links. Just Do It! – Christian Fellowship North, 15 May 2011 (click on the word POBIERZ) read on
A vision of visions…
I believe He’s done it again! The Lord has given me another vision – this time, a vision of visions. Ten years ago, before boarding the aircraft for Cairo to commence our wonder-filled, eight years assignment with Maadi Community Church, I did something quite strange … I whispered to my wife, Beryl, “This is going read on
