I got so low at one stage in my life that I even considered suicide. Because of all that has happened, I became a loner. No one could get close to me. I wouldn't let anyone get close to me. But I got desperate. And one night I was saying, you know, how come I'm so lonely? Why isn't anyone with me? That's it, mate. The Lord said, I've always been here. God promises in Joel 2 .28
to pour out His Spirit on all humanity. Welcome to global outpouring, where we contend for that promised outpouring, we equip for that outpouring, so that we may engage in that very outpouring. I'm Philip Buss. And I'm Sharon Buss. Welcome to the podcast today. We have with us yet another friend from the ends of the earth, from New Zealand, one of these wonderful Maori. people that have had just a mighty move of the Holy Spirit in
their tribe for a long, long time. And this one is called Papa James or Papa Jim, James Watene. And he is going to share with us his testimony of how he started out as a child known by the name of Boy. He didn't even know he had a name. His mother just called him Boy. and how he grew up and God has been using him in a powerful way, where he has come from this place of rejection into an anointing of compassion. Thanks so much for joining us today. We know that you're going
to be blessed by this podcast. But before we get started, if you haven't already done so, please go to our website, globaloutpouring .net. Make sure that you're on our mailing list. You can subscribe there and you can be informed. You can look at some of the other things that we have on our website. We've got wonderful books in our bookstore, our online store, and we've got blogs that you can read. And hey, we have a new app that you can get from the Apple App
Store. And maybe by the time this reaches you, it will be available in the Google Play Store as well. And it's a global outpouring app that you can download. And it's just way easier to use than going to our website. So you can reach us on our prayer wall that we can be interceding for your prayer requests. And you can listen to our podcasts there and watch our YouTube content there and interact with us. It's just going to
be a wonderful way to Stay in touch. Well, our brother James Watene, we just are delighted to have you with us. We've had the last two episodes have been with some of your friends, Sandy and Princess Jensen and Richard and Sarah Tito. And they've been telling us that you have some amazing stories. So we wanted to hear from you also about things that God is doing in New Zealand and things that he's done in your life. So welcome to the Global Outpouring Podcast. Thank you. Thank you.
First of all, let me offer my praise and my thanks to my Father in Heaven who has enabled me to leave my country of birth and provide. For He is the God of provision. He is the God who has covered me with His glory and His love. So all praise and glory must go to Him initially. So thank you. Thank you for your welcome. Oh, that's sweet. I love that. So you were telling me before we got started with the recording that... In order for you to get your passport, you had to
get your birth certificate. That's right. That's true. And you made a discovery that you've been called by names that weren't given to you initially. Yeah, absolutely. Tell us about it. I'm still getting over it. All my life I've been known by two other names. My first one when I was a child. My mother gave me the name Boy. I don't know whether it was meant as punishment, but when she called out Boy, I knew it was me she wanted to see. Then when I started school, somewhere
the name Jim, James came up. I don't know who started it, but right through the age of my adult life, I was known as either Jim or James, Jim preferably. Upon discovering that, or being persuaded by Father that this was a necessary part of my journey with him, I had to apply for my birth certificate to get a passport. And so I duly did it and discovered that wasn't my name. That's incredible. Wow, shocking, shocking. Absolutely
shocking. And the person behind the counter said, no, that's not me because that's not my name. And it is, sir, that is your name. And I said, oh. Well, that's very shocking. And so for about 80 years, you've been going by the wrong name. I mean, even now I don't use the name Parni because I'm so used to being called Jim or James. So Parni is just something that's on my driver's license, my passport, and that's it. But before that, were you using... Jim. You were using Jim
on your driver's license? Yep, James. Wow. Wow. So, Pani Miri Miri Wateni... That's me. ...is your real name. Yep, that's me in the flesh. So what does that mean? I thought, I haven't quite got the true thing, but I always thought it was massaging my mummy's feet, because Miri Miri is the... A massage that the Maori do. Oh, okay. Midi midi they massage. And I always thought that was when my mother, as she was getting older, apparently I used to give her a massage. Oh my.
