P.U.S.H. - Pray Until Something Happens

After trekking through the Mountains of Morocco, the deserts of Mauritania, and the rainforests of West Africa, we are left with mixed feelings.   Excited for what the Lord is doing, yet burdened by some places that are so far from the Truth.  Some regions being without any known believers.   Yet in one of our last stays, that was far from the case.

In only the last few years thousands, yes THOUSANDS of simple (house) churches of an average size of 50 have started.  A region not far out of Civil War is seeing so much fruit! Thousands of Muslims coming to faith through dreams, visions, and miracles. I heard many of these stories during my training in Cape Town earlier in the year, then read about them in the book ‘Miraculous Movements’, but to see this happening first hand was simply astonishing. Astonishing enough to remind me of a few of my favorite stories in the Bible.

Nehemiah - God taking an ordinary man to do extraordinary things because of his prayer life. 

Daniel - A man dedicated and faithful in his prayer life, and God uses him for His Glory: Lions Den. Daniel 10 when an angel appears to him after 3 weeks of prayer and fasting.

The entire book of Acts – Specifically Peter miraculously set free from Prison: in verse 5 Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

2 Chronicles 7, Luke 18, Isaiah 58...

Catching a theme here? Prayer is kind of a big deal.  It would be an understatement saying prayer is correlated to the movement happening in West Africa.  The first night our team arrived we went to what this church calls ‘power prayer night’. It happens every Wednesday for a couple hours.  The next night was an all night prayer meeting from 12am-6am.  This wasn’t your ordinary sign up for an hour time slot in a quiet, intimate, candle personal prayer time.  The church was full of 100+ men, women, and youth crying out to God, making declarations, singing and dancing all night, after which they took a nap, just a nap, carried on with their day, and the next evening they did it all over again, this time led by the women. Every village we stopped at had a specific intercessory team.  Prayer was everywhere, and all the time, literally.

After spending time reflecting on what we have seen and experienced, I couldn’t help but ask myself what does this mean for you and I?  Whether you are stateside working 40+ hours a week, a student, or you’re across the pond in a different nation serving, I see two things that are universal for a movement.

P.U.S.H.  Pray Until Something Happens, an awesome concept many of these church planters live by. 

And secondly, something you have heard before…  It’s not a magic process, but I can assure you when this is done successfully, it is unstoppable.

1 Corinthians 1;24  Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. 

Discipleship at its core - Intentional relationships for Jesus, journeying together and bringing one another joy.  A relationship that doesn’t power above someone, but one rather that comes alongside to bring joy, Joy in Christ. What if all Christians actually lived with the joy of Christ? Helped to redeem joy that has been lost? Or more importantly, revealed this joy to those who have never tasted it before?  

The harvest is ripe, movements are happening. What role will you play?

*Thanks to Sonja and Anna for their photos!

PS - On top of our time learning from this movement, we were blessed to stay in the same guesthouse as Jerry Trousdale and David Garrison.  Jerry is the author of Miraculous Movements, which has captured some of these amazing testimonies!  I highly suggest the book to any believer.  David Garrison is a well known Church Planter as well. Again, keep an eye out for some books coming soon from him.  I can assure you they will be worth reading as we were given a brief preview! David is too humble to mention it, but if you hear some of his stories and don’t get chills, you will need to check your pulse.  Both incredible men of faith that really made our stay even all the more special!