God’s Call to His People - A Message of Repentance and a Call to Action

By Josephine Olsen

"God's Call to His People" is a call to holiness – to love unconditionally, show mercy and trust in the victory of the cross. This universal message is fleshed out with the author's own experience of stepping out in faith. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marmac Media
• Release date: Aug 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9780473473242

Josephine Olsen

Josephine Olsen describes herself as the “Lord’s vessel” for a message of repentance and a call to action for Aotearoa New Zealand. She grew up in the Catholic Church, which remains her spiritual home. At the lowest ebb in her life, she cried out to God – and her prayer was answered. She drew closer to the Lord and spent nine years bringing up four children largely on her own. In 2001 she received the basis of her message "God's call to his people". After discerning it with others, she began sharing it at prayer meetings around New Zealand. She has written two books based on this message: "God's Call to His People - A Message of Repentance and a Call to Action" and "Cross to Bear - A Walk of Repentance through Aotearoa New Zealand".

Book preview

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of my Mum (Pat Sheppard) – without her constant support and prayers this book may never have eventuated.

I also dedicate this book to my Dad (Albert) who supported us through our Catholic schooling and was always there when we needed him.

Acknowledgements

I take this opportunity to thank the people who have helped make this book possible. Firstly, my husband Chris for his love and support in this venture. Thanks also to Martin de Jong for his great editing work and feedback, to Trish Harris for the cover design, and to all those who have given me input into the formation of this book, particularly my brother Kevin Sheppard, Frances and Howard Walker, Anne Copeland, Fr Tom Sherry and Sr Marie Gore.

I would also like to thank Billy Watson, a wonderful woman of God, who created the painting on the cover from a simple picture the Lord gave me with regard to this message.

Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank the Lord for the inspiration for this book and the grace given to me to write it.

Foreword

I first became acquainted with Josephine Olsen when she was a schoolgirl at St Patrick’s School, Kilbirnie. In the last 16 years or so I have come to know Josie in greater depth and have come to appreciate her many gifts and qualities. She is a true daughter of the Church, always obedient and humble, with a great love of God and His Blessed Mother.

Josie has a heart of compassion for God`s people that I believe reflects God’s own compassion. She has a great love of the Scriptures, the Mass, the sacraments and the rosary, and recognises the graces and powerful effects of these God-given gifts.

She is a woman of action and puts into practice the Gospel message. She practises what she proclaims. She also is not afraid of suffering but is very aware that being a Catholic Christian entails bearing her cross after the example of Jesus.

This book’s message of repentance is an awakening to the perennial call of the Gospel. I praise God that Josie and others like her have heard the call and are prepared to bring this message to all people, no matter the cost.

Sister Marie Gore

Chairperson, Archdiocesan Servant Group for Charismatic Renewal

26 June 2008

Preface

About the Author

This background is for the reader to gain an insight into the Lord’s vessel for the message, but the focus of the book is on God’s Call to His People.

I was brought up in a New Zealand Catholic home. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for allowing me to experience the Catholic faith in all its riches. However, as in most families, growing up wasn’t always easy. Life at times was fraught with difficulties and challenges. I was never very academic at school. I tended to be relatively shy and lacked confidence around people.

I married at 23, and after 11 years had four beautiful children. We moved several times as my husband went from one job to another. Our married life was also unstable and very difficult. My husband left me several times, for up to 15 months at a time.

By 1994, I was at the lowest ebb of my life – I felt lifeless. I ended up sitting in the garden in