But she wouldn't have called you that from birth for that reason. I had no idea. It's one of the mysteries that sort of comes with my heritage, I suppose. Wow. With my lineage. So you're Maori? Yes, I am. I'm three -quarter caste, as they say. What does that mean? Well, you have people who say pure Irish. Yeah. There's no mixture in their heritage. Right. Then you have them that may have a mixture of Welsh and amongst it all, or Danish. Right, right. So in New Zealand,
then you become... Half. Okay, so if one parent is Maori, you're half. Yeah. Okay. So then you become, you're either a half -caste or three -quarter. Yeah. And that tells you how much of your native is in you, like I'm three -quarter Maori. So that means three grandparents were Maori and one grandparent was not. And one parent was not. Okay. So were you raised in a Christian home? No, I wasn't. My life was sad in a way,
I suppose. But in hindsight, it was a necessary pass that Father was leading me or taking me through that was necessary for the work I am doing now. Yes. We were taken, my other three siblings and myself, away from my mother when I was seven by the state. My father, who worked, had his own house, wasn't allowed to keep the
family. Because in those days, men were not considered suitable solo parents, even though they were working or if they had wealth or a home, they weren't allowed to be solo parents, whereas women were. Yeah. So we were taken off. My sisters stayed together and my brother and myself were split. Now, this is the beginning of my life because I loved my father, my earth father, as I loved my heavenly father. Beautiful. And I couldn't understand why I couldn't go to my father.
Now, at seven years old, to be suddenly snatched away from my father, I grew a sense of rebellion. I rebelled against authority. Sure. So no matter where they put me in the North Island, I knew where my daddy worked. No matter what home they put me in, I would run away. Oh, wow. I would hitchhike and I would just walk and get back to Auckland. And when my dad finished work, I would be waiting outside work. Wow. So he would take me home, feed me, bath me. Then he'd have
to ring the welfare system. Oh. And they would come and take me away and put me in another home. Oh, that's tragic. These homes, I learned the feel of jug cords across my back, belts across my buttocks, hobnail boots across my back. I learned the power of someone punching. I learned all the violence was done and I could not respond. So my response was run away. Sure. Then I went down a pathway of crime. I started stealing to
get back to my dad. I'd steal money. You imagine a nine -year -old boy in a car that you could just see over the dashboard driving down the highway trying to get back to his dad. And that's the thing I was doing. So I ended up in boys' homes and different things, correction institutions. And when I turned 15, I was advised by our housemaster, I was in a boys' home, that my father had died four years ago. No. Now. Oh, no. That broke me. Oh, sure. Now I asked why. They said, oh, they
didn't know where you were. And I said, pardon? I've been in the system, in your system, since I was a little child. I said, I've been in the system. You knew where I was. Why didn't you tell me? So that reinforced that antagonism I had towards authority. Sure. I got so low at one stage in my life that I even considered suicide. And I couldn't understand why nobody was with me. Because of all that has happened, I became a loner. No one could get close to me. I wouldn't
let anyone get close to me. But I got desperate. And one night I was saying, you know, how come I'm so lonely? Why isn't anyone with me? That's it, mate. The Lord said. I've always been here. Beautiful. And I couldn't believe it. I looked around, I turned the light on in the room. Who said that? Speaking to see a ghost or something. No, I'm hearing things. I'm hearing things. He says, no, I've always been here. And I said, well, who was I? I've always been here. Who are
you? I must be going crazy. At this point of ending my life, I'm starting to hear things. And he says, no, I am your heavenly father. Oh, beautiful. I have always been with you, my son. Wow. And at that age, I was 38 years old. Oh, my. And I thought, wow. So since then, he has nurtured me, he has trained me, he has reared me. He has filled my life. Beautiful, beautiful. And through him, I reach out to others because I don't want them to miss out the love that Father
