Abandoned Times

 

SVM2 (Student Volunteer Movement 2) www.svm2.net

Summer 2004

 

SVM2 is a cross-organizational, cross-denominational movement calling a new generation of message bearers to a life of abandoned devotion to Christ and the urgent global proclamation of His gospel. 

IN BRIEF:

1. Abandoned Devotion reflection 

2. Global Proclamation 

3. What's happening

4. How to get involved

5. Resources

6. Recommended reading

 

There’s nothing like summer: vacation, camps, mission trips and of course, the summer blockbuster movies.  Most of the great summer movies that we love are about superheroes and super adventures.  I think part if the reason that all of us like these larger than life movies is because God has created us to be about something bigger than ourselves, even larger than life.  He wants us be a part of God-sized things…

 

Abandoned Devotion Reflection

 

Live God-sized!  If you want to see extraordinary things happen in your life, then you need to take a step of faith.  After all, if you want to walk on water, you’ve got to step out of the boat.  When I (Paul) was in college, I would read my bible and long to experience the amazing experiences of the Old Testament and see the miracles that happen on every page of the gospels.  I’d read stories of old and recent believers who experienced God in a way that I hadn’t.  

 

I longed to experience these great experiences, and was wondering why my life seemed, at least compared to the stuff I was reading, pretty ordinary.  That’s when I was challenged to start taking some steps to allow God to do some amazing things.  As long as I kept things in my control, and attempted only things that I calculated I could accomplish, then the results would be ‘Paul-sized.’

 

I felt that there was action all around me and I wanted to be a part of something amazing, and actually experience the power of God.  So, like Peter, I realized that the first thing I needed to do was to listen to Jesus’ voice, stand up, and take a step out of the boat.  That’s what faith is.  It’s being sure of Who is calling us and confident in His abilities and plans.

 

So, I stepped out of the boat, and that led me to travel across the Atlantic ocean and spend a year evangelizing relativist and hedonist students and travelers in the Red Light District of Amsterdam.  When I did that, then I got to see the miracles and experience the power of God.  It was when I went after something God-sized that I got a glimpse of the power and the freedom that comes from a life of faith.

 

Does this sound familiar?  Are you sitting in the boat?  It’s time to stand up, and listen to your Lord, and take a step of faith!

 

For examples of people who attempted God sized things, even though their resources and circumstances seemed so small, check out:

~Esther~David~Moses~Joshua~Paul~Rahab~Peter and so many more!

 

Global Proclamation

 

Here’s some of what God’s doing in Africa this summer...

 

Swaziland (update from Paul Van Der Werf):

 

When we look at the globe, it’s obvious that there are many God-sized tasks.  There is so much pain, hurt and hopelessness in the world, it’s sometimes difficult to know where to start.  Author and teacher Bruce Wilkinson offers a very simple place to start: with God’s will.  Not with our abilities, resources or potential.  No, we need to start with asking ourselves what God’s will for a given people, and then ask God to show us how we can see God’s will be done.  That’s how the Beat the Drum initiative started – with the goal of seeing the tide of AIDS/HIV turned around.

 

To read a little about how over 900 university students from three nations invested their summer in the God-sized task of seeing AIDS/HIV crisis in Swaziland be turned by challenging students to commit to abstinence, click http://www.svm2.net/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=175

 

Kenya (update from Jennifer Bloch):

 

One word that continues to describe this month-long mission adventure - even after the team has returned to homes all over North America - is amazing.  Amazing team.. amazing ministry opportunities.. amazing God who orchestrated it all!  While our primary goal of encouraging and supporting a couple of local Kenyan ministries was met, we also had a variety of opportunities to practically show Christ's love in churches, hospital's, schools, homes, on the streets of Kibera (the second largest slum in Africa) as well as out in the bush and bomas (mud homes) of the Maasai. 

 

Souls were saved and local pastors encouraged, but the most exciting aspect to me were the changes I witnessed in the lives of the team.  They are taking seriously the call of the Great Commission to go into ALL the world.  His plan for all peoples is in their blood now and they will no longer be able to settle for an ordinary life.  We met young Kenyan Christians on fire for Christ and ready for a similar challenge to go, even for 2 years or more!  As we continue to see God's purposes fulfilled in our world through us - His hands and feet - it's amazing to think of what God could do through this generation around the world.

