Note: Please forward this newsletter to your friends, networks, fellowships, co-workers, college and career ministries, and all young adults interested in a grassroots student mission movement in our generation!
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SVM2 (Student Volunteer Movement 2)
www.svm2.net |
February 2005 |
SVM2 is a grassroots student mission movement calling new message bearers to a life of abandoned devotion to Jesus Christ and the urgent global proclamation of His gospel.
IN BRIEF
1. Abandoned Devotion Reflection by Donnie Scearce
2. Global Proclamation Reflection by Lee Lockwood
3. 100 Days for 100,000 Message Bearers
4. Spread the Vision Teams
5. February Day of Prayer and Fasting
6. What is SVM2?
7. Resources
8. Recommended Reading
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Abandoned Devotion Reflection |
GOING FORWARD
By Donnie Scearce
Donnie is the director of Pioneers Canada and is based in Dorchester, Ontario.
I have been rereading the One Year Bible again and even as I’m still early in the New Testament portion, I have been struck more than once at the level to which Jesus challenged His disciples to abandoned devotion. Each one chose to give up in order to go forward with Jesus. Consider for a moment James and John. Jesus passed by and called them and “they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him.” (Mt. 4:22)
Having had the opportunity to visit unreached fishing villages off the coast of Brazil, Senegal, and Sumatra, Indonesia, I can tell you for sure that when James and John left their boat, they left behind a lot more than meets the eye. They left their family, their occupation, and in many ways, their way of life. Everything they had hoped for to this point, they abandoned. Their actions demonstrated their willingness to devote their significance and security, and in fact, their very lives to Jesus Himself. And amazingly, they did so “immediately.”
Want to go forward with Jesus? Then give up. The two go hand in hand. Wholehearted obedience most often demands some kind of sacrifice along the way.
I first met Andrew and Lisa at a mission conference where they were staying long after the meeting finished and were praying together. I eventually went up and joined them. To my surprise and pleasure, they were praying for one of the most closed and spiritually needy nations of the world.
Behind the scenes, Andrew’s dad had high expectations for his future. And Andrew is smart and disciplined, clearly competent to make a significant contribution to the family business. The cost of their obedience would mean the loss of a promising and lucrative business career and misunderstanding with Andrew’s family. Like James and John though, Andrew and Lisa knew Jesus was calling! They joyfully surrendered to the Lord Jesus during their college days and haven’t looked back. Now, for over seven years, they have served among the Muslim people they were praying for that night at the conference!
The giving up doesn’t stop there. Andrew and Lisa and their three small children were in an area hit by the December 26 tsunami. Their lives were spared but the part of the nation where they were living wasn’t. I’m sure they would be grateful if you would pray for them as they continue to faithfully go forward with Jesus to demonstrate His love.
One final and interesting point … Jesus said: “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” (Mt. 16:25 NLT) If you ask Andrew and Lisa or hundreds of other modern message bearers, they almost never speak of sacrifice or giving up. The joy of obedience far exceeds the cost.
The need among the world’s most needy people is urgent. Jesus is calling and the degree of our devotion determines our response. The new year is a great time to evaluate and recommit ourselves to Christ alone. It all starts (and finishes) there. Is there anything that goes ahead of Jesus in the overall direction and day to day priority of our lives? If so, let’s ask Him to reveal this to us and with fresh faith, immediately commit ourselves to a life of abandoned devotion.
All those who sign on the line with Christ must give up to go forward.
One SVM2 value reads: “Lifelong Devotion”: SVM2 emphasizes devotion to Christ, manifested in a lifelong habit of time alone with Him and wholehearted commitment to obedience, whatever the cost.”
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Global Proclamation Reflection |
By Lee Lockwood
Lee is the president of the Student Missions Fellowship at Toccoa Falls College, north of Atlanta in Georgia.