has. Yes. And that is an all -consuming love. It is a love that overcomes everything. It is a love that heals. Yes. And a lot of hearts have been broken, a lot of lives have been broken, and they just need the healing love of our Heavenly Father. Yes. You know, it healed me. Hallelujah. So I've dedicated my life to Him, you know, to His purpose, His will. I struggled against it when I had to come here because I couldn't understand why one... I'm a nobody. I just do what he wants
me to do. I go and help others. I am but a humble servant, so how could he choose me? You know, Sandy is my pastor. It's interesting how I met him, but that's another story. And I approached Sandy three days before we were due to come. I'd had my passport and all that, but I was still, no, I need to stay here and look after. The sheep that I have. Yeah. I have to stay here. And I told Sandy and he says, oh, we've got to go to church on Sunday. And we'll go to church and
just don't think about it. Let's go to church. And the first worship song that they sang was, if you ask me, I'll give you the nations. That's for me, and I will give the nations as an inheritance. Right. Is that it? Yes. Yeah. Wow. And it floored me. I went flat on my face. I said, oh, you know, okay. And I loved the way Father does it. His correction is so gentle. Yes. And it's so loving. You just cannot help but. Go down and repent and ask his forgiveness for ever being like you
were. And he says, I knew you would do this, but I knew you would return to me. Yes. And this is the father we serve. This is the father we love so much. Yes. He gave everything. He gave us everything, 100%. Why can we not return 100 %? That's right. Yeah. You know, hold nothing back because, well, this is me. This is my life. That's so beautiful. So tell us some of the stories, some of the testimonies of people that the Lord has led you to and how he has worked in their
lives. My life is a scriptural life. You know, it's like... The Good Samaritan. You see one in need. You watch people walk around out of the needy. You watch people walking around the destitute. And across the street. And I'm amazed because the words of the Father always comes to me. He says, what do you do to the least of these? Yes. You know, the least of these you do unto me. So my hand goes out. I'd go with the lawmakers. I'd get calls from them when I
had a vehicle. So wait a minute, who's the lawmakers? Yeah, police. Okay, okay, just wanted to make sure that we understood. And they would call me saying, oh, we have a situation here. We have a gentleman who needs to be taken out of his home, nowhere to stay. And I'd say, okay, I'll come and pick him up. Then I'd pick him up, take him to my place, give him a cup of coffee or a tea or whatever, and we'd sit and talk. And the first question I would ask him is, how did
you come to this point? I don't want to know why you did what you did. I want to know what was the trigger? Yeah. What made you do what you did and cause this situation? You know, just getting them to trust and to open up, you know, the pressures, maybe it was pressures at work or it was... It was friends, associates, all that, that comes out. And it's a buildup of tension of trying to please this group and keep it from the wife. And I say, well, you know, that is
not really how you should treat your wife. You should treat your wife with more love and consideration. She is the birth of a nation. Your wife is the birth of a nation. Your descendants all came from your grandparents, your grandmother, your great -great -great -great -grandmother. Now your wife is providing you with a new generation who now have witnessed something which they're going to hold on to. It's going to be in their memory banks. That's not love, my friend. I said,
that's not love. Do you mind if we pray? Wow. Let me pray for you. And then we pray prayer. Sometimes I sleep over. I'll sleep on my couch. And I wake him up the next morning, ring the police, say, is it okay for him to come home now? He's good. Then get in touch with the spouse. And there's still a bit of a hesitancy. And I says, yeah, here's my number. If you even feel unsafe, You've just got to sense that he's there and say, give me a ring. Good. And that's part
of my work. Wow. I also take elderly to do their shopping, do their shopping for them, pick up people who are stuck in town. You know, they go, oh, we're stuck in town. The buses are not running anymore and we've got to get home. I said, okay, where are you? You know, we can't afford a taxi. I said, well, where are you? So I'd go and pick them up and run them home and all on the board. I also was working in food banks, delivering food to those who needed food.
