Presence and Passion at the Big Church Day Out

Published: June 2nd, 2009

“Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Jesus, Matt 18:20

Having arrived in England from the USA less than three months ago, I was keen to see what a gathering of 14,000 British Christians would look like.  Especially when they were coming together for a justice-focused celebration of all that is good in the UK Church.  If Jesus promised to be present when just two of His followers met to pray and worship, then I wondered how He’d interact with such a significant gathering of His body from across England and beyond.  

It was clear from the start that the Big Church Day Out, brainchild of Tim Jupp from the band Delirious, was blessed with glorious sun and drenched in expectant electricity.  As the 24-7 team joined many others setting up stands, venues and activities around a mammoth concert stage I could sense that this was more than just a (large!) party.  The Big Church Day Out was an amazing expression of unity and beauty as thousands streamed through the gates representing many denominations coalescing into one colourful family.  The true size and mood of that family was only evident once we’d left the main stage and journeyed through the Kid’s Area, the Tea Tent, the Youth Bus, the Ferris wheel and the Drama Stage, and made our way to the 700-year-old chapel turned 24-7 Prayer Room.  There were thousands of people greeting old friends, meeting new ones, worshipping God and praying together… many were playing games, sharing something to eat and generally wearing some pretty broad smiles.  There was a jubilance that could not be extinguished by a baking sun or a long, tiring journey and a strong sense of joy as the people of the Lord gathered in there thousands.

“It really felt like a slice of heaven: glorious sunshine, thousands of smiling people of all ages, worshipping together and having fun in the gorgeous English countryside,” reflected Pete Greig.  “Great, healthy food, brilliant music, afternoon tea, a ferris wheel, and at the heart of it all, in an ancient chapel with 24-7 prayer rising to the Lord.”

24-7’s own Pete Greig and Carla Harding hosted the day from the main stage introducing world renowned worship leaders like Michael W. Smith, Israel Houghton and Delirious.   Prayer and justice were the cornerstones of the gathering with moments of prayer and stirring messages from leaders like Steve Chalk interspersing the festivities.

"It was incredible to look out over 14,000 brothers & sisters from all across the United Kingdom worshipping & praying with one voice!” Carla commented when I asked her about it later, “The Big Church Day Out was a significant ingathering of the church but its impact will not end there. Through the prayers, inspiration and challenge that flowed throughout the day, I feel sure that this event was a launch pad for encouraging the church to further engage with the needs of the nation.”

Carla herself was moved to tears as she and Pete led thousands to pray for the heartfelt requests texted to the main stage.  “As I read through the messages buzzing into my inbox I had to stop thinking about the practicalities of hosting and start praying for my brothers and sisters.  The cries for healing and the desire for friends and family to know Jesus were deeply moving.  This small prayer texting idea that Pete came up with quite close to the event was for me one of the most significant parts of the day.  A 14,000 strong ‘Amen’ must resound loudly in the heavens.”

I took the opportunity to quietly reflect in the prayer chapel toward the end of the day and I bumped into someone I had met for the first time just a few hours before.  Side by side we sat and conversed quietly as people flowed past adding their prayers to our own.  I found myself sharing the amazing journey of God's restoration within my family and as I encouraged my new friend with the God's story in my life a fresh wave of thankfulness, hope and encouragement filled my heart.  I couldn’t help but wonder how many similar encounters had happened throughout the day?  How many lives and testimonies shared, prayers and blessings prayed between friends and strangers united by one God?  

As the sun set behind the stage Martin Smith read from Isaiah 61 and challenged the rapt crowd to work together to see an end to the injustice.  “There was a palpable sense of new dreams being conceived.” Commented Pete Greig.  What fruit might come from the seeds that have been sown? I for one cannot wait to find out.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, l committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."  Margaret Mead

To find out more and share in the experiences many who attended the event why not search Big Church Day Out on Twitter, Facebook and You Tube.  

Sheena Littlehale is from Portland, Oregon and came to England in 2009 to work with 24-7 Prayer. God, art, travel, photography, music, prayer, justice, reading, writing, coffee and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content are all things Sheena is passionate about. You can keep up with Sheena's adventures in England through her blog.

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