Lessons from the Road: Australia
Apr 10, 2025
As many of you know, Janine and I have embarked on an extended international journey, a blend of ministry, learning, and rest. While I have called it a working sabbatical, it has become more accurately a strategic pause—a time to recalibrate, reflect, and reengage with what God is doing across the nations.
Listen to the podcast here: Heaveninbusiness.com/podcasts/heaven-in-business-podcast/episodes/2149010565
We’ve traveled through New Zealand and Australia, and are currently in Malaysia en route to Singapore and Japan. Throughout this journey, our focus has been to step back, listen, and discern what the Lord is saying for this next season. I want to share a few highlights from our time in Australia—what we did, what we observed, and what we’re learning that may encourage and equip you wherever you are.
What We Did
Our time in Australia began with a wonderful reunion with my sister and brother-in-law, who just happened to be working just a couple hours from where we were staying on the Gold Coast. From there, we contributed to a two-day retreat hosted by Matt and Jo Flegler, welcoming around 45 businesspeople from across Australia and New Zealand. The time was rich with worship, strategic input, and connection.
We then traveled north to Brisbane, where we spent time with the team at Glory City Church. While Senior Leader Katherine Ruonala was traveling, we met with other key leaders including Aaron Damianopoulos, assisting in the launch of their business-focused gathering. We also had the opportunity to minister at the church on Sunday, which was a wonderful and fun privilege (scroll down to watch the recording).
We also caught up with longtime leaders Pastors Phil and Maria Mason, who have pastored in the Byron Bay area for many years. These relational connections—both new and seasoned—proved to be deeply affirming.
What We Observed
- The Importance of Anchored Identity
In one of our sessions, Janine and I taught on identity—a topic that continues to surface everywhere we go. We unpacked the various identities people adopt: soldier, servant, and friend of God.
Many leaders have unknowingly allowed their assignment to become their identity, which results in striving, fatigue, and disconnection. The invitation is to realign: to live first as children of God, maturing into friends of God, who partner with Him not out of obligation, but from relationship.
We never leave the heart of a servant as we grow in maturity representing Jesus in name, nature, word and ways. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of always asking, “God, what do You want me to do?”—but maturity looks more like, “Here’s what I’m thinking you are leading us into, Father. What do You say?” As our identity becomes more deeply rooted, we learn to live from rest, not for approval or accomplishment.
- Divine Connections Confirming Direction
Throughout our time in both New Zealand and Australia, we encountered church leaders already asking the same questions we’ve been praying into: How do we multiply what we’ve built? How do we equip others to do this in their local context—especially pastors and church leaders?
Over the past 15 years, Heaven in Business has engaged individuals, businesses, and communities around the world. Now, we sense the Lord inviting us to focus more intentionally on equipping local churches with the language, tools, and structures to activate their people in everyday work—beyond Sunday services.
Everywhere we went, God confirmed this through divine appointments with pastors and influencers who were already dreaming about the very things we’ve been developing. These conversations have been both encouraging and strategic.
What We’re Learning
- You Hear God More Than You Realize
This trip has reinforced just how clearly God speaks—often more clearly than we give ourselves credit for. We reconnected with a former intern who is now leading a multi-million-dollar disaster response business. He shared how Heaven in Business shaped his trajectory. Years ago, I had served as his support person in a difficult workplace conflict—something I had entirely forgotten. That one moment became a turning point for him.
It’s a reminder: your voice, presence, and input—especially in critical moments—can shape someone’s destiny, even if you don’t see the full impact until years later.
- God Uses Everything
Looking back, I can see how every piece of my journey has been used by God. At age 13, I sensed Him calling me to study agricultural science and serve people both practically and spiritually. I forgot about it, but He didn’t.
From shepherding literal sheep to now guiding people across the globe, the through-line is clear: when we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, everything else is added. He is masterful in preparing us—even when we don’t realize it.
What This Means for You
If there’s one thing I would encourage you to take away, it’s this:
Live anchored in your identity as a child and friend of God. Don’t let your assignment define you.
Be aware of divine connections. God is aligning people and purpose more than we realize.
Trust that He is using every part of your journey. Nothing is wasted in the hands of a faithful Father.
Invest in others. A timely word or act of support may be far more significant than you know.
As we continue traveling and learning, we’ll keep sharing insights that will strengthen and equip you to live out your faith in the marketplace. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to pick up our latest resource: Listen Up: Hearing God at Work. It will help you grow in hearing and responding to God’s voice in your daily work life.
Thanks for tracking with us. We’ll have more to share soon—next stop, Singapore.
Pursuing Heaven in Business with you,
Andy Mason