If you enjoy keeping up with space exploration like me, then you probably saw on the news or heard about January’s mission to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. Once the craft began its descent into the Titan atmosphere, winds raged in excess of 300 mph and temperatures of minus 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Not long after landing, the Titan craft began to send back pictures of a barren land, cold and hostile. The three agencies that spent so much of their resources and time to ensure a successful mission were elated (and reasonably so). However, they found a place that has no promise of sustaining human life—only another testament of the awesomeness of the universe made by the hands of Father, and a reminder of how valuable the life is that we have been given on this earth.
Titan also serves as a reminder of those places in our own earth that are not necessarily physically barren, but spiritually barren. As I think of those places in the world like the “The Last Frontier” or the 10/40 Window—places that have little or no access to the gospel, I think of the condition of their souls, void of life by the Spirit, and destitute without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They are much like the surface of Titan—cold and dark.
But there is hope. I believe we are living in a time of human civilization like never before as we draw closer to the return of Christ our lost world is being opened up to receive the Gospel. Father is calling forth laborers for the harvest field to be message bearers in our Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). But will He find us faithful?
An expression used quite often, but most certainly rings true is, “God does not look for our abilities, He looks for our availability.” Only in Christ and His strength can we accomplish what He has called us forth to do. Moses is a good example of this, a man with little confidence to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Yet he obeyed despite his lack of abilities, and God used him in His global purpose to do this very thing.
When we sense God speaking to us, as Moses did at burning bush, will we base our obedience on our own abilities, or on God’s call, trusting in Him to do it? Will we rely not on our own strength, but in His? When we as message bearers feel discouraged because of little encouragement from those around us, will we base our confidence in our emotions or in the One who called us?
God is doing something in our generation, fulfilling His global purpose for all nations to know the truth, and to set the captives free. Will you and I be found faithful? Continue to pray, brothers and sisters, and find where Father would have you serve in His global purpose of His name being made known among the nations. And remember, as Jesus tells his followers in Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Let us get to work!
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100 Days for 100,000 (a word about fasting) by Ryan Shaw |
We are now into the third week of the “100 days for 100,000” fast that began January 10th. How is it going for you? I’ve been encouraged concerning how my fast from TV has been paying off. I have had much more time to do other things that I found I neglected when I would come home from work and “relax” while watching Everybody Loves RaymondJ. I have found the Bible more invigorating, my prayer life more potent, and my hunger for Jesus and the things of God growing. As I have spent time seeking God’s face regarding seeing 100,000 message bearers raised up for the harvest, my heart has been captivated by His own urgency in the matter. To find out how you can get involved in this fast, visit www.SVM2.net.
Let me give a few words about fasting and its role in our spiritual disciplines. We can praise God that fasting is beginning to be restored to the church as a whole once again. For too long it was seen as something that only “fanatics” or those who are a “little extreme” took part in. Some great Biblical saints who fasted were Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Jesus and all His apostles, and many more. Among church history we find that Luther, Calvin and John Knox all lived fasted lifestyles as well as Jonathon Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Finney and David Brainerd. In the New Testament fasting was undertaken as a channel of power. Jesus assumed that His people would fast, as He says in Matthew 6:16, “…when you fast,” not if you fast…
Though there are many spiritual benefits to fasting, I want to first highlight the importance of motive surrounding it. God says in Isaiah 58 that the only acceptable fast is that which He has chosen. He must be the initiator of it. Is it for His glory and His purposes or is it out of some twisted motive of seeking recognition? Are we fasting unto Him? After this question is answered and we repent of impure motives, we can begin to look at some scriptural purposes in it.
Let me list a few:
 A greater measure of humility – Psalm 69:10, Deut. 8:2,3, Ezra 8:21
To be heard on high – Ezra 8:23, Joel 2:12, Judges 20, Daniel 9
To change God’s mind – Jonah 3: 5,10, 1 Kings 21; 27-29, 2 Samuel 12:16,22
To free the captives – Isaiah 58:6, Luke 4:18
For revelation – Daniel 9:2,3,21,22, Acts 10:10, 2 Cor. 11&12, Acts 27:21-24
To discipline the body – 1 Corinthians 9:27, Romans 13:14, 1 Cor. 9:24-26
As we continue together in fasting and prayer, may the walls that hold back students be broken down! May principalities and powers holding young adults back from grasping the true nature of the Christian life be destroyed! May an army of Christlike, humble, meek, lowly, servant-oriented, and faith-filled message bearers arise to reap the global harvest in our lifetime!
