24-7 prayer

On Saturday i went to IAM10, that is, the 10th birthday celebration of the movement that calls itself 24-7 prayer. It's been 10 years since the first prayer room was set up in Revelation Church in Chichester, and since then the idea has spread to more than 100 nations across the world. You can read the book 'Red Moon Rising' by Pete Grieg to find out more.

I wasn't sure whether to go or not (to IAM10), firstly because the last couple of weeks have been very non-stop and secondly i wasn't sure if i 'belonged' there. But as i walked in the door of the venue i remembered that that's exactly the thing that keeps me coming back for more - there is no 'membership', there is no 'in' and 'out', and i have always felt very at home at any 24-7 gatherings that i've been too. Maybe it's the colourfulness, the uniqueness, the ragtag-nonconventional look of the people who come together. But that's just the outside. Really i think its the connection - the shared desire to push the boundaries, not settle, to dream and scheme and journey, and see where God leads. It's the passion for prayer and for mission and for justice, the longing for community and creativity and expression of LOVE in countless ways.

The first time i encountered this was when i was 18 (2005), frustrated with the apathy and sameness i found in church, full of questions, and trying to work out how to express my faith in a way i felt was genuine. I was about to go with 7 other girls to Tenerife, to help out at the Living Room, a brilliant 'chill out space' for those who work in the bars and clubs of Las Americas, and before that we had some training at an event called Transmission - a long weekend camping near Luton with everyone who was going on a team with 24-7 that summer. It was there that for the first time in a long time i heard people talking about following Jesus in a way that really excited me, in a way that i could relate to, and was inspired by. From the band 100hours talking about their passion for music and using their profile to create awareness about AIDS, to people talking about setting up hostels, cafes, to going on pilgrimages, to living life intentionally together... these were things i could start dreaming about. It was also the first time i properly danced without caring and that has since been an amazingly powerful statement of freedom in my life.

Actually many of my favourite memories linked to 24-7 prayer have been about dancing. From some of the world's biggest clubs in Ibiza two summers in a row, to a beautiful villa in Sevilla, to trance-worship in a basement in London, to a church hall in Southampton... this movement literally has inspired me to move. And more importantly in all of these places friendships have been formed, for which my life is definitely richer. And those friendships have led to more connections and more friendships, actually it's crazy to think of the amount of people i now know as result of being involved in 24-7 prayer. People all over the world. People who have and do challenge, inspire and love me in a hundred different ways. Hooray!

I am not saying it's all perfect. I possibly have more questions now than before, and I've seen some of the frustrations and heartache that's accompanied trying to put some of these dreams into action. People get tired and life hurts sometimes. But on Saturday i realised there is lots to celebrate. So, i guess i just wanted to say i'm thankful. so so thankful. but most importantly, as it says in the poem that was a crucial part of the beginnings of 24-7 prayer, 'The vision is JESUS – obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus'. All glory to Him. Without Him all this would mean nothing.