From the ashes of theBurn

Last weekend we had our first "Burn" gathering at the Boiler Room. If you have never been, a Burn is like a Friday night 6:22 meeting mixed with intense prayer, fasting and some extra hours of worship (in this case, seven). It is a glimpse what we believe will be happening in Greenville 24/7 one day! Every time we do a Burn I sense such an intense grace from God, and I believe these meetings really touch God’s heart and are His will for 6:22 and the Boiler Room. The Holy Spirit seems to show Himself during these times in a unique and powerful way.

So last Friday night, from 6pm to 3am, the Boiler Room was INTENSE. Joshua Pake, one of the prayer leaders, said that the atmosphere was “literally electric.” He walked into the meeting with his cell phone battery on two bars and walked out with it fully charged! The thickness of God’s presence was overwhelming. For about four out of nine hours, there was hardly any free space in the prayer room. A handful of students stayed and worshiped for the whole time. At 3am, there were still about 20 people who did not want to leave!

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/622ministries/sets/72157622595924637/
Highlights Video: Coming soon to http://www.vimeo.com/sixtwentytwo

Worship leaders and prayers leaders represented the following ministries: 6:22 Ministries (obviously), Campus Christian Fellowship, Greenville Christian Fellowship, Covenant United Methodist Church, Victory Campus Ministries, Collide Ministries, Discovery Church, Building Hope Community Life Center and Integrity Baptist Church. It was an awesome display of unity.

A new friend, Eric, approached me after 6:22’s set and gave me a prophetic word he had received for theBurn:

"My faithful flock I am with you. Fear not for I am with you. I love you dearly. I have you in my name to cast out demons and heal the sick. I am the Lord thy God. I go before thee in this war. I train your hands to do battle against the plans of the enemy. Fear not for I am with you."

We really did sense God was going before us to fight for the peace and safety of Greenville, and the hearts of the students who were downtown on Halloween. We may never know the extent of how God moved in our city (that is the nature of praying by faith), but we know He moved in those who attended theBurn. This is what Sean Tucker, one of the worship leaders sent to me on Facebook:

"Dude God changed my life tonight, like seriously. He dealt with so many things in such a small window of time that I've been trying to deal with myself with for like ever. Thanks for letting me be a part =]"

We had multiple students asking us why we didn’t do a Burn every weekend!

Here’s the thing: We want to. In fact, we want to do it every day.

Why do we not do them more often? Because there are not enough people willing to come lead worship and prayer at the Boiler Room on a consistent basis. Most of the worship leaders are playing every week somewhere already. The administration and planning that goes into a Burn is too much to do without consistent worship leaders. God has told us there will be those who, while committed to fellowship in local churches, will have their primary place of ministry be with 6:22. We are praying for those who will commit to the Boiler Room – to stand before God with creative, prophetic worship and prayer day and night.

But for now, as we are growing slowly, we have some short-term plans in place to help us move Greenville towards day and night worship and prayer.

• The Fuel School. Monday, November 9, Luke 18 Project & Jacob Ferrell (from IHOP-KC) is hosting three hours of teaching, training and equipping on how to sustain night and day prayer in our city. Come to the Boiler Room from 6-9pm. It is free.
• Morning Prayer. Starting after the Fuel School, the Boiler Room will have “public hours” on Monday-Thursday from 10:00-11:30am. The prayer room will be open with either live worship or a CD for you to come spend some time with God. Coffee will be available in the Fire Escape.
• New Year’s Eve Burn. Our next Burn will be from noon to midnight on New Year’s Eve at the Boiler Room. Twelve hours of live worship music, prayer and fasting for revival in 2010. We’ll break the fast and party together at midnight.
• Global Bridegroom Fast. Starting in December the Boiler Room will be promoting the Global Bridegroom Fast (GBF), a monthly, three-day “global solemn assembly” of believers unified by the Holy Spirit in worship, prayer, and fasting. It is the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month. We will be gathering at the Boiler Room from 7-9pm on those days to pray, with a live video web stream from IHOP-KC.
• Internships. We are planning 1-4 month young adult internships at the Boiler Room in 2010. We are still working out the details, but we will have a sign-up sheet at the Fuel School for those possibly interested.

Please join what God is doing in Greenville. I believe day and night worship and prayer is the key to revival in our city.

How you can get involved:

• Come to the Boiler Room. Experience it for yourself - 6:22 on Fridays, the Fuel School next Monday, morning prayer, the Burns, etc.
• Give financially. As we are becoming more of a building ministry than a blessing ministry, our financial needs are primarily for committed monthly partners. One time gifts are appreciated, but there are less “big events” to give towards. We want to build something sustained and lasting.
• Join our staff. We need to find those who are called to this ministry of day and night worship and prayer. Whether it is full-time, part-time, volunteer, once-a-month or whatever! Just talk to us if that is you.

We will not be meeting this Friday because of the Onething conference. See you all next Monday at the Fuel School!