Here’s what’s going on with one group in southern California:
January 21, 2005
“We met last night in our Global Prayer Team to pray for 100,000 Message Bearers to be raised up in our generation. Our GPT has about 10 people in it, and 8 of us have decided to give up something ‘dear to us’ to spend extra time in prayer for these next 100 days. Each of us are fasting from different things, but television is a common one. It was especially cool when one of the gals in our group said that she was going to fast from knitting for the 100 days. Now, I know that to a lot of us that doesn’t seem like a big deal. But to her, it is something that she does non-stop!
Then, a day later, I got an email from another gal in our group that she was going to skip the season premier of ‘Alias’ and that she was going to take these next several Wednesday evenings and spend extra time in the word and fasting on those nights! Awesome.
Praise God for a good prayer time last night, and may God raise up His 100,000 Message Bearers!
We’d love to hear your fasting story. What are you fasting from? What do you feel the Lord is doing? Drop us a line at jen@svm2.net
In the fall of 2005, SVM2 will launch Spread the Vision teams. These are teams of 2-4 young adults who spend the academic year (‘05-’06) traveling in specific regions of the US and Canada hosting Abandoned Devotion gatherings and training students in practical ways to cultivate a grassroots student mission movement on their campus. The teams will travel through the fall and then again in the winter and spring of 2006. Each team member will be thoroughly trained by SVM2 workers.
We are looking for current seniors or other young adults who possess a deep love for the Lord and what He’s doing globally, a desire to mobilize others, some organization skills, good people skills, a willingness to be on the road for extended times, and a desire to mentor younger leaders on campuses.
This is a perfect opportunity for those who are committed to going overseas, but aren’t prepared immediately to do so. Come and mobilize your peers toward a widespread student mission movement in this generation. To receive more information, or to apply for this exciting opportunity, visit www.SVM2.net or contact Ryan@SVM2.net. The deadline to submit an application will be February 24th.
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February Day of Prayer and Fasting |
Don’t miss out on standing with many others around the world on this coming month’s SVM2 Day of Prayer and Fasting on Wednesday, February 2nd. Gather your friends together on campus, in your church, or in your dorm room, and seek His face in prayer and intercession with all your heart! Remember to spend the day fasting from food as well and giving the extra time to seeking God on behalf of the least reached and forgotten around the world.
Let’s also continue to lift up those who have suffered enormously in southeast Asia and for the missionaries and churches who are offering assistance in that region. May it continue to be an opportunity for the hope that comes in Christ to break through!
Instead of attaching a prayer guide for this month's day of prayer and fasting, we are providing the following links to websites noted for having great prayer info on "forgotten" peoples. Please browse through them and invite the Holy Spirit to lead you concerning how to pray:
SVM2 (Student Volunteer Movement 2) is a grassroots student mission movement calling new cross-cultural message bearers to a life of Abandoned Devotion to Jesus Christ and the urgent global proclamation of His gospel.
SVM2 has two primary emphases:
1. Going
SVM2 is corporately calling, across the younger generation, for 100,000 new message bearers from around the world, who will go to the forgotten areas of the world for at least two years following graduation, as a first step towards a lifetime commitment to God’s global purpose.
2. Praying
SVM2 seeks to awaken a grassroots prayer movement for the nations among the younger generation. Through encouraging the launching and ongoing sustenance of 50,000 new Global Prayer Teams on campuses globally, and the widespread hosting of campus-wide Abandoned Devotion gatherings on campuses and in churches, this can be realized.
