Confidential report - 27 Nov 2002
I want to be honest with you - our Supporters - about the current challenges facing us as a movement. This is a critical time for 24-7 in which we are facing massive opportunities as well as serious challenges.
Opportunities
Things are moving faster now than ever, with more and more places interested in running unbroken years of intercession. In the wake of the Salvation Army's year of prayer which was a colossal success, many other nations, denominations and organisations have approached us wanting to discuss similar plans. As a result we are currently supporting non-stop prayer years in Sweden and Australia and in discussions with the following bodies:
- Pioneer churches (UK)
- Churches in Sussex (UK)
- YWAM bases across Western Europe
Basically, everything we are involved with seems to be growing from Mission Teams and Boiler Rooms to Text Messaging Services and the web site (we expect to complete our mammoth 1 year project any day now to upload Operation World in it's entirety onto the site). With so much uncertainty in the world, there has never been a better time for God's people to rise up in prayer...
Challenges
 |
However at a recent meeting of the 24-7 Trustees we had to acknowledge that 24-7 is unsustainable as it stands at the moment. We are desperately understaffed for the scale of the operation, struggling to pay the existing team (although God has faithfully never let us go without) and we are really unable to grow much more without a significant release of finances. Righ now we can't even afford to buy new stock for the shop, even though thatstuff ends up making us money... |
Things are so serious that the Trustees have given us 3 months to generate at least an extra £1500 a month plus raise £12000 to pay outstanding bills...
We are convinced that God is with us and will provide, but our faith is certainly being stretched right now! Just 3 years ago we were praying 'in'our first computer and now we're having to trust God for tgousands of pounds. We know we need to pray as if it all depends on God but also live as if it all depends on us. Practically we are currently mailing our entire list of contacts with a letter explaining our plight and asking for help. If every person who got that letter simply gave £10 we would be sorted...
 |
Having said all that, our last attempt at anything like that was singularly unfruitful, so we're praying hard into this one! We do believe that God wants to give to us through our supporters and friends rather than just beaming money into our bank account from nowhere. And it has been suggested that in the past we havent been very good at sharing our needs with our supporters. |
These are growing pains for 24-7. If we were a business we'd just get a loan to help us expand to the next level. But obviously that's not something a Christian charity can do! Instead we really are looking to God for that 'cash injection' we so desperately need if we are to 'keep in step with the Spirit' at such an exciting time.
Please do pray that this mail-out brings in loads of money, and expands this community of 24-7Supporters.And when you get that exciting letter on your doormat, if you are able to increase your standing order - we'd really appreciate whatever!
Thanks for all you give already,
Pete Greig