Just general community work, being in the community, seeing a need and filling it. Yes. I don't think you would probably say this about yourself, but it's been told to us that You've received awards for your community service. Yeah. I don't think you're the type that would even bring that up. It's something that I don't talk about because all the glory belongs to my father. Sure. But Sandy says, yes, but this is society recognizing
the work you do. And I says, I still want to back against that because society is recognizing the wrong person. Oh, yeah, that's sweet. It is. It's true. Society's recognizing the wrong person. They should be recognizing my father who empowers me to do this. Yes. I'm just his humble servant at his beck and call, but instead they're pinning medals on me. You find that distasteful. Well, you have to get up and say something when
you receive these awards. When I got my first one from the mayor of Lower Hutt, I said, do you want to say something? And I said, yes, I do. And, of course, I quoted that scripture I used, you know, whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me. But I phrased it so that they had to search for it. I said, you know, I know a man. To me, he is famous. He is the most famous man I've ever met, and I know him quite well. But he said these few words and he
says, on this I've based all my service. And then I quoted that and just walked off the stage, never said anything else. And later on, I had a few people come and say, were you quoting scripture? And I said, yes. I love it. But if you love him so much, regardless of what awards they give you, you should always acknowledge that, hey, it is not I, but he who I serve. Give the glory to him, all the praise to him. And that has been my life. We said, oh, we should thank you for
that. I says, no, don't thank me. People are amazed when they find out how old I am. They say, how can you look like that? And I says, one reason. And I point upwards. That's the reason I am how I am today. Yes. And so give him all the glory. He is the reason. It's not anything I do. Right. It's what he does in me and with me. Yes. It's co -operating with him. Yeah, it is. You're operating together as a team. Yeah. And people don't see him, they see you. Well,
hopefully. As we sing that song, we hope it's him they see. Amen. Absolutely. Too often I've found when I've been searching for different churches in my tumultuous life, it has always been wishy -washy, the churches I've been to. There's always been that missing link. And there was no love in it. And in my growing up life, that is what I was looking for. I was looking for love. Yes, of course. As a child, I looked for love. I received it from my father. When
he disappeared, I started looking for it. But the Lord led me along that path that while I was seeking it, I was learning things. I was learning. I was learning compassion. I was learning endurance. I was learning patience. Beautiful. I was learning. how not to love. Because the love that I was feeling was not love, it was hate. It was animosity. It was really life -destroying. And once he pulled me out of that situation, he turned it around, absolutely upside down.
And my life has never been the same since, but I love it. Oh, that's so wonderful. Yeah. So wonderful. So he taught you the Word? Yes. I find that quite challenging because one of the prayers, we sit down together, and I live by myself, so I've got plenty of time to entertain. He's got plenty of time to entertain as well. And one of the questions I said, Father, you know, forgive me for being envious. And he says,
okay, speak to me. And I says, well, I'm envious of all these people who could bang all these scriptures. You know, verse so -and -so out of the book, it says this, and they go word for word. I said, I can't. I says, I only know scripture that I learned. Oh, I've heard people like John 3, 16. It's pounded into me. It's been pounded in me. So I know that. These people, they get up there. And I says, I'm amazed. I want to be like that. And he says, I'll tell you something.
Just listen. And I said, okay. He said, when my son was being tempted in the wilderness. I said, yeah, I know all about that. He said, yeah, of course you do. And the enemy was quoting all these scriptures like, you won't hurt your, your heel won't be bruised because you've been saved by his angels. Yeah. How did my son answer? I was like, okay. I had to get a Bible and open it. You know, being, and I said, oh, here's what he said. He said, it is written. Yeah. I says,
yeah, and? He says, did he quote a scripture? Did he quote a verse? I says, no, he didn't. He says, do you think my son is envious of those people who can quote scriptures? Was he envious of the enemy who quote? He knows the scriptures backwards and forwards. He can quote it like that. But he didn't. What did he say? It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. It is written. And he says, You don't have to know.
When you need the word, I will provide it. So in situations I find someone's saying something and I say, Oh, you know, you remind me of the prodigal son. The one who ran away and thought he'd... Have a good life over there and look where you are now and look where you were then. Don't you think it's time you went home? Wow. It's instances like that that you'll say, this scripture suits that. But not word for word. I paint the picture because everyone has given
his own understanding. Some learn by just hearing. Some learn by drawing a picture. Some learn by practical showing, you know, so I don't worry. So it's his spirit that's giving it to you in a way that the person can understand. Yeah. It's like paraphrasing. Yeah, yeah. People say, oh, you've been to Bible college? I say, no, I've been taught by the Master. Ooh, beautiful. And they say, ooh. Ooh. Yeah. But, you know, it's all about the personal relationship that one
builds. And I always say, you know, you have to get that direction right. Yes. You have to get that spot on. You have to get that 100%. Then everything else falls into place. Absolutely. Everything falls into place. Yeah. Wow. And I am not perfect. I make mistakes. But I know my father's hand still picks me up and says, okay. Yeah. Okay, son, let's carry on walking. Right.
