On Monday night we had the privilege of having Nata and Marissa from the Kansas City Boiler Room come and join us for the afternoon and be part of our Monday night meal. They are leaders at the KC Boiler Room and were part of the group who started the Boiler Room community there and also are the people who came up with the transit course.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to talk to Nate about some of the challenges they had faced and how they had grown community. How had people got involved? How had the house come together? How did the community deepen friendships? What were there prayer rhythms? What did mission look like in the community? It was great to draw on his wisdom and experience.

In the evening he and Marissa shared a little of there story and about day-to-day life of the KC Boiler Room. It was great to hear their stories; stories of God’s faithfulness, God provision, good friendships and the self appointed security guard, Terry.

I think the things that struck me most was when they talked about how the life of the community is primarily built on friendships, not on programs. The programs and structures come and go but the friendships remain. I was also struck by how naturally this seemed to have come about. I’m sure they have worked hard to achieve various things and to see it develop and the people discipled, but the core seems to have come together naturally over time.

I guess i may well write some more reflections as different thoughts settle. Please do add your own comments on your reflections on Nate and Marissa’s visit.

So last week was our prayer week, hosted by St John’s Church Egham.  The theme was the architect’s plans, pulling together the fact that st John’s is looking to build a new pastoral and mission centre on the church grounds, that as The Church locally we are seeking God’s will (The Architect!) and as individuals we want to know what it means to walk in God’s will.

The week began on the Sunday with the second morning service transformed into a prayer room style morning, with over 25 prayer stations set up across the grounds, from confession and world prayer, to a room laid out like a house (“my father’s house has many rooms”) through to kid’s prayer with bubbles and plenty of paint.  In the first service I spoke on John 12, looking particularly at the verses where Jesus says, “where I am my servant will be also” and “Father, glorify your name”.

The prayer week began properly on the Monday (2nd) with a number of people coming from the Besom to join with us to launch the week.  It was great to have them there with us, as we joined together to pray for the week and all that God is doing among us and through us.

Every evening we joined with whoever wanted for a meal.  The people of St John’s are well known for their culinary expertise and so many people contributed food to provide a feast every night.  We ranged from about 6 people one night, to over 30 on the Tuesday.

People interacted with the prayer room in all sorts of ways, through the many prayer stations set up, through reading a bible or praying in the corner, reading and engaging in others prayer on the wall.  It was great to see many people meeting friends to pray with them during there time in the prayer room.

We’ve had all sorts of comments about how people found the prayer room, here are one or two….

“God really met us there. For me it was unforgetable.”

“It’s been a really significant week in the life of St John’s”

“It was great to be in a place with a strong sense of God’s presence”

Photos to follow.  Please leave your own comments about the week of prayer

As I stepped back from the ‘prayer station’ I had agreed to set up in the Lent and Easter prayer room I was a bit shocked. What was supposed to be a nice place to pray and symbolically splash red paint over newspaper articles to show the reconciliation Christ brings to all creation, had turned into something from an overly graphic horror film. The splashes and drips of ‘blood’ freaked me out. Somehow you couldn’t make a ‘nice’ representation of Jesus’ reconciliation of the world symbolising blood. What did I think blood looked like? Perhaps I believed Jesus’ blood was somehow nicer, tasting of red wine perhaps. Whatever I thought suddenly I was face to face once again with another reminder of the true cost of the cross.

Forgiveness and reconciliation set the theme for the week, both in how we were praying and in what was doing in people’s lives. I love the way that God uses different prayer weeks in such different ways. Owen commented at the beginning of the prayer week that he felt there was something different about it and God was going to use it in a different way. The first couple of days felt quite hard, and a little disappointing; prayer slots were hard to fill and it felt difficult to focus on prayer. However something changed on Tuesday night, and from Wednesday the week seemed to gain momentum. It was exciting to find on a number of occasions two different groups passionately praying in different rooms. We were pleased to have visitors come too; someone from Kansas City boiler room with her friend who lives in London, a group from WEC and others.

