How does a family of seven from rural Indiana, make the decision to move to an island in the South Pacific? The Trump family never imagined where God would lead them when they began to ask where they should serve him. They believe that God knows us best and is true to His word, like when He says in Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (NIV)
Mark and Holly Trump had been praying for a few months about where & how they could best serve God. They decided to travel to Kansas City for ICOM (2013) hoping to find some direction. While they were trying to find lunch, they ran into Emily Drayne, a friend, who works for the conference. She had some extra tickets to a missionary luncheon and they soon found themselves heading into a banquet room to hear a handful of missionaries share their stories.
One of the missionaries really stood out to them. It might have been her cool accent from New Zealand, but Miki Brooks was undeniably a gifted speaker. Later, the Trump’s were visiting the booths set up by various mission organizations, when an opportunity to meet the Brooks family presented itself. Meeting Randy Brooks, the Trump’s learned about the need in New Zealand for Christ and the vision of South Pacific Christian Fellowship (a ministry of New Mission Systems International) to plant biblically-sound churches there.
A few months after the conference, Randy, who was going to be traveling to Indianapolis, asked the Trump’s if they wanted to meet. Mark and Holly reluctantly decided that they should not meet because New Zealand was too far away and they hadn’t sensed much leading there since ICOM; not to mention, it was their wedding anniversary, so they had made plans for that evening.
Mark and Holly had decided to visit the mall after their anniversary dinner, which was an unlikely place for them to be. Discussing missions again over coffee, they wondered what God was stirring them to do. Shortly after, the mall was beginning to close, so they made their way up the escalator to leave. They were beyond surprised to see a familiar face. It was Randy Brooks, and with him was a friend visiting from New Zealand. Quite a way to run into someone! They took this opportunity to have a conversation about New Zealand and to pray together. Making their way home in bewilderment, the Trump’s knew they could not ignore what had taken place. This meeting was clearly no coincidence and from that point, they committed to continue taking steps to see if New Zealand was a place where God could use their family to love and disciple. God can take hearts fearful to leave home, and make them give it all to him for his purposes.
The Trump family has since committed to be a part of a church planting team with NMSI’s ministry, South Pacific Christian Fellowship. They are currently raising support to get to New Zealand in 2016.
The term, “or bust” refers to giving up everything for a purpose. (ref:picture)
Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”