And it's that knowledge that I have a loving father, one who will never desert me, one who never gives up, one who's always there and whose love is all -encompassing. Yes. It is. And he shows me things like when I was in your library the other day, when I walked through the door, all I felt was love. Oh, I remember you telling me that. Yeah, all I felt was love. The love of the Father has been expressed through all
those authors and what they experienced. They experienced the Holy Spirit guiding them, the hands of love. Yes. And I could feel it as soon as I walked in the room. I thought, wow. How beautiful. That was so beautiful. Yeah. It's instances like that. I'm aware of his presence in everything because he is in everything. Yes. I appreciate a storm. When we came into where we came and we had that big storm. Oh yeah, in
St. Louis? St. Louis, yeah. All I could think of was, oh, Father, your power is so enormous and so incomprehensible. Right. And you are now displaying it for the world to see. How many recognize your hand in this? Mm -hmm. His hand is in everything. And I was praising him and glorifying him. They were looking at me strange in the airport, but hey, so what? Look at this lunatic say, hallelujah, praise be to the living God. Look at this. Look what he's doing. I love
it. Yeah. Oh, that's beautiful. David danced like, oh, I'll dance in the streets. Why can't I do a David as well? Do a David. Do a David. That's beautiful. That's beautiful. Would you tell us how you met Sandy? Because you said that's another story. I'm sure it's a good one. It is, actually. It's comical. In my search for a decent church, yeah, around where he was eventually placed, I went to this little church. and the word came out. The man stood up the front and
did his thing. You know, that was what I saw. And afterwards, everyone was going around praying for everybody, you know, praying. And I was sort of looking down and wondering what I was going to do next, you know, not being really moved or anything. And this big chap stood in front of me and says, I want to pray for you. And I looked up and I said, whatever. It was Sandy. Yeah. Okay. Unbeknownst to me, later on, he became my pastor and I made a covenant with him that
I would never leave him. Where he goes, I will go. I did a wreath. Oh, wow. I made that covenant. Because we had five members when we first started the church called Next Gen. And that was his brother and his sister -in -law. They pulled out because it became too hard. We decided we had to give things away. We had to strip ourselves bare to really walk with the Lord. And they pulled out. And Sandy turned to me and said, what about you? Are you going to go too? I said, considering
it. He looked at me and said, what? I said, yeah, I was considering it. But listen, I'll tell you something. And I said, you know that scripture. Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. And your God will be my God. I said, whatever. I said, that's my covenant with you. And we've been together ever since. How many years is that? Must be about 17, 18 years. Oh, wow. Beautiful. Yeah. So I've been part of that ministry right at the beginning where we were in the middle
of the mongrel mob. Mongrel mob. Yeah. That sounds like a… It's a gang. It's a gang, yeah. The bulldog is their signia, and it's a mongrel. They have it tatted on them or on their… their patches, and they were fierce. When other gangs wanted bodyguards or someone wanted muscle, they came to the mongrel mob. And Sandy and Princess were planted right in the middle of that. Right in the middle of it. Wow. Right in the middle of it. Right in the heart of their neighborhood.
Yeah. Wow. Police never drove through. Oh, wow. They refused to go through. It was too dangerous. Oh, my goodness. Yeah. And they were right in it. Then I joined them and we walked the streets, praying through the streets. And we came upon one instance where they were meeting at night and a young chap had committed suicide. And they were looking for a pastor, God -given appointment. And Sandy says, I'm a pastor. And we went in and we had service. And from that moment on,
Sandy was their pastor. Oh, wow. No one could touch him. No one could touch Sandy. If anyone looked sideways at Sandy, they were dealt with. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, even Princess. Well, you know how contagious Princess is. I call her contagious because she has that element that draws you to her, that sense that says, hey, here I am. Wow. Because of her and Sandy, they most probably told you how many lives have changed and things I've done. So it's been an adventure. Yes. Wow,
that's tremendous. I'd love to hear more and more and more stories from these. I know you've had tremendous experiences together with Sandy and Princess. Oh, yes. Just tell us one more story. One more story. I had a knock on my door one night. I wasn't, it'd just be about, yeah, about two o 'clock in the morning because banging, banging on my door. I said, oh, come on. At this hour, okay. So I answered the door and there was a 16 -year -old girl. She'd been to a party
down the road and it got a wee bit dicey. And she was going to the neighborhood. knocking on doors and no one would open the door. Now I stayed in a block of flats down the back and my light was on because I was still, me and Dad were doing our thing and I was about to go to bed. Turned my outside light off and then I was just coming to bed when she knocked. So she'd seen my light and made towards it. I said, can I help you?