We had a meal together every night in the prayer room which was a real blessing and have a focus to the day. It was a great opportunity to meet new people. Rita, one of the ladies who has faithfully served the church where the prayer room is based for the last forty years cooked us a fish pie and told us some stories of what had happened in the church. On Thursday night there is a youth club for local teenagers in the church building. They were fascinated by the prayer room, although seemingly a little embarrassed about what there friends thought about them hanging out in there, and so darted in and out and maked stupid comments when they could get away with it. It wasn’t the most conducive atmosphere to prayer, but some of them were genuinely interested, asking for prayer for their nan or uncle. One of the more disruptive boys later popped his head round the door to appologise and to say he loved Jesus and went to the Catholic Church down the road.

We had an encouraging week, and although locking up on the last evening I was exhausted and pleased to have made it through the week, I was also excited about what God was doing in and us and in our local community. I’d like to finish with the Anglican prayer we were led through every morning by clergy from the local churches…

Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

A note from Colin

I just wanted to share something that happened leading up to and on mission week that i believe i kind of kept under the radar.

I ran out of money.

Leading up to mission week, i’d seen my account go further and further down and had been asking Jesus for something to help me out. It sort of weighed on me as i had no means of earning any money, and to be honest, i couldn’t see any way of bringing money in myself.
I didn’t want to particularly start asking people for money, and i believed that Jesus would supply for my needs but i had no idea how or where it would come from.

Heading out onto mission week i had about $25 (around about 11 pounds) and i was looking at it thinking, this is going to have to last me until the end of transit (end of July). I remember looking at things like my toothpaste, deodorant and soap and thinking (in hindsight, really faithlessly) ‘Jesus, what’s going to happen when these run out, as they were all running very low

While on mission week i heard beth talk about someone who got a tax return and saying that “they needed it”. I remember saying to jesus “thanks for providing for them,’ but also thinking ‘Jesus, what about me? have you forgotten about me?” Beth also shared at a youth club about Jesus providing the money for her to come on transit, and again, although i loved hearing it, i still saw no change in my money situation.

So I tried to live as cheep as i could over the mission week. One morning we went as a team to a cafe that i’d heard about, (which was set up by a church in aberwysyth) and thought that i’d love to by a coffee. So i borrowed, (yeah i made sure it was ‘borrowed’ money off a friend but at the same time thinking “i have no idea how i am going to repay this” and was still quietly asking Jesus for some money, as i saw the little that i did have running out. i’d also run out of credit on my phone and so couldn’t buy any more, so sadly (and quite stressfully, received txt after txt and knew that i couldn’t reply to). On the last day of the mission trip i was quite happy to be returning home, though quite literally had close to 0 pounds left, but was at least thinking that i could be in a place where i could get by without spending money. Again, i really didn’t have any money and wasn’t sure what i could do. (i think kind of faithlessly i kept asking Jesus to provide, though i had thoughts of ‘maybe i should have been better prepared before coming out, and maybe i should have looked after money differently.)

Underlying all this i was stressing out, thinking i was going to have to live with no money in the bank and what was going to happen.

Then, on returning to guildford i found that i’d recieved an amazingly beautiful email from a friend in Australia saying “i’ve put some money in your account, and would love to help support you for the rest of your time in England. Also let me know how much you’d like and i’ll try rally some support for you.”

… there’s not to much more to say, except that i cried. I had so much relief and was just overwhelmed. I’d seen Jesus supply for me through a friend, and i was just so thankful to both Jesus for supporting me, and his mercy in helping me out, and of course my sacrificially giving friend it also meant that things that i’d committed to financially i could pay off too!

Funnily in writing this, i just see that more and more, that i want to live in a place of knowing that Jesus Can & WILL supply for me, and that he is a ROCK that i can trust in for all this and not stressing out when i can’t see how it’ll work, so Jesus, please forgive me for my lack of faith in you, and please grow me in my dependence on you and trust in you for your provision (and that goes for all of us, cheers

Perhaps I didn’t expect for yesterday to be a normal day, but I certainly didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. We began the week of prayer, particularly focusing on the week of prayer. We left ourselves a bit short of time to get everything done, and I think there are a few other things we would have like to included in the room. We did a little better at getting the word out, but we still need to improve. I was stood in the prayer room, putting the last few things in place before the first person was due to arrive at 10am. Just before ten, some walked in through the door with a large bag on his back and a big smile. I didn’t recognise him but he soon introduced himself as Steve and that he was leading through the retreat for the chaplaincy at Royal Holloway this week. I love the idea of what he’s doing, leading through a retreat within the context of normal life, but perhaps it’s another story. He comes from a Jesuit community near Liverpool called Loyola Hall. We went for coffee and had a great conversation, finding out what he did, what the community life where he lived was like and about what we are doing here in Egham.

