The Prodigal Continent By Ian Nicholson

Ian Nicholson, May 5th, 2009

But while Europe was still a long way off the Father saw it and was filled with compassion. He ran to the people of Europe and threw his arms around them and kissed them ….. kill the fattened calf, let’s celebrate for this son of mine was dead but is alive; he was lost but is now found again. interpretation of Luke 15

Because Europe is not a pre Christian paganism but a paganism born out of the rejection of Christianity, it is far tougher and more resistant to the gospel than the pre Christian paganisms …. Here without possibility of question is the most challenging missionary frontier of our time. Bishop Lesslie Newbigin in "Can the West Be Converted?"

I love Europe with its interconnected peoples, tribes, history and cultures. The richness and variety across the European continent is unbelievable. The more you look and listen carefully, the more intriguing and wonderful it appears. There are cultural undercurrents and histories, often filled with pain, that are rooted far back in time. Each national faith community has its heroes, saints, and inspirations. Although these same individuals often stand as a provocation to our current barrenness and disappointment. Europe’s story is shaped by the God of the Bible. I’d like to propose that this same God continues to work through 24-7 Prayer (along with many, many other movements) in Europe today.

• When, as a young man, Pete Greig looked east from Cape St Vincent in Portugal and called out an army of young people in prayer - the focus was Europe. Was that a coincidence?
• The first challenge to 24-7 Prayer was made it at ‘Cultural Shift’, a gathering for church planting among young people in Europe. Was that a coincidence?
• Within weeks prayer rooms started in Spain, Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. There has now been some 24-7 related connection in almost every European nation – from Iceland to Malta and Ireland to the Ukraine. Is that a coincidence?
• The first 24-7 Prayer mission teams were sent from ‘E:merge’, a Europe wide gathering focussing on mission to the emerging generations in Europe. Was that a coincidence?

As much as there are reasons to rejoice at what God is doing in Europe, there are still many more reasons to soberly press on in God’s plans for us all.  The last 50 years have seen an implosion in church attendance in Europe. In 1959,  50% of children in the UK went to Sunday school. Now it is nearer 4%. Half the UK’s churches have no teenagers attending. For the vast majority of Europe’s young people, Christianity is no longer a relevant option in their lives. It is perceived as belonging to the past. Bishop Lesslie Newbigin was surely correct in declaring that Europe now presents the biggest challenge in world mission today. Europe is the prodigal continent, recklessly squandering its godly inheritance with devastating arrogance while the church grows in every other continent on earth. But the loving Father is waiting, wooing and watching. He has not given up on us!

In the last nine years, within 24-7 there have been thousands of prayer rooms, national years of prayer, hundreds sent on prayer mission teams, city-wide years of prayer and denominational prayer years. These all represent an upsurge of continuous intercession from the heart of Europe, the prodigal continent, calling us back to the Father. The phenomenon of 24-7 Prayer, in all its expressions, cannot be explained in human terms. God simply wants us back!

24-7 Prayer in Europe has a long term commitment to prayer, mission and justice for our continent. It is a commitment that is expressed through friendships. In many places it is smaller catalyst community initiatives like TribUrbana in Sevilla, Spain, the Sollentuna Collective in Stockholm, Sweden or the  intensive mission outreach of 24-7 in Ibiza. Some communities, like Guildford (UK) and Glasnost (Macedonia) are beginning to train and send long term missionaries of their own while supporting local 24-7 communities. Non-European 24-7 activists are beginning to hear the modern Macedonian call to Europe (‘come over and help us’ Acts 16 ) and are relocating. Do we dare believe that God is mobilizing an army?

The last nine years have filled me with a dual sense of urgency and hope. The urgency is simply that this is a ‘kairos’ moment of opportunity for Europe. God does not inspire so much prayer for fun. We have to believe that this is breaking the ground for a harvest to come and commit ourselves to following the Holy Spirit wherever He leads us. Personally, I dream of a fresh wave of mission and church planting which lays foundations for millions to come back to the Father in unreached cultures and inner cities. I envision a fresh mission move from Europe into the Middle East. I dream of an expression of church for every culture, tribe and tongue on our wonderful God-shaped continent.

Thousands of prayer rooms have heard whispered requests and thoughts for individuals, towns, cities and nations across Europe. This is the tip of the iceberg. God is able to do far more than we can imagine, ask or think. The future is hope-filled!

In Europe and interested in making more friends within 24-7 Prayer? We'll be hosting a Gathering in Amsterdam, Holland of 24-7 tribes across Europe and further a field from October 1-4, 2009.  We will specifically be looking at 24-7 Prayer's vision for Boiler Rooms and Boiler Room centres as a strategy for mission in Europe over the coming years.  More news will be forthcoming soon...