And she said, yes. I'd been down the road at a party and some men wanted to take me and I'd run away. I want to go home. I said, where do you live? Now, where she lived was 70 miles out of town. Oh, my. And I said, have you a phone? She says, no, they took my phone. I said, okay. Do you know your parents at home? Do you know your phone number? She gave me the number, so I rang through. And I got there, and she was still up because her daughter hadn't been in
contact. Yes. And I said, I'm on the way. Your daughter's come here. I told them who I was and what I do. I says, your daughter's here. I'm going to give her something hot to drink, and I'll give her some warm clothes, you know, my jersey or something or a coat, and then I'll bring her home. And they said, oh, we'll meet you halfway. Oh, that's good. And I says, okay, so we made a spot where we could meet. And when I arrived there, the joy I saw in a mother's
face. This is why I do things. This is why. Not for the reward, just to see that relief. I thought she was going to break my ribs, the mother, because she just grabbed me and really hugged me and said, thank you, thank you. I don't know what, I don't know how to thank you. And I said, you don't need to thank me. Beautiful. I said, you don't need to thank me at all. I'm just glad that your daughter's home is safe. Yes. And I
says, can I pray for your family? And I prayed over the family, the blessings of the Lord, the protection of our father. the grace and provision that he provides, and they went home happy. Beautiful. And I went home and collapsed on my bed and fell asleep. And you were happy too. I was filled with the joy of the Lord because when you make him happy, when you do things that please him, there is a sense. That he envelops you with. Yes. And you go, oh, thank you, Father. I could
bathe in this all day. Amen. But we're that close. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. We are that close. So for our listeners, he's got his two fingers crossed together. Sorry, sorry. This isn't video. Yeah, that close. Yeah, we are close because where he walks, I walk. Beautiful. Where he moves, I move. And I don't move without his say -so. You know, as Scripture says, he's a light unto my path. Beautiful. Amen. And it's something I pray that everyone will come to that
point where he is a light unto their path. Amen. And the world needs him. Yes, absolutely. The world is desperately in need of Him. Yes, and that's why we do what we do, because we're believing God for the outpouring of His Spirit on all flesh, and the whole world is going to be touched by Him. It is. And in our small way, you know, I still can't believe that I'm actually here. I'll hold them up to that later when we get together. Beautiful, beautiful. Well, would you pray for
our listeners? before we close. Oh, certainly. Heavenly Father, all we come together as one, the listeners and ourselves, Father. We come to praise you. We come to give you thanks for the many gifts and graces and provision that
you give for us all, Father. We pray that your Holy Spirit will sweep over this land and over our listeners, Father, bringing comfort and joy, Father, and provision, Father, to heal those who are sick, Father, to give clarity of mind to those who are puzzling and trying to do things on their own strength, Father. Father, we also pray for the sick, Father. We pray for the homeless, Father. We pray for those who are parentless. for the orphans, Father, for the widows, Father.
We pray your provision and covering for them, Father. And most of all, Father, we thank you for your love, your grace, and your presence within each and every one of us, Father. So may the glory and the peace of our Father in heaven rest and abide in you all tonight. And forevermore, in the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. Amen. If you enjoyed today's podcast, please subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts
or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your review helps the podcasting platform suggest this podcast to other listeners who are also looking for a great move of the Holy Spirit. Check out our website at globaloutpouring .org to find out more information, read our blogs, connect with us, and donate. You can also browse our web store for life -changing anointed books. Until next time, this is Sharon Buss. And I'm Philip Buss. God bless you with His overwhelming, loving presence.