The Next Stage: New Zealand!

At the end of my last entry, I mentioned that I was applying for the Steiger Leadership School on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand. Well, it’s time! In a few short weeks (Feb. 26th), I’ll be flying from Chicago to Wellington, just an hour from the little beachtown of Waikanae. I should explain how I got to this point - first who Steiger is, second my history with them, and third how I came to this next step in my ministerial journey. These last few months have been a hard journey in letting go of everything that makes sense in trusting God to be who He says He is. I’m not sure if I have any more faith than when I started this journey, but I am sure that He’s still loving and working on me.

Steiger International began as a Bible study on a pier in Amsterdam. Punk rock was at its peak in Europe, and David and Jodi Pierce purposed themselves to reach out to skinheads and other radical sub-culture youth. Using music, art, drama and the living Word of God, they began to travel into communist regions and eventually the world ministering the love of Christ in places where most Christians would fear to tred. Thousands of broken, angry, and hopeless young people have turned themselves over to Christ through the ministry of the band No Longer Music (NLM), and 35 other ministries based in 9 countries. Learn more at .

I think that it was my freshman year at Northwestern College when I first went to Hardcore Bible Study at the People’s Center on the University of Minnesota’s West Bank. I sat in the upper part of the theater seats in front of a small stage with a few friends from school. The man teaching was also part of the rock-worship band and had ties to Steiger. I went with them to the New Age-inspired Rainbow Gathering two summers in a row to serve food to hippies and homeless travelers as part of the Jesus Kitchen. I came and went from this little group over the next 6 years as it changed and moved and grew. When the Hardcore Bible Study became The Salvage Yard Church of Jesus Christ, I was there, and later also became a member. For the last two years, I’ve been a part of the Servant Leadership Team there and recently became the head of the Salvage Yard’s prayer ministries.

I’ve been traveling abroad in ministry since I was 13 years old and built structures for a Bible School in Zimbabwe with Teen Missions International. Since then, I’ve been to 6 countries in this capacity and many more as a visitor. As an adult, I have grown in my identity and calling as an intercessor, and been radically changed through an internship at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. As a graduate student at Bethel Seminary, a desire in my heart to become a Spiritual Director was awakened. My hope and desire is that through my experiences at the Steiger Radical Missions School and time spent with Jesus there, these many pieces will begin to come together in a more specific calling for my life and ministry. I have few preconceived ideas about what the Lord will do in me while I’m there, but I am excited that He has amazing things in store for me over the next few months. Please pray for me during this important time!

Since ending my career as a teacher at the end of July, I have been blessed to work several jobs and have been able to save a significant portion of the finances required for my travel and tuition expenses. If you are moved to do so, please help me to emerge from this experience debt-free. Donations can be made online at Paypal.com by clicking the link belowm or checks can be mailed to me directly. Thank you!

Heather Penzel
2731 17th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55407