 

To read some of the team's moving reflections from this short-term trip, go to  http://www.svm2.net/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=175

 

What's Happening

 

Summer has been full of travels for us at SVM2.  We've been able to connect with ministries, missionaries, students and churches all over Africa and Europe.  God is laying on the hearts of so many the urgent need of a deeper commitment to prayer and the vision of seeing this generation commit themselves to God-sized things. 

 

This month, from August 12-14, two dozen mission and church leaders will be meeting in Atlanta for the SVM2 Roundtable.  Join us in prayer for this time of seeking to discern what a united mission movement in our day may look like.

 

Stay tuned for more Abandoned Devotion Prayer Gatherings beginning in September. We are currently planning for at least 10 Abandoned Devotion prayer gatherings for the following locations:

 

¨      Syracuse, NY

¨      Ithaca, NY

¨      Atlanta, GA

¨      Los Angeles, CA

¨      Duluth, MN

¨      San Francisco, CA

¨      Chicago, IL

¨      Indianapolis, IN

¨      Denver, CO

¨      Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

 

We will be confirming the dates and locations of these gatherings soon. If you would like more information about a gathering in your area or would like to help with logistics and promotion, please email kshaw@SVM2.net

 

Members of the SVM2 team are also planning speaking engagements to cast the vision of SVM2 in many fellowships with the design to spread the vision and call forth multitudes of Message Bearers who would commit to the Message Bearer Creed and join the expanding network of those who have been gripped with a vision of reaching the world in our day. 

 

How You can get involved with SVM2

 

The 3 primary ways to get involved with this united movement are by:

    1. Becoming a Message Bearer 

    2. Initiating an SVM2 Prayer Group in your community or campus

    3. Joining the SVM2 Association if you’re a leader

 

1) You become a Message Bearer by committing to the Message Bearer Creed.  We'd love to hear about your commitment!  You can record your decision and share it with us at www.svm2.net

 

Message Bearer Creed

As SVM2 Message Bearers, we 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

Persistently pursue revival and the spread of the gospel in the midst of the forgotten, through disciplined prayer 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) A Global Prayer Team is a small gathering of students or young adults getting together for prayer with a focus on reaching the world for Christ in our generation, local and global revival, and for an increase of missions vision on their campus or in their church.

 

To receive the Global Prayer Teams Handbook which details more about initiating one of these small groups, or to connect an existing prayer group to the SVM2 network, go to the website at www.SVM2.net and look under the "Resources" tab, then scroll down to the heading “Resources for SVM2 Prayer”

 

3) The SVM2 Association is an association of like minded leaders & students from national ministries, denominations, apostolic networks, and local churches committed to, in unity, calling a new generation of cross cultural message bearers to Abandoned Devotion to Jesus Christ and the urgent Global Proclamation of his gospel.  To find out more info and receive materials to cast the vision of SVM2 in your sphere, ministry, or organization, see the website at www.SVM2.net and look under the SVM2 tab and click on "SVM2 Association". 

 

Resources

 

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. Click on the Resources tab, then the Documents tab and scroll down to find the following:

 

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 quote. A powerful quote made by a young African pastor who was martyred for his faith.

 

3.  A 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 document to find organizations and ministries to tell your friends about that cater to a two year term among the forgotten peoples of the earth.

 

5.  Next steps...  Steps to Abandoned Devotion, Steps to Global Proclamation, and Steps to Spread the Vision.  See www.SVM2.net and follow the link for Message Bearers and then grow in abandoned devotion, global proclamation.

 

Recommended Reading for Message Bearers

 

Abandoned Devotion - Books for personal discipleship

The Attributes of God  by A.W. Tozer

Intimate Friendship with God  by Joy Dawson

No Compromise  by Melody Green

Passion for Jesus  by Mike Bickle

Scaling the Wall  by Kathy Hicks

Revolution!  by Michael Brown

Global Proclamation - Books concerning reaching the world

The Great Omission  by Robertson McQuilkin

Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret  by Dr.& Mrs. Howard Taylor

Let the Nations be Glad  by John Piper

The Missions Addiction  by David Shibley

The Move of the Holy Spirit in the 10/40 Window  by Luis Bush

Operation World  by Patrick Johnstone

 

Most of these titles are available at www.amazon.com

 

Until All Worship As One,

 

The SVM2 Team

 

 

  SVM2 Abandoned Times
Phone: 519.268.8778 / Fax: 626.398.0784
Email: info@svm2.net / Website: www.SVM2.net

 

 If you have further questions, or if you would like to be removed from this mailing, please feel free to hit reply or contact us at info@svm2.net

 

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SVM2 Team