World Tour report August 2010

David had an amazing round the world tour after recovering from his May operation and infection.

1. USA

David’s trip to Willow Creek with friends, for the Global Leadership Summit, was an amazing, inspiring experience. We received so much from hanging out as friends, our church hosts, the world class teaching on leadership, business, ministry, sport and China. There was the chance to see some of the operations of this amazing large church, the beauty of Chicago’s architecture, and across the lake in Southhaven, a taste of old style holiday America, where I was able to bodysurf on one rough day! A lake the size of an Ocean! Everything is so BIG in the USA! A real insight in to the pressures the nation is facing in identity, security, immigration, finance, the military etc

2. London, Finland and Singapore

Thanks for your prayers for and help to the family, staying home in NZ, as this was a total of a month away for David over these two trips.

Guitar – was broken on way to London! Guitarist in Finnish band Anders is a luthier, and did a great job of fixing it once I arrived in Finland

Travel – the flights went so well in terms of exit row leg room, sleep etc

London

Concert with Mike Burn hosting on the Sat night – was a great chance to connect with a number of friends from the South East, and enjoy working with a super young band. A lovely way to recognise all God has done over the last 9 years, and to share some of the new songs charting the way forward.
Many were on holiday then sadly, so we will need to visit again sometime. The Sunday morning church service with Mike was a powerful time, as a flood of worship was released.

FINLAND 23 Aug to 1 Sep

David helped to lead worship at the 3rd annual Urban Dream Mission in Helsinki.

There was further opportunity to promote the Finnish/English live worship CD ‘Urban Praise’ (of which we are really proud) and to work with ministry friends and the band who we have built such a special connection with over the last 2 years – I felt we went deeper again in God as a ministry team, with several key leaders expressing they felt this was the best mission so far, in terms of teamwork and ease of atmosphere.

There were many highlights

  • Singing on the streets and a café – reviving the busker spirit and that cutting edge evangelistic feel, meeting street people etc
  • Working with a major Finnish pop star there who is wrestling with her faith and life in a very public way, but made a strong city witness
  • Leading worship for our Finnish publisher Paiva and staff there with Max (percussion and vocals) and Jarmo (flute) – something about the intimate acoustic approach with no mics etc!
  • Church ministry on the Sunday
  1. 12 noon service with Tapani Suonto at One Way Mission
    Again lovely intimate worship service, with Jarmo’s 17-year-old daughter Jemina joining us to sing – great to see many younger ones having the opportunity to learn about ministry from every angle
  2. Suhe service – the home church for most of the band
    Time and time again God uses us there in fresh ways, this time particularly through the song ‘Stolen Years’ from Joel 2, which will feature on the new CD

SINGAPORE Thurs 2 to Mon 6 Sep

Fri 3 Sep
Meetings with Integrity Asia about the release of Devotion went well
Good discussions re the right plan to come together for publishing and distribution
We are so grateful for this new door, and the opportunities throughout the region

Sat 4 Sep Worship workshop
with Bethesda Cathedral worship team of around 60 – was a wonderful day of opening the word, sharing experiences of the challenges of the ministry, playing together and critiquing songs, techniques etc.

The Church is so strong in Singapore (probably 3 times as many of their similarly sized 4 million population go to church, compared to NZ!) – this is one of the mid-tier churches and has a 2000 plus seater auditorium, among other facilities. Singaporean Christians have a strong sense of mission, and being a gateway to the Chinese world. There is a new challenge to them I sense in the area of materialism, and also the influence of the casino culture, which is only new there.

Sun 5 Sep
Led morning worship at Barker Rd Methodist church – played with a couple who are considering coming to NZ as missionaries! Great response to our songs, with a real hush over the end of the service as I played ‘Who can separate us’ from Romans 8. CDs were lapped up and always the Chinese would like them signed, so neat chance to meet and talk to many. A real boost of confidence comes from the way they honour us.

Evening live radio concert with 107FM at 7pm
This is an Adventist ministry, the only Christian radio station broadcast into Singapore. The concert was a beauty, as I played solo, and sang with a crowd in a lovely theatre. Was a super way to finish up, with a strong sense of Jesus close to us.

David dates for London Finland and Singapore Aug/Sep 2010

LONDON Sat 21 Aug
David Lyle Morris in concert – worship and ministry
www.davidlylemorris.com/blog

Venue
Beckenham Hall, Beckenham, Kent
http://www.bromleymytime.org.uk/beckenham-public-hall.html

Saturday 21 August
Start time is 6.30pm
Free admission – an offering will be taken for Restore Trust
www.restoretrust.org.nz

Families welcome
There will be an interval, with the chance to buy refreshments
There is a car park in St George’s Road – just 2 minutes from the hall

FINLAND 23 Aug to 1 Sep
David leads worship at the 3rd annual Urban Dream Mission in Helsinki
Further opportunity to promote the live worship CD ‘Urban Praise’ and to work with ministry friends and the band who we have built such a special connection with over the last 2 years
http://www.urbaaniunelma.fi/

Church ministry on Sunday 29 Aug
1. 12 noon service with Tapani Suonto at One Way Mission
2. 5pm Suhe service

SINGAPORE Thurs 2 to Mon 6 Sep

Fri 3 Sep
Meeting s with Integrity Asia about the release of Devotion
Pls pray for the right plan to come together for publishing and distribution of the new album ‘Devotion’

Sat 4 Sep Worship workshop with
Bethesda Cathedral
http://www.bc.org.sg/

Sun 5 Sep
Lead morning worship at
Barker Rd Methodist church
http://www.brmc.org.sg/

Evening live radio concert with 107FM at 7pm

David takes ‘Trust’ CD to Europe

David takes ‘Trust’ CD to Europe

Euro trip

David is so excited to be taking the new album and songs to his old hunting grounds in Europe

19 July to 17 August
London – catch up friends/colleagues 3 days (20 to 22 July)

Ireland – 1 week, (23 to 30 July) catch up friends, church ministry at Castle Rock

visit New Horizon event where recorded ‘Live in Ireland’ CD,
and led worship 5 previous years
 

Finland – 2 weeks, (30 July to 12 Aug) catch up Max Maetoloa and family,
‘Urban Dream’ Helsinki mission with Jussi Miettinen
Germany – 2 days, catch up friend Berlin
Please call or text me on UK mobile 00 44 798 65 62 794
(NZ mobile is a back up for emergencies, will receive texts  00 64 27 607 1060)
Will just pass through Hong Kong this time, but have made good contact for next visit