Launching Off the Springboard: 24-7's New CourseEric St. Clair - 8 Apr 2009
Eleven weeks ago, 24-7 began a pilot two-year training course we’re calling “Springboard”. The aim of Springboard is to develop leaders who will be long-term pioneers of 24-7 communities around the world. The course also strives to equip teams to start Boiler Rooms or enable Boiler Room Centers to mobilize more people, thus resourcing communities within the movement. We had ten people join our pilot edition of Springboard, some of whom are now heading to Iceland, Macedonia, Scotland and Mexico. Springboard began on January 12 with a ten week intensive training course based out of the Guildford, England Boiler Room.
The first 10 weeks were jam packed with many great teachers from all over the world. Our days were mostly spent in a classroom setting where we learned through lectures, movies, music, art, and many other creative forms of teaching. Some of the things we touched on in Springboard were: the God story, culture shock, cross cultural learning, language learning methods, history of the Church and early Christians, theology, justice for all people, caring for ourselves, first aid, conflict resolution, and so much more. Those first ten weeks were very intense. Each day was utilized to its fullest with up to five sessions a day at times. In addition to all of the training we were able to visit Boiler Room communities, in Guildford, Corringham, and the Wandsworth Salvation Army. It was amazing to spend time with these communities and see people coming together in such an inspiring way to pray, eat and love one another.
Although we had loads of fun during the initial ten week course, we also did a great deal of soul searching. Springboard stretched us all to our spiritual breaking points. We were constantly being challenged and stretched with little time in between sessions to fully unpack all that it was we were learning. It is going to take some time for us to fully assimilate what we have learned about God, ourselves and the task before us. I am looking forward to going back through all my notes and spending time in prayer as I seeking God about the full implications of these teachings on my life.
During the first ten weeks of Springboard, we were each assigned mentors that will keep in contact with us over the next two years. These mentors will help us fulfill the goals that we set for ourselves during the past ten weeks. The plan is that mentors will actively partner with us and in some cases even come visit us in the countries we are serving in.
Over the next two years we will continue to work and learn together as a unit. We are starting right away by participating in doing “the God Story”. We will be reading through the Bible on our own but coming together once a month to discuss how we see the God story unfolding. We will stay in contact through an online forum where we can discuss what we have learned. We will also have a residential following the 24-7 gathering in Amsterdam in October 2009. In addition, we will read books and listen to audio teaching in parallel over the next two years as part of our continued learning.
As of now, the first edition of Springboard is spreading out across the world. Crystal is already in Aberdeen, Ella is somewhere in Europe on her whirlwind tour, the Bowers and the Evans are about to start their pilgrimage to Macedonia, Adri is heading Mexico, James is preparing to visit New Zealand, and the St.Clairs are heading back to Iceland. Even though we are spread so far across this planet we are all united together in a strong bond created during these past ten weeks. Our hearts have been knit together, and we are excited to see where that takes us in the next two years.
If you have any questions about Springboard please contact Ian Nicholson.
