A Prayer For Fire-Up Unleashed

It’s been a week since this year’s Fire-Up Conference ended. We’re still praying for everyone who attended the weekend. We’ve had lots of great themes over the years and like most years, the Unleashed theme is probably more about what happens after the weekend than during. Sharing God’s love and word with the world isn’t for one person to do alone, but it’s for all God’s people working together.

Small ambitions don’t really motivate. If the church is going to regain a place in the lives of people then we are going to change how we do things. We need to unleash faithful and committed Christ followers to share this news within our culture. We are no longer in a Christian country. North American has become quite a mission field – with only approximately 17% of USA population attending Christian worship last week. I’m praying the Fire-Up Students are unleashed with a vision and mission to change the tide.

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“Tell the students to give up their small ambitions and come eastward to preach the gospel of Christ.” —Francis Xavier

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In addition to all Christians being witnesses, some of us are called to serve in missions. All Christians can serve in missions, but there are some who are called to serve with the specific task to share the gospel with certain groups as missionaries. This is a specific role or task within the body of Christ where a person is sent to develop systems, build relationships, and design frameworks to share the Gospel with unbelievers. And we need missionaries right here! I’m excited to think about all the churches that will be planted, all the ministries that will be born, and all the opportunities people will have to live life in mission because of lives being unleashed at Fire-Up.

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If the church isn’t missional, it’s not a church. – Bill Easum

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My prayer for Fire-Up students and leaders is that they live lives unleashed in the power of God. We must be going and sending. All along I’ve said that one of the roles of the church is to send students and young adults into mission and ministry. I’m grateful for the many people who have been instrumental in helping to send and unleash students through Harvest Ministry over the years.

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“Go, Send, or Disobey.” – John Piper

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The church has an obligation, especially in this unique time in the history of our country and world, to do all it can in Going and Sending. Anything else is disobedient. I’m grateful for the church we’re a part of. I can’t even begin to count the number of children, students and adults who have walked through the doors of Troy United Methodist Church over the years only to be sent back out into ministry in huge ways!

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“I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” – Hudson Taylor

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I have often described my role in Harvest Ministry as a “home missionary” – being sent to the next generation and developing frameworks for students to experience Christ and Kingdom work through Harvest Ministry. And though I’m confident and content in this role with my life, I never want to become comfortable. There is so much to accomplish. We must continue growing and reaching beyond what we believe is achievable.

I’m praying, along with many others, for the students who attended Fire-Up to live unleashed lives – open to God’s leading, open to God’s power and full of God’s grace. I’m praying that our current mission field will feel the full effects of students who grow up in Christ, faithfully serving, unleashed in kingdom living!

Thanks to everyone who was a part of the weekend serving and leadership teams. It was a great weekend.

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