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Newsletter Message from Trent
October 2007
Fantastic Journey
Four and a half years ago God seemingly just
dropped God Stories in my lap. and on top of that a year
and a half has just flown by since releasing God Stories
Two. I would like to thank all the people who have been
involved directly and indirectly with this ministry; I could
not have done it without your help, support, prayers, and
financial gifts. Walking together on this journey called
‘God Stories’ has meant more to me than I can say. Thank
you!
In this letter I am going to briefly update
you on what has transpired within the last year and a half
and what I know God has called me to do in 2008. I am truly
excited about the next season of God Stories
In 2005/2006 ‘God Stories 2’ was released:
500 copies were snapped up, sent out, and given away…a great
beginning. But things took an unexpected turn when I spoke
with our distributor in early 2006. They said ‘God Stories
2’ was a little ‘out there’ for them so they had decided
not to distribute it. This really didn’t come as a surprise,
as the distributor’s goal was to reach the North American
Christian market; my goal and growing longing was to focus
on the fringe – the new age, Satanic cults, and others that
are “spiritual” in outlook…that are seeking the truth and
looking for hope.
During this same time period I was experiencing
some concerning medical issues and severe anxiety attacks.
After all the test results came in I found out that I had
(have) sleep apnea; it turns out that I was not breathing
for up to three minutes at a time. After a year of changing
habits and medical devises I know I am on the way to a full
recovery.
“God’s Goodness”
Between the fall of 2006 and the summer of
2007 God gave me a project that kept me close to home and
in a very stable environment with finances and everything
taken care of. The project was a 37 episode, online, and
DVD training series for Samuel's Mantle prophetic school
(Hearing the Voice of God). When this opportunity came up,
I asked the Lord if this is was truly what He wanted me
to do. The Lord said, “Yes,” but that I wasn't
to stop working on God Stories, it would just be a different
season, with lots of opportunity to witness God’s
Goodness.
It was in late 2006 that God reminded me to
give ‘God Stories’ away. I started to find all
the avenues I could that would give pre-Christians an opportunity
for their paradigms to be changed and challenged through
‘God Stories.’ www.youtube.com happened to be
one of these avenues and as of today, ‘God Stories’
has been viewed over 50,000 times on You Tube with many
comments online, discussions, and emails regarding the videos.
“Translate God Stories”
During a filming hiatus In the spring of 2007
I was given the opportunity to travel to Hong Kong and China
to do a weeks worth of work for an old employer. My old
employer needed me to go over and solve a manufacturing
issue for him. While traveling in Guangdong Province I heard
the Lord say, “Translate God Stories in to Mandarin.”
As it is the most spoken language in the world today with
over 712,000,000 people…I thought that was a good
idea.
Upon my return home from China I was excited to receive
a call from our distributor; there was someone interested
in ‘God Stories Two.’ This surprised me as I
thought God Stories 2 would just release on DVD. (I find
that God is sometimes a little sneaky.)
SAT - 7
SAT - 7 wanted permission to translate ‘God
Stories’ into Farsi and broadcast the videos into
the Middle East and North Africa. (Farsi is the official
language of Iran which has a current population of 65,397,521.)
We came to an agreement and GS2 is now in the hands of SAT
– 7. Wow, I wasn't expecting that!
In late June the filming of the Samuel’s
Mantle classes was drawing to a close. This was a busy time
for me because, as I was finishing filming the classes,
I also found myself producing/coordinating a large conference
and finding no time for much else. However I knew I needed
to go and seek the Lord’s face. I booked some time
off during the 2nd week of July and headed over to Kelowna
and Nelson BC; places where good friends live. Before I
left for my break the Lord prompted me (through circumstance)
to ask the question, “Should I continue with the God
Stories Ministry? Or should I step back into what others
in the world would call a ‘real job’ and become
a tent maker?”
“Eye-Opening Encounter”
I knew I needed to get some space to just
listen to the Lord and that is exactly what the Lord permitted
me to do. I found myself listening to my friends in Kelowna,
who are full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit, talk to me about
their own amazing journey with God. This eye-opening encounter
of God’s faithfulness in their lives, laid the foundation
for the rest of my trip.
Arriving in Nelson with good friends who own
a fantastic candy store. I had the opportunity to work in
the store giving away samples and selling Gelato. It was
a great experience to see how candy can make so many people
happy … it was a wonderful six hours of heat and sticky
hands!
I found myself really loving this candy-store
experience, as everyone I served was so joyful. Right then
and there, with that feeling of satisfaction still lingering,
I said to myself, “I think I could do this type of
work,” I then heard the Lord say these words; “Trent
aren't these people happy?” I answered, “Yes
they are.” Jesus went on to say; “Trent, realize
that this happiness is only momentary and that what you
do will make people happy for eternity.” As God was
speaking to me I could feel His intense love for the lost
and hopeless. As I pondered this the Lord continued, “Trent
what you do goes to all four corners of the earth.”
I had to leave the store as I couldn't stand the weight
of this realization. I am sure that the people coming up
for Gelato would have been a little disturbed seeing a very
large man standing there with tears streaming down his face.
“Good Enough for Me!”
Later that evening the Lord confirmed what
I had heard from Him. As I was checking the online orders
from www.shopvineyard.com I discovered four orders from
four very different places: one from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia,
Fort McMurray Canada, Ronne Denmark, and Victoria Australia.
That could be considered by some to be the four corners
of the earth…good enough for me!
I finally knew what this trip had been about
and what I was getting myself into, so I said, “Father,
I will continue with what you have put before me.”
While on this journey, I must admit, I also
found myself questioning God. “Why do people that
do illegal things prosper financially while I try to spread
the Good News and it is like pulling teeth?” The other
question I had was; “Why, after four and a half years,
do I not have a proper lighting kit to film with?”…And
me being me I added, “If you want me to continue with
this I have to have a lighting kit at a cost of $2000.”
“He Started to Show me”
I knew God heard me because He started to
show me what He wanted me to do in 2008. The vision I believe
the Lord has given me is to shoot three DVD’s in three
different styles. I am then to hire some contract workers
to film, edit, produce, and translate the current and future
God Stories into Mandarin. This vision from the Lord has
got me very excited as this would be the only way to get
three shows done in one year.
I said to the Lord, “This is going to
cost a lot of money…” He just said to ask and
then the figure of $100,000 popped in to my head, so I asked
the Lord for that amount.
“Write a Cheque to ‘God Stories’”
Upon my return from my Kelowna / Nelson journey
I was checking my email and low-and-behold there was an
email from a very wonderful couple. They said they were
praying and the Lord told them to, “Write a cheque
to ‘God Stories’ for $2000 as it will bring
in much fruit.” They had no idea that I had just asked
the Lord for that exact amount of money for a light kit.
What an amazing provision!
My journey with Jesus and God’s provision
has put faith in me for the next step and the next step
for me is to see ‘God Stories’ translated into
Mandarin. I know now beyond a shadow of a doubt that this
is the path God has for me and that if he can bring in the
$2000 I can believe for the $100,000 for the next season
of God Stories. Can you continue to stand with me as I continue
my journey doing what I see the Father doing?
So far any and all profits from the first
two ‘God Stories’ have been funneled back into
the manufacturing of ‘give-away’ copies of the
DVD’s for evangelism. I am looking to you for the
finances that will increase and perpetuate the future of’
God Stories’ as God Stories takes the next step.
I ask you to ask the Lord what part you are to play in spreading
the Good News.
Thank you and many blessings
Sincerely Trent Reynolds
Director, God Stories Ministries,
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