Half Way

here's a blog that covers 6 weeks in one hit. there's no way i could cover it all. its been an incredible summer so far. Half way through my time here. Im expecting the next 3 months to be better than the first 3.

crap to blog in this way - will get back on it.

Since June the work here has been building and getting busier all the time. From now until the end of August San Antonio is at its busiest. There are so many great stories, too many to list them all. Praise be to God that more people have reached a decision to ask Jesus into their lives. We continue to sow seeds of truth, hope and love well aware of the new season that the work of 24-7 Ibiza has moved into.

Living as part of a missional community is great fun and very challenging, rewarding and is a great environment for personal growth. Every week we spend time chilling and eating together, and learning and praying together. Im loving getting to know and working alongside people that are living sacrificial lives for Jesus, seeking first his Kingdom and seeing Jesus bind up the broken hearted.

The prayer wall is really filling up now. Heart cries of primarily those who are not Christians calling out to their father in heaven for help, direction, provision, healing and more. He hears every single prayer and we have seen so many of our prayers answered.

The new bibles that 24-7Ibiza has had printed are being snapped up. Such a great design and the message version is so easily accessible. There are pictures on my blog. Minimum print run of 5000 means we intend to give 2500 away and sell the other 2500 to cover the costs. Not sure of exact numbers but somewhere near two thousand still to be sold at £5 a bible. Let me know if you are interested. There has been hundreds given away already. Heres just one story of many opportunities so far this summer we have had to share the gospel. I cannot begin to tell you the extent of countless opportunities taken.

One night last week, myself and Jessica - one of the short term workers here for 2 weeks - were out on the streets and we found ourselves in conversation with a group of about 5 or 6 guys from England. The conversation proceeded and we explained about 24-7 Ibiza and what we did in the West End of San An. I grabbed an opportunity and took out a bible and one of the group requested that I read some of John to them. Though surrounded by bars with the group having consumed a fair bit of alcohol I read out of John 3 to them.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his son, his one and only son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a hole and lasting life. God didnt go to all the trouble of sending his son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again”.

They responded well to it and I had an opportunity to pray with one of them there and then on the street. Two of the group took bibles and after a few minutes of further chat in which we shared a bit more about what Jesus has done for us we wished them a good night and they moved onto the next bar.

Later that night when in Garlands at Eden (a club in the west end) with the whole of the team I saw some of this same group on the dance floor. I went over and started to dance alongside them. I introduced myself to them again and they recognised me at which point they pulled out their Jesus Loves Ibiza bibles and held them aloft in the middle of the dance floor. Though they were obviously intoxicated having consumed one form of drug or another, we all danced together for a while as they held the word of God up high on the dance floor. It was great to see the word of God that is so powerful, so full of truth and life in the hands of some guys who really wanted it, loved it and need it.

The centre continues to be very busy. Occasionally I reach the top of the table tennis leaders board but generally maintaining a respectable position. The internet and wii are always being used, so too the chapel. Whether its for a free head, foot or hand massage that one of the longer term team members offer on a wednesday or for impromptu bible study with a group of west african prostitutes who pop in increasingly frequently, or for another worker of the west end to chill for a while.

The church service we run on a sunday has been growing exponentially in number. Last sunday our centre was packed out with 30 people. Such a diverse group of people. West end workers – PR's, strip club workers, bar workers, prostitutes; short term and long term team members and visiters. People from Nigeria, America, Australia, Germany, England and Ireland. It was truly beautiful to see.

Most nights we speak with the prostitutes on the street, most nights we pray with them in the midle of their busy working schedules of performing sexual acts as a source of income. We show love to these truly beautiful women as Jesus did.

Just this week a couple of the girls on our team went into the three strip clubs of san an to pray, chat with the dancers and see what would happen in stepping out into these places to shine for Jesus and share his love. They handed out curly wurlys, chatted with men in the clubs, chatted with dancers and got to tell the dancers how much God loves them.

Some random thoughts and experiences of my life over the past weeks. Honestly im not lying on a beach for 6 months.

The kingdom of heaven is really coming to san an this summer. Honoured and Priviledged to be a part of it. Thank you for all your prayers and support.