"Taylor changed the face of the world through sacrificial obedience to the simple words of Jesus"

The Christian world of Hudson Taylor’s day was vibrant – and yet comfortable; Taylor would have made a wonderful conference speaker and probably pastored a huge church but he chose a different route. With his friends Taylor changed the face of the Christian world through sacrificial obedience to the simple words of Jesus.  They inspired a generation of students to be part of the world’s biggest missionary movement – taking the gospel inland into the major con-tinents and seeing the power of the gospel change millions.

 

To many of us it is no coincidence that 24-7 was first launched in the context of a missionary call. Prayer changes us, prayer revitalizes churches and communities but also prayer gets us on the move. We hear the gently thudding heartbeat of God for the lost and see new opportunities with eyes of faith.

 

 

One major question we all need to ask ourselves is not just what we are going to do for God but also where we are going to do it. 24-7 mission teams are an opportunity to step through open doors for the gospel and just 'give it a go'. It's been amazing to go back to places year after year and see the progress and see the doors opening that little bit wider.

In Macedonia, one of the poorest nations in Europe, we saw people become Christians and were told ‘a couple more weeks and a church would have been started.’

 

In Belgrade, again one of the forgotten corners of Europe, the church was hugely encouraged that we would even go there, it grew and this summer a further programme of 24-7 prayer and student parties is planned

 

In Ibiza the biggest news this year has been a family moving out to build on the summers’ progress and start to establish a community base. The summer teams are a core part of that

 

Ayia Napa has been amazing the last couple of years with healings and peoplecoming to Christ  and its hard to describe the passion and commitment of the core team for the island of Cyprus

 

A first ever trip will be to Tenerife to work alongside a community planted in the centre of the clubbing area.

 

There are the mobile teams through northern Europe to the Baltic, Scotland, the southern tip of Europe and all over central Europe – praying in multiple centres and obeying the leading of God

 

Then there’s the prayer room and outreach in August in Helsinki alongside the World Athletics championships, the team to the Edinburgh fringe, the German team, a first ever team to Croatia with a wild but wonderful church. Then there will be lots of ‘bootlegs’ – informal teams of friends launching out from Transmission. 

And then there’s the launch of Transmission with its focus on meeting God and hearing a great group of speakers and contributors training and inspiring us to put the call to the nations at the heart. Its been encouraging to hear, just in the last few days, of groups coming from the US, Canada, Finland – do get your friends together to join us. www.festival4mission.com

 

BUT can I share a frustration?! Every year there are people who know they could

"Every year there are people who know they could be joining a team but never quite get round to filling in a form!"

be joining a team but never quite get round to filling in a form. Or perhaps they get intimidated into thinking they are not a spiritual enough Christian for the job. Or maybe getting a bit more money for an ipod or car takes over…

 

I did that once – I couldn’t choose between different mission opportunities and, in the end I just left it too late and had a boring boring summer – knowing I’d missed an opportunity! I made up my mind I would never do that again – if I felt God speak, even if I wasn’t 100 % sure – I would err on just doing it. Life is too short to play safe!

 

Nico	This summer is a great opportunity – Transmission, Balkan teams, clubbing teams, mobile teams, creative teams … pray about which team and get those forms in!   Ian Nicholson 24-7 Mission http://www.24-7mission.com/index2.php