Prayers of Faith

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" Jas 5:16

Last night we started the evening by praying that God would intervene in people's situations whilst here on holiday. We raised our faith as we reminded ourselves that God is at work here and can put a stop to situations before they even arise. This is what we're prayed for:

That God would stop someone from wanting drugs
That God would intervene with someone feeling pressured to have sex
That God would keep friends loyal and that people would not leave friends behind and on their own
That God would give people sense when they buy alcohol and that people would stop when they've hit their limit
That God would put a halt to men wanting sex with prostitutes

You know what? We've coined the phrase 'Messy Wednesday's' as Wednesday's involve lots of projectile vomiting. The reason for this is for hotel change-overs, so we find that most people that we help have just arrived on Wed night/Thurs morning, but they've been drinking from the moment they left their house, on the way to the airport, at the airport, on the flight and then once here they are straight out into the West End.

Last night was different. It wasn't so messy. We helped one person get back to their hotel. Usually we find ourselves involved with several groups of people needing help. I believe it's down to our prayers. God is intervening and answering our prayers of faith. He is at work and most of the time we don't even notice.

"Time marches on, never ending"

Much has happened over the past 6 or so weeks and i've not really had the time nor the inspiration to keep up with blogging. I love keeping my journal which includes everything that goes on in my life, but this blog is different.

I want to fill you in on some of the things that i've been doing over the past 2 months, so hopefully there'll be loads of posts with some interesting pictures to go with them.

Please bear with me as i think of interesting, fun and insightful posts that shed more light on my life here in Ibiza.

Team 2 of Summer '09

We've got a full house at the moment, with three summer volunteers living with us, and an extra special guest called Simeon - who is here for about three weeks. Great to have him here with us. Sunday just gone, we had a large community meal, and invited some workers up to the farm. It was a great meal, and we had some good laughs.

We've got a team from Northern Ireland with us at the moment, and after a good first week with them out on the Streets at night, we had a cracking weekend, and took the team to Pacha - which they all loved. It was to a 'Defected' night, and The Shapeshifters DJed. Many won't know nor care who they are, but if you want to know - they smashed it (played some amazing choons and created an immense atmosphere in the club)!

If Carlsberg did mission teams....

(Sorry for such long Blog-silence btw).

'God is a DJ' Article in Mixmag

The work of 24-7 Ibiza was recently featured in the latest (May 09) edition of Mixmag - the worlds biggest dance music and clubbing magazine. When i was contacted to talk about our work, i was really excited at the thought of us getting in such a high profile magazine (I've been a fan for many years). What a great way to reach thousands of clubbers who head out to Ibiza for their annual pilgrimage with a completely different kind of message and work.

However, having read the article, I'm completely gutted! What she's written about our work is true, but it's the two comments that were written about our work that suck. I know that it makes for good reading, but it completely guts me.

This is what a DJ called Oliver Lang (resident at Bora Bora) commented about us:

"I wholeheartedly support anyone who tries to help someone else, but i don't think it's the job of a religious group to go out to Ibiza and look after ravers in a state. That's the job of the police, ambulance crews and the clubs. I mean, what a perfect opportunity to convert someone to Christianity when they're a bit off their heads. Everyone seems to look after each other in Ibiza anyway. That's the religion of Ibiza, in my opinion, with or without these people."

Simon Morrison further comments, referring to us as 'God Botherers'.

"In clubs, people are vulnerable because of drink and drugs, which disables some people mentally on a temporary basis. That's why it's a good hunting ground for Christians. The main intention is not to care, but to convert, which i think is wrong."

I can't believe we've been totally stabbed in the back like this by the author of the article. These two people have, as far as i can tell, never met us, and once again they reinforce the classic stereotype of Christians - only out to convert and change people by force - bashing them with our Bibles. If they were to actually meet us and see what we do and how we do it, i think they'd quickly take back those comments. I really want to go down to Bora Bora - where we went several times last summer - and chat to Oliver Lang and ask why he wrote that about us having never met us.

I wonder what all the workers in the Westend - who know us - would say? What would their response be to our work? As if we'd actually abuse our position to try to convert someone in a vulnerable state. We actually protect them, get them to hospital, make sure they get back to their hotel safe and sound. I don't see the police nor the ambulance and definitely not the clubs doing any of that. Fact! Our intention is to care, to love and above all to serve. And if someone would ever want to talk to us about our faith whilst we're helping them, we'd most likely tell them to meet us the next day. Most of the time they never do. Can you tell I'm slightly peeved?

Let the Streetwork begin

Tonight will be the second night that i've been out in the West End this summer so far, with the first last night. It's great to finally be back doing what i love.

This week we are getting out each night for 2 hours. When out on the streets we meet and chat to PRs and workers, both old and new for an hour, and when we stay back in the Centre we pray for the next hour. It's really great bumping into so many familiar faces and people that I've gotten to know over the last few summers, and I'm pleasantly surprised just how many are back again, but even more shocked to hear they never left and were here all winter. How did i miss them in such a small place?

With the season having only just begun, it's not that busy with tourists, clubbers and revellers yet. But give it a few weeks and the streets'll be totally heaving. I wonder when we'll be called to take a drunk home? Any guesses? I reckon there'll be one in May!

The Prayer Team

I cannot believe that the summer madness is about to begin here in Ibiza. I don't feel well prepared nor equipped for anything that lies ahead, so it's with a huge sigh of relief that we have a Prayer team here for 6 days to help us get ready.

I feel that i have 1001 things to do still and we open our Centre this coming Monday, and on top of being behind, I don't feel mentally nor spiritually prepared.

Yet having these fantastic people here to pray and work has been such a huge blessing for me. They've been an immense team, and have already made an impact that i believe will last for a much longer time than they can imagine. Not only have they physically worked up on the farm, but have also shared their prayers and thoughts and words of encouragement with us.

Having them around has brought strength of purpose and encouragement to me and i think i can now put the key in the ignition and start the engine!

Our Onions are Spring Onions!

Coming along nicely...