The day continued well, spending time in the prayer room, followed by lunch with a good friend Tom Gillum from the Community of St Jude. It was exciting to begin to exlore possibilities of connecting up over lent with some of the things the’ve got going on leading up to Easter. I love meeting up with Tom, he brings such wisdom and shares a similar desire to see community life centred on Jesus and focused with prayer built where he is.

Later in the day I had coffee with Andy Freeman from 24-7, who brings a similar heart and discernment. It was a blessing to spend some time with him talking through some of my questions to do with Boiler Room life. He then came on to the Boiler Room meal, which we had up in the prayer room. It was a real celebration of what God is doing and Andy challenged us with some reflections on Rev 3, looking at Jesus being the one who constantly knocks on the door and asks to be let in in a bigger way in to our community lives. Steve also came along and lead us in a short meditation before we ate.

As I drove Andy down to the station, he remarked on how it felt very like a family. That there was a love for each other and an openness to him coming in. I feel the same, and love having all of you as family!

The Bible and Jewish tradition has a lot to say about celebrating and giving thanks.  Remembering is something which is stressed again and again – don’t forget what God has done for you – don’t forget where you’ve come from – don’t forget who saved you.  As Tom Gillum recently reminded us the story normally goes something like this – we had a problem – God showed up – let’s party!

We wanted to finish our term remembering God’s goodness to us.  Remembering all that Jesus has done for us and reminded each other of his faithfulness by sharing stories of what Jesus has done in us and through us over the year.

Obviously a key part to remembering as a Christian is through the bread and wine – “do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me” – and so before eating our feast of roast chicken and vegetables – we broke bread and took time to remember what Jesus has done for us.

It was a great party – great food, great company and a great celebration of God’s faithfulness.

As we went round and shared what we were thankful to Jesus for we were all encouraged, hearing of answers to prayer, protection, salvation in others lives, growth through hardship, joy in difficulty, new revelation of God and much more, and we celebrated together another year of the Boiler Room community.

We thanked God for where he had brought us so far and for where he was leading us.

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.  Gal 6:9-10 MSG

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.  Phil 1.6 MSG

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.   Jude 24-25 NIV

One of the things we are keen to do as a Boiler Room community is to support others locally in their work by praying with them and for them. George Heslop is one of those people. He has been living on Stanwell Moor with his family for the last 14 years or so. He’s invested so much of himself into the community, supporting events and activities, helping lead a youth group, supporting church plants and making close friends with so many within the community.

We went to pray with him a week or so back. He walked us around the area and pointed out some of the key places and activities that went on and how we could pray for them. It was good to be able to support him in this way.

It’s an amazing place, the new Heathrow Terminal 5 building dominates the horizon and every minute or so a Jumbo Jet screams overhead having just reached the end of the runway just the otherside of the field. There were a couple of excited cheers from the Australians as Quantas planes banked round above us and jetted off towards their home!

One of the things that struck me was how peaceful and pretty the place was, despite the airport a stone throw away and also despite it’s reputation locally as rather a rough estate. George told us excitedly of all the changes he’d seen over the time he’d been living their and some of the exciting things that have been happening recently, to do with funding for projects and activities.

Colin has posted a few more photos onto our flickr account, which you can access on the side bar of the blog.

The following day George phoned me to say he’d already seen answers to prayer, particularly to do with families on the Moor, where he was seeing tensions begin to ease.

Please pray for George and for Stanwell Moor. Pray also for Jonathan who starts work for east to west after Christmas on Stanwell Moor, running the Impact Youth Group.

