How to change a lifeIan Nicholson - 19 Apr 2012

Warning: Short term mission ruins lives.

24-7 Prayer is committed to being part of God’s loving mission to bring hope to the poor and marginalised. Short term mission projects and courses are a central part to who we are and a high proportion of our emerging leaders and pioneer community members were first  exposed to 24-7 on a summer mission team or through a discipleship course. 

The Vision Course, which is launching this September in two locations, is our most ambitious training venture yet, combining an intense three month training phase with 2 months of ‘on the job’ experience in a 24-7 pioneer context. We are excited about this course transforming lives and helping young disciples get involved at the sharp end in hands-on mission, prayer and service in a 24-7 community. We are praying that hundreds will have their lives and plans transformed as they learn more of God’s heart for the nations and where they can fit as part of 24-7.

However, I must admit my heart sank when I received this recent email of complaint about our short term mission work in Ibiza. Was it really worth it? Have a read of what Jud says and see what you think?

Dear Ian,

I've been meaning to write this email for a while ...I've been going out to help with the work 24-7 do in Ibiza for the past 5 summers, twice with a 2 week summer team and the rest for my two months school holidays. We have always been encouraged to get in touch with you if we have any complaints so whether this be the first or one of many I'm writing to complain. 24-7 Ibiza and 24-7 prayer have ruined my life.

When I was in university I would never have dreamed of going to Ibiza let alone going every summer. I was supposed to get a lovely job in a well-off, middle class school and go travelling for my summer holidays- seeing what the world had to offer me in all its splendour and culture and food. But when I first heard Brian (Heasley) speak in Dresden, that 'dream' of mine was clearly not to be or maybe not just yet. 

My first trip to Ibiza was messy and roughly cut and a little rough around the edges. Regardless what we looked like, God was quite clearly in the centre of the random sprinkling of people and opened my eyes to a God who cares and knows the absolute intimate details of everyone's lives. There was an attraction to living adventurously for God, praying the prayers which seemed impossible and dangerous, yet time and time again God remained faithful and I saw immediate answers to prayers ... this I liked. 

The next summer challenged me to stop with the short term and go for as long as my holidays would let me. Life on the farm (a base for one of 24-7 Ibiza’s summers) was interesting and intense, a place where you couldn't hide, you were exposed for all to see, your good bits and unfortunately your not-so-good bits. Brian and Tracy were the first experience I had of people intentionally challenging me and my personality, pushing me to see who I was and how I responded to different situations. They always acted out of love and desire to see more of God in me. Through many tears and strops and huffs, the real me began to emerge, but I knew God still wasn't finished with me.

The next two summers saw me living with the Heasley's in their family home for two months. They welcomed me like family and I can't explain just how privileged and loved I felt as I came back each year. Again these months were spent on development and challenging myself, not so much in the character department ( I did plenty of work at home on this ) but more in the area of leadership.

Brian’s heart has been totally won over by these people in Ibiza and his passion and care for them is so obvious and this love for them lies thick in the air when he prays for them. It’s also refreshing to have leaders who admit that they don’t have everything sorted! 

 Tracy, leads in a very different manner, she listens and listens and listens and then if you want her to, she gives her opinion and insight. She leads with quiet confidence. Working on the street with her is amazing, she has limitless grace and patience and treats each person she meets like her own child; her care and attention to detail is inspirational. 

Last year I felt very honoured to be given the opportunity to work with some of the girls in the strip clubs. I know this was a huge step for Brian and Tracy to release Anna and myself into this work and allow us to tread the unbeaten path and venture off into the unknown, but we always felt reassured that they had our backs and were cheering us on. 

I feel this summer will be a mixed bag of emotions as Brian, Tracy, Ellis and Dan return home and hand the work on to Abby and Charlie Clayton . Sadness and reminiscing off all the time Brian and Tracy have served in Ibiza but also anticipation of what is still to come and how God is going to move the work on further. 

As you can see my complaint is a big one! My summers have been taken away from me, my character has had a huge renovation and I've had two examples of leadership to challenge, encourage and teach me!  Not to mention the opportunity to see and serve God in a place where others deem impossible. 

So, short term mission does change lives – deeply and in a lasting way. Things happen when you make that move and you find your life ‘ruined for the ordinary’.

• Please pray for the work of 24-7 in Ibiza as summer mission teams again pray and reach out in some of the most challenging parts of Europe
• If you are interested in doing the 5 month Vision Course please email us

Make that move!