One staff member we would like to highlight is Sarah Youmans. Sarah has only been working with us for this summer, but she is already bringing a new joy to our staff. She is one who brings a smile to our face, makes us laugh, loves to serve whomever she can, and is in love with Jesus. Her pursuit and longing for God is something that encourages the group as a whole and adds to the strength of how we run this race set before us. She has a heart to see this generation in love with Jesus and abounding in righteousness that the captives of this generation may be set free to worship Christ in spirit and in truth.

M ed itation teaching takes off

Furnace prayer team begins at IHOP KC

7 Thunders has start ed a prayer team within the house of prayer in order to bring a more corporate unity as we each go after God. In the house we have found that though everyone is pursuing God, there tends to not be a lot of pursuit of God as a team. This team was form ed that we may head into the very thing Jesus pray ed for while He was in the garden (John 17), that we would be one just as He and the Father are one. In this way, the group has been form ed , and is still forming because anyone at anytime is encouraged to join, to minister to God through meditation on the same scriptures while pursuing God individually. Our team meets at IHOP to brief before a 4 hour meditation time. We all meditate on the same passage and then debrief to share what the Lord spoke to us about the scripture. We talk about how He encounter ed us, what was fascinating, what was hard, and so on. We are there usually from 12-4pm , 6 out of 7 days, building comradery while building our relationship with God.

In addition, we are currently working on getting a worship team together, as we are taking two Worship With the Word (WWW) sets and two Apostolic Intercession sets. This is exciting to see because not only is there starting to be unity within our team, but now we can enjoy having part of our team on the platform and the rest in the room all moving together! We have been finding out from experience, rather than word of mouth, that when there is true unity it is easier to go somewhere in the Spirit.

For example, in our last Worship with the Word we set broke out into spontaneous dance where almost the whole room join ed it. The Lord brought us into a dance of praise before Him while we also danced upon iniquity.

Summary update from Jan - Jun 2004 trips

C ed ar Rapids – Significant friendships were built between 7 Thunders and the C ed ar Rapids House of prayer. One night we took an offering for the poor of C ed ar Rapids and a spirit of giving fell on 140 people who ended up giving over $30,000 to the poor. That night the temperature outside was 5 degrees F and over 50 winter coats and 30 pairs of shoes were given. These people literally gave the clothing from their backs and went without even when that, which they had, was needed. One woman walk ed to the front and gave her cane that she ne ed ed to walk and return ed hobbling to her seat! Amazing! The House of prayer in C ed ar Rapids is abounding with the grace of God.

Cleveland –We had an amazing time at Cleveland House of Prayer while 7 Thunders minister ed prophetically to the House and to key spiritual leaders for the city. There were also many wonderful breakthrough meetings where our team of 7 minister ed together with great unity. We took an offering that went solely to the poor of the city and over $15,000 dollars, plus shoes and coats for the poor, were collected.

Atlanta- Minister ed to the leadership at a 300 member church and the impact of that ministry is still being felt. Train ed and empower ed the prophecy team of the church in the priestly ministry unto God where they can enter in, behind the veil, and meet with Him. This was very encouraging because as they were awakened to the fact that as they spend time in the presence of God, finds that He does talk and it happens with greater sensitivity in this priestly role. It’s the role of being a friend of God where He can trust someone with the things burning on His heart. The fact that the Lord wants a kingdom of priests to minister before Him night and day really encouraged them.

Indianapolis- The leadership for the Indianapolis House of Prayer were encouraged and it was good to see our friends again. The Lord is really moving on the young ones there and giving them great boldness in the walking out of their gifts and talents. Between the ages of 7 and 14 there are many who play piano, prayer lead, and sing on sets. Many are being filled with the testimony of Jesus and prophecy is that which is coming forth. They are in love with the Lord and are growing up in an atmosphere where falling in love with Jesus and giving Him everything is the norm.

Mississippi- We ministered at a retreat center to many people from different churches around the city. Many who had never heard of or didn’t understand the call to a House of Prayer received vision for it.

There was also a lot of team building within the trip and the friendships and team work was strengthened.

La Paz , Bolivia- This trip was a divine appointment where we found that God used it to expand our vision and steady our focus concerning our mandates as a ministry. While we were there, we ministered to a graduating bible school where many were encouraged, built up, and fell in love with the Lord again and again. We also got the privilege of spending time in the orphanages and having our hearts expanded in love towards the orphans who lived there. Our hearts were burdened and our eyes were awakened to what God sees everyday and what He feels for these beautiful children. To add to the abundant blessings poured upon us, we were also privileged to go and minister to the many orphans and homeless children who lived on the streets. The whole staff has been changed from the stories and the experiences the team had there. It is truly a life changing trip that we will never forget.

Lancaster- There was a strategic meeting where we were able to minister to 40 pastors and leaders from around the city concerning the House of Prayer. Many were from different denomination and were encouraged by the vision and call from the Lord to build a House of Prayer for all nations (Is. 56:7). With the vision before them they were empowered by us having a temporary prayer room opened from 8am-10pm each day. Many got a taste of a portion of the Lord’s heart for a House of Prayer and were excited to see and walk through the next steps into making this happen.

Cincinnati- We had a very impact full time where peoples’ hearts were awakened to love Him more and to go after Him with greater strength and zeal. Kirk taught about the sons of Issachar who knew the times and the seasons and the importance of knowing the days in which we are living (Matt. 16). In Matthew 24 (Mark 13 and Luke 21) Jesus talks about birth pangs and the signs that precede the return of Jesus and how He wanted the church, His bride, to be watching and praying for that day.

Kirk also taught on the joy of the Lord and how the gospel is the good news that is to be taught with much joy because it is a message of great joy.

We were able to encourage and empower the Cincinnati House of Prayer in the gift of prophecy and in the function of facilitating prophecy rooms within the House.  It was their first time, as a House, to have rooms open for people to receive personal prophecy and the experience was ground breaking!

New Zealand- It was such a blessing to go back to be amidst a people where new zeal is being released. New Zealand has been experiencing mass salvation, where many are coming to the Lord each day. Through the servant hood and prayers from the staff of YWAM and the saints across the globe, almost 25,000 people were saved and were ushered into the Kingdom of God . From the ends of the earth His name is being glorified. Our team went to encourage the new believers and the churches to help them in the next step empowering people in their walk with Christ. We released them into starting Houses of Prayers across the whole nation in order to help people get in the presence of God and minister to Him as a royal priesthood.