Colton's Leap of Faith: A Year in New Zealand

Colton Brantley here! Some may know, some may not, but I’m moving to New Zealand for a year, on June 14th, on a working holiday visa that I’ve had since July 2024.

I’ve been planning this extreme life change for a while now, but life got in the way, as it does, so I’ve had to postpone it multiple times. My physical and mental health issues took over my life this last year, and I was going to go in January 2025, but life went downhill, and I canceled the trip to focus on getting back to some form of normalcy.

In the time that I took away from working and planning such a trip, I found my way back to God. I had been going to Grace Community Church for a little bit by January, but never really took it seriously; it was a major back-and-forth relationship. In January, I took a chance and joined a bunch of groups, including an 18-24 year old small group, as well as a more general young adults church group. The community I’ve found with them began getting me out of the house, socializing, diving deep into God and His Word, and I can confidently say I’m in a place with the Lord that I have never been at before. I obviously still have my struggles with my relationship with God, but He’s the center of my life now.

Recently, my health has been getting a lot better, my weight has increased massively, and it’s brought the idea of New Zealand back to the forefront of my mind. I think I’m finally at a place where I can take this leap and go find myself and the world. I’m going to be there for a total of one year, and hopefully, through God, constant prayer, and the support of my friends and family, I can attend YWAM Queenstown while I’m there.

As some of you may know, missions trips tend to be a wee bit pricey; this one specifically will run around $10-11k. I will be doing their Extreme DTS, which, along with normal YWAM outreaches and Discipleship School, I will also be able to skydive, bungee jump, white water raft, rock climb, etc. I know that’s a big ask, but I know if God wants me there, He will provide, and I’d love any support I can get.

If donating is out of your reach, that is totally fine. I would love your emotional support/prayer to protect me while I’m there and for God to provide what I need to thrive and fulfill His will, as well as sharing my fundraising with your friends and family.

Thank you for reading this. I love all of you. I know to some this might sound like I’m insane, which if I’m being honest, I might be, but if being insane gets me in a new country on fire for the Lord and provides me the opportunity to find myself while helping others find God and comfort in this scary world, I’ll happily be called insane :)

Kia Ora, and God bless