Our very first blog post after the launch!

Launching the ministry has felt like being pregnant and then giving birth. That’s what Kylie says anyway but I know exactly how she feels. I’m just kidding ladies, I’ve got no idea about that! But it has been a long nine months since we knew we were going to uproot our lives in Hong Kong and step out into something that had no substance except for our faith. You know the whole Hebrews 11: 1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for…” kind of scary roller coaster ride that God takes you on every once in a while. I have to say, it was a rather difficult pregnancy those nine months. The sort where God asks you to give up a solid income, nice house, all your furniture, a close support network of family and friends, uproot your children from the only life they’ve ever known, give up all your securities and go and start again somewhere with no guarantees of success other than you just know you’ve heard God! I’m not complaining, it’s actually been both scary and exciting at the same time! I love getting into the place of having to rely on God. That place where you know you’re going to see miracles. But my flesh HATES it because it’s so scary and challenging and there’s always that little imposing thought at the back of your mind that says, “What if you missed it, hey?!!!” But I know that’s all part of the process and can’t be avoided. It certainly has been a discipline though of keeping our eyes on Jesus and getting into His atmosphere and letting His strength, peace and faith fill us.

The last couple of months of the “pregnancy” was all about just getting to the place of birth, which for us was the Grand Launch of New Nature Ministries. All our focus went into the new website and getting set up as a ministry. After the launch we had kind of a peculiar feeling though because having finally got to the end and everything was done – we actually realised it’s only just beginning! The baby at the end of a pregnancy is what the pregnancy is all about and where it all really begins. Not to discount what women go through during pregnancy. (I feel like I’m treading on sensitive ground and getting into dangerous “mansplaining” territory!)

Well anyway, we are very excited about our new baby. We feel God has launched us into our life work. This is the next 30 – 60 years of our life and we’re going to nurture this ministry and watch it grow over time. But crossing that threshold from pregnancy to birth almost feels like Israel crossing the Jordan and going in to process their inheritance after 40 years (to get a little spiritually metaphoric on you!) It’s quite amazing though, the timings of God and how He worked this all out. We were able to launch on my 40th birthday and this was in fact nine months after God spoke to us about leaving Hong Kong and setting up in Australia. On top of that, when Kylie and I left Hong Kong we were both spiritually 21 years old. And it had that same bitter-sweet feeling of leaving home. You’re sad to leave your parents as you venture out, but you know this is your next stage of life and growth.

How am I feeling right now, exactly?

Well let me try to share from my heart as open and honest as I can. I want this blog to inspire by being authentic, real and totally honest in a way that relates to what people are really walking through without having to put up any fake facades.

Wait for it… I have felt surprisingly uninspired this week! Haha. I’ve also felt all this pressure that I have to come up with lots of new sermons and articles and blogs and video’s and if I don’t people are just going to tune out and the ministry is not going to go anywhere! (I don’t think I’m neurotic, am I? Do you think I am? Maybe I am? Am I?)

Then coupled with that, I actually feel like I’ve got so much spiritual stuff inside that wants to come out all at the same time right now but I don’t know which subject to focus on and bring out right now. And because of that nothing is coming out. Kind of like if you’re trying to force too much beach sand out of a container that only has a very small opening. The force of all the sand trying to escape at the same time effectually blocks the entrance so no sand can get out. That’s how I feel. I’ve been revving for the last three years rearing to get going with all of this and now that I have the opportunity and space…well, it feels like I stalled the engine! I’m actually laughing just thinking about all this.

But this is what’s happening in my mind and I have enough experience to differentiate between my mind and my spirit. In the deepest and calmest parts of my heart I know what the answer is. I hear God speaking to me and just reminding me, “Patience Ryan! This is the next 30-60 years of your life. Walk with Me. My presence and My Word will inspire you at the right time and in the right season. I will put my hand on your heart and mind. My presence and My Word are your bread and butter.” This really helps the fleshy revs to die down. I know I never want to live my life as a reaction to fear, flesh or earthly pressures. I want to live my life only ever as a response to heaven and motivated at all times by faith, love and hope as I walk in the Spirit. I don’t just want to put out a quantity of teaching because that’s what is expected, I want to put out quality revelation and teaching even if that takes more time. And I know that comes from living in an environment of God’s presence and His grace. The perfect environment for inspiration, activation, motivation and revelation to flow – so this is my focus right now as I get into position.

Having said all this, I have actually been getting prepared for a whole new season of fresh revelation and content. That which is the essence of my life message and walk with God. I’m collecting the best of my past sermons and teachings as well to upload to the website. Everything we release from here on out we want to be potent, undiluted, and the distilled essence of grace that is so grounded in Scripture and God’s goodness that it blows religion out of people, churches and nations and empowers people to walk in the Spirit and live powerful, joyful and victorious lives.

So if you are wanting to keep up to date with all our latest content then I would simply recommend you subscribing to a few things:

1. iTunes podcasts (here)
2. Video channel (here) + get a free ecopy of “Extra Virgin Grace” when you subscribe to my YouTube channel (here).
3. Monthly newsletter (here) + get a fee ecopy of “The Clear Message of Grace” as a thank you gift.

By the way, we would absolutely love to hear from you about how any of our content is affecting you, or any feedback you have, or even just to connect with each other! You can do that by leaving a comment below or sending us a private message.

Also if there are any topics and scriptures or questions you would like us to look at then please let us know. We will do our best to cover those. We may even start a regular Questions & Answers blog if we get enough questions. That could be some great teamwork right there!

It’s been a pleasure writing this very first blog for the new ministry and we hope you keep tuning in for more.

With all our love and warmest affections,

Ryan and Kylie Rufus