Whilst on my way to help pioneer 24-7 in New Zealand, I decided to visit my friends across 24-7 America and ended up getting much more than I expected.

My first stop was Madison, Wisconsin. Little did I know that the exact dates I would be there were the days the international 24-7 Communities team consisting of Andy Freeman, Phil Togwell, Aaron White and Joe Steinke.  They were meeting to discuss developing new communities and how we can better support them across the globe. The very thing I was on my way to help with in New Zealand! I arrived the day before and left just after it finished, literally not knowing anything about it until I had booked my travel plans! Don’t you just love God?!

Whilst in Madison we joined with the opening celebration of the newly refurbished boiler room building. On my last visit they had just obtained the large house, which was in a desperate state as it had been a crack house before it was taken on for a different purpose. It was wonderful to see the regeneration of the building and the promise of renewal it represented to the community.

Over the meal people shared some of the stories from their communities. Aaron told of how he and his wife had decided to publicly dedicate one of their children at their community in Vancouver. They had invited everyone present from one of the most run down neighborhoods in North America to bless their child as the baby was passed from person to person. Some of the dirtier addicts and pimps present refused, how could they hold something so precious and innocent? Aaron insisted, asking ‘Are you going to withhold your blessing from my child?’ Three years on and they are still talking about that day.

I also stayed in the Kansas City boiler room for a week and was there for the Sunday night gathering, it was off the charts. In response to a teaching on giving, they had a time set aside for giving to other members of the community. The stories that developed were so incredible; they abandoned the planned service and turned it into God story time.

The couple leading had felt called to give an uncomfortable amount, an amount beyond their means and then received from others to the exact dollar the same amount they had given!

One girl who had never had much growing up and had been bullied about the clothes she could afford was in tears as she told of being given a fabulous dress made by resident boiler room artist Linnea Spransy. Linnea herself received a wonderful new bike from another member of the community!

The stories just went on and on as we celebrated the generosity of our Father. I was even given some money towards my trip to New Zealand! The blessing literally spread out around the world…

I feel so privileged and excited to have seen a glimpse of how God is moving across the US and left for New Zealand with a full heart.

24-7 is still very young in New Zealand but there is exciting potential and a real sense that God is on the move. Several groups have recently completed a pilot 24-7 Learning online course and are now establishing rhythms of prayer. One prayer room has already been established on the YWAM base in South Auckland: the area of New Zealand with the most domestic abuse, crime and social deprivation. Another is soon to open in downtown Auckland and October will see the first national gathering of 24-7 Prayer New Zealand in the boiler room in Wellington. Truly God is opening up doors and leading us on all over the world, even unto the ends of the earth.

I feel like one of my Celtic forbears on another wild goose chase, knowing that though we might not be able to see the road ahead, the journey is sure worth the effort.