A Christmas Message from 24-7 - 18 Dec 2004
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This picture sums up what 24-7 is all about… | |
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We met Andrés (left) on the streets of Ibiza last year. He was homeless, dealing drugs and promoting clubs just to survive. “The 24-7 guys knew what I was doing, but they never preached at me” he recalls. “They just loved me anyway.” Andrés was desperate for help and one night allowed two of our missionaries to pray with him. As a result, Andrés broke down weeping, right there in the street, as God touched his life.
But things got worse not better. As an illegal immigrant, employment was hard to find and Andrés eventually ended up working as a male stripper in a particularly seedy nightclub. By himself one day, at his lowest ebb, Andrés finally surrendered his life to Jesus and immediately stopped dealing drugs and stripping. |
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If Jesus was real, he figured, God would now find another way of giving him food and shelter. We took up an offering for Andrés, enabling him to move to Seville to live with a Christian family. Today, Andrés is passionate about Jesus, growing in his faith, and praying like crazy for a work-permit. | |
 “NOW is the time of God's favour, NOW is the day
of salvation.” (2 Cor.6:1) |
Of course for every Andrés there are hundreds of others who do not respond when we ‘just love them anyway’ and for whom we must continue to pray. But God is undoubtedly moving in some extraordinary ways around the world as we intercede for the tide to turn in youth culture. |
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Please don’t ask us to stop!’
A few weeks ago, I met a quietly-spoken seventeen-year-old from a beautiful ski town in Colorado who has done something truly extraordinary. Back in July Isaac Phillips challenged his church to pray 24-7 for forty days. | |
 Isaac Phillips, me, Danny & Samie |
Much to everyone’s surprise it was such a success that the 80 (yes, just 80!) members of that congregation were still interceding around the clock 3 months later. “This is the most wonderful thing we’ve ever experienced,” said the 17-year-old, when I expressed concern that they might burn out. “Please don’t ask us to stop!” |
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Prayer in High Places
Meanwhile, our UK National Director, Phil Togwell, has been approached by no fewer than twelve denominations and organisations (including the Methodists) who want to pray 24-7 for the entirety of the coming year. | |
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Phil’s team also facilitated an unprecedented time of 24-7 prayer in the British Parliament (left) recently. “We just can’t understand why God would choose a scruffy bunch of nobodies like us for opportunities like these,” he says, “but it really is incredibly exciting!” |
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It’s been a mind-blowing few years by anyone’s standards, but as we look to the future and prepare for our 5th birthday celebrations, we're more determined than ever to play our part in mobilizing God’s people in passionate prayer and compassionate evangelism, for the sake of the poor and the loppressed - people like Andrés.
If you regularly visit this site, or have read Red Moon Rising, you'll be aware that stories like these are being repeated in 24-7 prayer rooms all over the world all the time. God really does answer prayer! This Christmas, as you buy gifts and leave tips for others, we want to give you an opportunity to express your gratitude to God for what he is doing in 24-7. Would you prayerfully consider making a donation? Even a small gift really can make a massive difference and it only takes a minute when you do it on-line through our secure server. | |
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“One trip to the prayer room has changed my life. I went in a broken man and came out with courage and clarity…” (Ryan) |
As you know, our generation is full of people like Andrés. Please join us in giving sacrificially and joyfully this Christmas time, to resource prayer, mission and justice for people like him. |
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Here's to a little more 'peace on earth' in 2005!
Pete Greig
[24-7 Team Leader] | |
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