Reaching a Continent
A mission to re-evangelize Europe is obviously very significant within the broad context of the Global Harvest
The evangelization strategy modeled by our Lord was one of multiplication – a message that spreads through genuine belief in Jesus (evidenced by becoming a disciple of Jesus) and testifying to a transformed life – this produces an authoritative proclamation of the message of salvation. The result of this is the rapid spread of the Gospel within the communities that inhabit our cities and towns.
There are several steps to a person coming to a place where they believe in Jesus in a Biblical way, and several further steps to a person testifying to His saving grace in a way that starts a movement. Advocating for these steps in European cities and towns is the winning strategy for re-evangelizing Europe.
Every one of the steps invovled in this mission requires prayer, specifically because there is a spiritual infrastructure associated with each step (a spiritual stronghold), which must be ovecome in order for people to be free to take these steps. Put bluntly, re-evangelizing Europe will require a series of spiritual street fights in each of our cities and towns, marked by progress of the Gospel in the various communities (mission fields) that make up each city or town.
The purpose of the conference would be to catalyze a movement of prayer and mission, inspired by strategic wisdom delivered by respected missionaries and prayer warriors, who we are hoping will speak convincingly to church leaders, creating paradigm shifts and open doors that will enable and accelerate a movement of mission focused prayer houses and a partnership between these prayer houses and churches for effective, Gospel focused mission.
We need to understand that previous assumptions about what is required for re-evangelizing a continent may not be valid. A lot of things that we assumed were required, may not be required. What we thought was impossible, may very well be possible. Hence the conference.
Some principles emerging from our mission conversation
Here are some principles that have emerged from a mission conversation – principles we would seek to foster in partnership with like-minded churches and ministries
1. Connect with cities and towns virtually and In-person: Reach as many places as you can using virtual means, then follow up those interactions in-person
2. Promote Prayer that leads to mission which leads to prayer:
Facilitating and encouraging prayer for what burdens us, which leads to action, and which depends on prayer for its effectiveness
3. See the whole city as a collection of mission fields e.g. drug addicts and ex offenders, school age young people, older, university age young people, ethnic groupings within our cities, etc
4. See mission as a funnel towards multiplication discipleship
5. Believe for Matt 13:33 Yeast in the dough – church growing in society, and gathering in groups small and large
6. Beleive for a growing experience of inter-church collaboration, beginning with the opening up of church buildings for trainings at different levels and with a wide variety of sponsors
7. Encourage InterCity communication and collaboration for reaching the nation
8. Collaborate with the small churches as much as with large, and partner with the unorganized as much as with the well organized
9. Expect to see collaborative relationship between churches spread like yeast in the dough – starting with inter-church relationships, then seeing those relationships gradually expand.
10.Spread vision regionally, nationally and internationally by multiplication, multiply by building communities with links to other communities, build community by means of regular events
A lifelong commitment to an eternal vision
Everything these days is short term and temporary. Here’s a chance to anchor your life into the vision for mission: something that is the most ancient vision possible AND the most futuristic vision possible.
Origin and Destination
Desire and Availability
Isaiah 6:8 Here am I Lord, send me
Vision
Prov 29:18 Vision is a Bible consistent picture of where we can get to, and a Bible consistent roadmap for getting there
As in Acts 19:10 We can get to a place where our entire city hears and understands the message of the Gospel
- We have to love and engage with people, praying as we go, and sow seed, trusting God to eventually send persons of peace who will take the word to their network.
- Those who respond must be discipled to disciple others, either as part of the mission or as part of the church
Relationship
Pray for relationships of all sorts for prayer and mission
Momentum
Together with at least one other (Matt 18:20), start moving with what you already have faith for (Ex 4:2), faithfully following the contours of the visio.n
Desire and Availability
When you have an encounter with God of any sort, you recognize both the need and the possibilities in new ways. Thereafter there is always the question, “Who can I send?” Those whose response to the encounter is “Here and I, send me” are likely to be given a vision with a commission to fulfill.
Vision: Overview
The situation was dire, and the prophet Habbakuk dared to have a conversation with God, asking questions. This is always a good thing to do. Expecting an answered, he WAITED ON THE LORD. God answered, as he sometimes does with us, “Here’s the vision. Write it down and make it plain. So that he that reads it may run” Hab 2:2
Vision: Part 1
in Matt 28:18-20 we are told to “GO into all the world and preach”. Jesus said, “Zaccheus, today I must come to YOUR HOUSE”. And Phil 2:4-8 tells us that we should have a kind of mindset that makes us look out for people with a view to serving them and doing them good. The community so built becomes our field into which we sow the word of God as directed by the Spirit.
Vision: Part 2
Disciple making movements have become very popular because they have demonstrated that they represent a way to significantly accelerate penetration of the Gospel into communities that are otherwise impenetrable. The challenge to which we are attempting to rise, is the integration of DMM into existing churches and church networks.
Relationship
Nothing of significance happens in the kingdom without relationships – teams that pray together, strategize together, do mission together, and pursue a common vision in the firm belief that they are being guided by the Holy Spirit and inspired by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Momentum
It’s amazing how diverse the catalysts can be that spark a movement. Essentially, whatever you have been given as a gift from God should be pressed into service, with a full exercise of faith, expecting that God will use that as “the thing in hand” e.g. Moses’ rod, or the five loaves and 2 fish. As Paul wrote in Romans 12, whatever grace you know you have, exercise it to the full measure of your faith, and you never know what momentum you will catalyse.
An array of heavenly resources for an otherwise impossible task
Our comprehensive suite of professional services caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from homeowners to commercial developers.
Prayers, Trainings and Local church
- Scheduled prayer times.
- Scheduled trainings.
- Conversations with local church leaders.
Lancaster Mission Newsletter
- A world of thought-provoking articles.
- Case studies that encourage and inspire.
- Participate in strategic conversations about missions.
Watch, Read, Listen
Join 20+ subscribers
Stay in the loop with everything you need to know.
