Springboard

Misty and I are putting a lot of our time and energy into helping put together a new training initiative for 24-7 prayer. Right now we're at the stage where we have the bones of a fantastic course and are booking speakers... but have no definite applicants :) kind of a nail biting time... anyway here's an article from the 24-7 site I wrote this week that explains why we're bothering.

As far as I can tell, the 24-7 Prayer movement is wonderfully out of control! When we gathered in Southampton recently, I grinned like an idiot as I heard how 24-7 prayer  in South Africa was spreading through 300 high security state prisons and nearly fell off my seat as our Brazilian friends told stories of 1200 prayer rooms in their nation alone. Even now, I’m smiling as I think about how God is drawing his church closer to Him through this crazy movement of non-stop prayer and my smile broadens as I think of friends whose task it is to resource and inspire prayer rooms the world over. I imagine their job at the moment to be somewhat bewildering as they continually throw fuel on a wildfire of prayer that is already burning bright.

One of the natural results of all this non-stop prayer is a changed life. By spending time cultivating our relationship with Jesus, we become more like Him. As we hang out with Him late at night, as our agenda ridden prayers are forgotten and we begin to simply talk about our hopes and fears, his character begins to rumble inside us. When we pause our caffeine fuelled babble (which our Father loves) and allow His small voice to whisper words of love and affirmation, we change. Then, over time, as we continue to draw close we begin to understand His passion for the world, for the poor, for the lost, for children, for justice and for righteousness. 

For all of us, this inner transformation results in an outward change.  It might be seemingly small but important life style changes in how we spend our money or prioritise our time for instance. In others, the change may appear more dramatic as God calls and challenges them to abandon themselves to Him in a more obvious way. 

Within 24-7 Prayer there are an increasing number of individuals who God is calling and challenging. Good people whose sensible lives God is hi-jacking and diverting. And just as I’m blown away by the forest fire of prayer that's spreading in part through 24-7, I’m equally floored by the sacrificial servant hearts of those who count the cost and respond. Maybe a little daunted (like me), but with resolve to the words of Jesus who says ‘come and follow me’ and ‘if anyone would come after me, he/she must deny him/herself’. 

And 24-7 Prayer are learning that as individuals seek to respond to Jesus in such a blatant, life changing way, there is a delightful responsibility to help equip them for their calling. Our traditional encouraging ‘Come On!’ doesn’t always cut it, sometimes we need to encourage and respond: how can we support you? what equipping can we give? can we walk with you as you learn to follow Jesus in this way?

A year ago, a friend of mine had a dream which I believe speaks clearly about 24-7’s responsibility to equip and support those within the movement who are working out their calling in mission:

Last Thursday night I had a dream which I think is from God but I'm not sure if it's just for Transit or for the 24-7 Prayer movement. I've been sitting on it and wondering whether to share it or not, but I think I should.

Basically, I was in a big army brief room with a few others and the people at the front picked out Scot and Misty from a group of us to go to the front lines. They both started crying (there was a sense of inevitable death) and in particular Scot was very angry with the rest of us as he felt that there was a lack of preparation for this sort of combat.

I woke up and wrote this down and as I did I asked God what he was trying to say and I felt He was asking "Are you preparing people for the front line?"

Over the past few months, some friends have been plotting about how best to support and resource those heading out for the ‘front lines’. One way they’d like to do that is through a new learning and support initiative called Springboard. Springboard is comprised of 10 weeks of intensive residential learning followed by a minimum 2 year mutual commitment to a mentoring and support process as the participant works out their calling in their setting. It's aimed at those who are called to "long term mission" and/or church/community planting within 24-7 Prayer. 

The 10 week training program stretches across 4 streams (theological, missional, cultural, practical) and has some fantastic contributing teachers. Those of us involved in putting the course together are really excited about the pilot which will run from 10th January next year in Guildford (England). It is hoped that subsequent courses are then rolled out as the need arises in different locations around the world.

If God has been speaking to you about your future in long term mission within 24-7, we’d love to talk to you about your needs and whether this or another of the 24-7 learning opportunities may be suitable for you. The deadline for applications to the Springboard pilot is 14th November so please get in touch as soon as possible.