These two emphases are best realized as students from varying organizational backgrounds voluntarily give themselves to seeing a unified student mission movement raised up on their specific campus or in their local church. Each campus movement has broader connection to a wider body of students and campuses (SVM2) pursuing the same goals and vision. Are you one of these students? To receive a Movement Manual which details everything you need to know to practically work toward a student mission movement being raised up in your community, contact jen@svm2.net
Ways to Get Involved:
1. Join with hundreds of others from the younger generation who are committing and signing the Message Bearer Creed.
Message Bearer Creed
By God's grace, as a Message Bearer, I covenant to:
Abandoned Devotion
Wholeheartedly devote myself to the person of Jesus Christ and be committed to the marks of a true disciple.
Global Proclamation
Sacrificially pursue revival and the spread of the gospel in the midst of the forgotten, through disciplined prayer, giving and the commitment to go for two years or more.
Spread the Vision
Intentionally influence others to develop an awareness of the global purpose of God toward the aim of their personal involvement.
2. Form one or more Global Prayer Teams in your community. Go to the link http://www.svm2.net/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=44 and scroll down to the Global Prayer Team Handbook to get started, or to connect your existing prayer group to the SVM2 movement. Let’s ask God to bring forth 50,000 of these on campuses around the world.
3. Consider hosting an Abandoned Devotion Gathering on your campus or in your church. We can send you all the necessary materials. These 5-8 hour gatherings bring students together from different campus fellowships and include extended times of worship, uncompromising challenges, and radical prayer to see the love of Jesus spread globally in our lifetime. Contact Kelly at Kshaw@SVM2.net for more information.
Visit the SVM2 website at www.SVM2.net to get your hands on various resources that will prove helpful to you as you seek to influence others with a passion for Abandoned Devotion to Jesus Christ and the urgent Global Proclamation of His gospel. Go on-line to http://www.svm2.net/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=44 to download any of the following resources.
1. The research booklet called This Generation for the Nations. This is a compilation of a nationwide research project that took place in 2002 which sought out the various trends taking place in the student world with regards to missions vision and involvement. This research was the precursor to the launching of SVM2 as many of the findings were implemented into the various strategies looking toward a movement in our generation.
2. The Fellowship of The Unashamed. A powerful quote made by a young African pastor who was martyred for his faith. Read it! Pray it! Live it!
3. Prayer for My Generation. Use this as a launching point to pray for various areas relating to this generation of young adults and their Abandoned Devotion for Christ and their role in Global Proclamation.
4. The 2-Year-Go Opportunities list. Look over this list to find organizations and ministries that cater to a two year term among the forgotten peoples of the earth. Use it to contact these organizations for info for yourself and encourage others to use it as well.
5. Next steps... Steps to Abandoned Devotion, Steps to Global Proclamation, and Steps to Spread the Vision. See http://www.svm2.net/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=185&EXPAND=185 to download these lists of Next Steps to take.
6. The Global Prayer Teams Guide contains helpful information for students and others who desire to gather together for prayer toward God's global purposes. We would be happy to send a free copy to you by request to info@svm2.net
Abandoned Devotion - Books for personal discipleship:
- The Attributes of God by A.W. Tozer
- Intimate Friendship with God by Joy Dawson
- No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green
- Passion for Jesus by Mike Bickle
- Revolution! by Michael Brown
- The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
Global Proclamation - Books concerning reaching the world
Click on the following link http://www.svm2.net/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=234&EXPAND= for further description of these titles. You can also find them at www.amazon.com, www.cbd.com or www.usa.om.org/books
SVM2 Abandoned Times
Phone: 519.268.8778 / Fax: 519.268.2787
Email: info@svm2.net / Website: www.SVM2.net
If your are not on our monthly e-news mailing list and would like to be included, contact us at info@svm2.net Any other questions, or to be removed from this mailing, may also be directed to info@svm2.net or simply hit "reply". Thankyou.
SVM2 Team
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