Being in the midst of a prayer movement certainly has its perks! Attending the 24-7 Networking day last Saturday in Reading was one of those perks
Pretty much to sum up the day it was a whole bunch of friends who are doing similar things for God (i.e. praying & being a part of their local community) sharing what’s happening amongst them & eating loads of GOOD food!
I loved how people were just so willing to pray & prophecy & encourage. For Mick & I, the stuff that we got prayed over us meant so much & was so relevant to where our head space has been over the past few weeks. I just loved how God used total (or almost total) strangers to speak encouragement & blessing into our lives.
It really gives you a little bit of perspective when you hear stories about what God is doing across the U.K….
In Cornwall, Matt & Ally talked about their ‘Firestation’ prayer room & everything else that is happening there, George from Guildford talked a bit about what was happening across the country in Uni campuses (which I’ve sort of gathered already from talking to a lot of Royal Holloway students). I thought worship was amazing…hmm…what else…
Hearing about what’s happening with one of our new friends (who we met in Saville), Phil Anderson, in Parliament. That got me excited, especially in light of the recent Australian election!
It was really quite cool hearing about what’s going down in Reading as well. 2 years ago the very first Boiler Room closed. Andy Freeman & Pete Ward shared about how God might be doing something again, & when people prayed for them & for Reading it became clear that God IS DEFINITELY doing stuff!!! These are exciting times
Louise & Chris also shared a bit about Transit. I don’t know how they managed to share about Transit as no one really knows what Transit is anyway (lol, running Transit joke…)!!!

Anyways, I think as a community we came away with new & stronger friendships. It’s exciting to think about what we’re going to be able to share at the next networking day in 6 months-ish!!!

Lauren xx

We have been meeting weekly to eat together, to pray together and to discuss what it means for us to be a community. Over the last few weeks we have had some really good discussions…

three weeks ago – what’s the vision?
We met together to discuss the vision. What is the vision of the Boiler Room, and what is it that we’re excited about? We lookd at where we were heading as a community. Our key words to describe where we are going are Community, Catalyst, Refuge and Voice. A community of mission-minded, Christ-centred prayer. A catalyst for increased prayer in the area. A refuge where people can come and engage in creative prayer. A voice for those who aren’t heard and and in the sense of preparing the way for God.

two weeks ago – mission
We had an amazing time of discussion on mission. We talked about what mission is and how we engage in it. How we put things in place practically that will help us to be better witnesses. We were challenged by the words “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” from 1 Peter 3.15. Could we answer everyone who asks us for a reason for our hope?

last week – the word of God in devotion
The place of reading the Bible in our devotion. We shared ideas of how we read the Bible and why we read the Bible. We reflected on some of the verses from Psalm 119 about how God’s word gives wisdom, guides our feet and gives us Joy.

Boiler Room meals continue every Monday. If you would like to come along, you are very welcome – just let me know.

We have just come out of the TEAR Fund (www.tearfund.org) prayer week, during the week days were focused on different issues facing the globe at large. These included issues such as climate change, increase in natural disasters, HIV, water/sanitation and justice in trade. It was really awesome to see groups and individuals from different parts of the local area unite in prayer for God’s creation & people in desperate need. I was really challenged by Christ’s call to action that was taken from Matthew 6:14-15 and stuck to the Boiler Room wall it reads: Matthew 6:14-15 (The Message)

14-15“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.

Jesus used the example of forgiveness, but I believe it can be related to all things. Sometimes it is easy to pray, to sit back and ask God, beg God, tell God, demand God to fix His world. The injustice, oppression, global warming… but didn’t mankind bring on this stuff anyway?! It’s not to say that God does not act and that He leaves us to clean up our own mess! But He has quite clearly called us to action as well. A combination of prayer and action is required!

It is always sickening to me to see football clubs and individuals who earn more in a year than entire nations, it is also sickening to think there are nations with billions of dollars in budget surplus that just sits around as people die of diseases that the ‘western’ world eradicated early last century! Suffering from curable diseases, starving at a time when the world as a whole is producing more food than it needs.It was a real kick in the behind, with Jesus’ words resounding in my ears. Prayer is essential, but it is not an excuse for inaction or an excuse to not look at what things we can change in our own lives to make a difference in this world. Just as the Tesco slogan reads ‘every little helps’.

-MICK