PASTOR FRED AH KUOI
I was born in Apia, Western Samoa in 1956, immigrated with my parents to New Zealand in 1962, and was born again in Auckland, New Zealand in 1994 at age 38.
In 1999, I attended a Christian athletes conference in Phoenix Arizona, where the Lord challenged me to go to a higher level in my Christian walk. I returned to New Zealand after the conference and within a month I was back in Phoenix with my wife Margot and our three children, then aged 16, 14 & 10 years old.
My discipleship training was with Athletes International Ministries, under Pastor Larry Kerychuk. I spent hours each day in prayer, scripture memory and just being with the Lord and other great men of God. This style of teaching challenged my "everything should be structured and have a program mentality," but I quickly learned the power of prayer, God's word and learned to rely on His quiet voice rather than my own head voice!
In 2001, I became an ordained minister through the ministry of Ron Hembree of Good Friends Fellowship Ministry.
I still live in Phoenix, and have church on a daily basis in the gymnasium of Phoenix First Assembly of God, where I have been a member for the past 13 years under Pastor Tommy Barnett.
I believe each one of us is in ministry; we are the church and we should live our lives for Jesus wherever He places us. Many of the people around us may never enter a church building, we may be their only encounter with Christ!
In 1999, I attended a Christian athletes conference in Phoenix Arizona, where the Lord challenged me to go to a higher level in my Christian walk. I returned to New Zealand after the conference and within a month I was back in Phoenix with my wife Margot and our three children, then aged 16, 14 & 10 years old.
My discipleship training was with Athletes International Ministries, under Pastor Larry Kerychuk. I spent hours each day in prayer, scripture memory and just being with the Lord and other great men of God. This style of teaching challenged my "everything should be structured and have a program mentality," but I quickly learned the power of prayer, God's word and learned to rely on His quiet voice rather than my own head voice!
In 2001, I became an ordained minister through the ministry of Ron Hembree of Good Friends Fellowship Ministry.
I still live in Phoenix, and have church on a daily basis in the gymnasium of Phoenix First Assembly of God, where I have been a member for the past 13 years under Pastor Tommy Barnett.
I believe each one of us is in ministry; we are the church and we should live our lives for Jesus wherever He places us. Many of the people around us may never enter a church building, we may be their only encounter with Christ!
My family, Christmas 2012 - Margot, Joshua, g'son Matthew, Madeleine, Danielle, g'daughter Talia & son-in-law Mark,
and our faithful rotty, Missy La La :)
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MY TIME AS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE
I discovered my first passion in life at 12 years old when I started playing rugby league at our local club, Richmond Rovers RL. It was here that I learnt my trade in the game. I don't remember ever focussing on trying to succeed, but my passion for, and enjoyment of the game naturally led me to succeed at a young age, making representative teams through the schoolboy and junior grades through to premier level. I captained Richmond's premier side to two back to back winning championship grand finals in 1979 & 1980. I made my rugby league debut internationally with the New Zealand Maori Rugby League team in 1975, at the age of 18yrs. That same year, I made the national Kiwi team, touring England and France during the world cup series. I captained the New Zealand team 1979 & 1984, and vice-captained 1979,1980,1981 & 1983. During the 1980 tour of Great Britain and France, I was voted the " Most Valuable Player" of the tour and was given the number 1 ranking in the world in the 5/8 position, by the English press. My international rugby league career with the NZ Kiwis spanned 11 years, during which time I not only represented New Zealand, but also played professionally for North Sydney in Australia, and Hull FC in Great Britain until 1987 when I retired altogether from playing rugby league. Upon my return to New Zealand, I continued in the game of Rugby league as coach of my local club, the Richmond Rovers. I coached at junior level as well as the premiers, winning the Auckland Championship in 1997. |
New Zealand Kiwis
North Sydney, Australia
Hull FC, UK
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THE GREATEST GAME OF ALL
In spite of all the success in my Rugby League career, once I retired, I struggled to find my place, or more accurately my passion in life. All I had known, and loved for so many years, was connected to the world of Rugby League. After seven years of self seeking, trying to establish myself in businesses and multiple attempts to stay in the arena of rugby league, I realized that the void I had in my life couldn't be filled with any of the above.
I gave my life to the Lord in 1994, after realizing that He is the true definition of passion personified.
I look at my life so far like it's a game of rugby league. During the first half I thought I was playing ok, but in hindsight I realize that I wasn't doing as well as I thought. I was actually behind, focussing on building my kingdom, not God's. Just before the half time whistle, in my 38th year, the Lord scored a try for me...and I was saved! At half time I sat down with Jesus, my new coach, and He gave me a new game plan for the second half of my life.
I have been living by His new game plan for 20 years now, and I have come to understand that winning is all about knowing Him, His heart and His purpose for us all.
Life is the greatest game of all!
In spite of all the success in my Rugby League career, once I retired, I struggled to find my place, or more accurately my passion in life. All I had known, and loved for so many years, was connected to the world of Rugby League. After seven years of self seeking, trying to establish myself in businesses and multiple attempts to stay in the arena of rugby league, I realized that the void I had in my life couldn't be filled with any of the above.
I gave my life to the Lord in 1994, after realizing that He is the true definition of passion personified.
I look at my life so far like it's a game of rugby league. During the first half I thought I was playing ok, but in hindsight I realize that I wasn't doing as well as I thought. I was actually behind, focussing on building my kingdom, not God's. Just before the half time whistle, in my 38th year, the Lord scored a try for me...and I was saved! At half time I sat down with Jesus, my new coach, and He gave me a new game plan for the second half of my life.
I have been living by His new game plan for 20 years now, and I have come to understand that winning is all about knowing Him, His heart and His purpose for us all.
Life is the greatest game of all!