DRY KINDLING [burn china: 1st burn launch]

08.31.08 l Downtown Shenzhen l Southern China

I am in love with this country - period.

We haven’t even been on the ground in mainland China 48 hours yet…and we have already imparted our heart for BURN 24-7 with the apostolic pastors, worship leaders, and musicians (in a “short” 6 hour service yesterday), hung out and loved on precious children at a local orphanage, and are now 9 hours into our first of four BURN launches across the nation!! We dont play games on these trips people!! Time is short and the kingdom is at hand here!! We launched 24 hours of nonstop, passionate, vertical worship and prayer with the thriving underground church here in a small room tucked away on the 5th floor (grace!!) of a massive business skyscraper in the downtown of the fastest growing city in all of China!! There couldnt be a more strategic city to ignite this blaze in and I’ve never met a people more ready and hungry for it.

Shenzen is the “southern gate” of China and the largest port in the nation (3rd largest in the world!). Anything received and welcomed here quickly spreads throughout the entire country. So shall it be with this fire God is releasing as I’m typing now! The average age of the city population is under 30 years old and they are yearning for truth and life in the midst of the “economic boom” that has radically shifted the lives of evert Chinese citizen. I heard the prophetic declaration spoken from Hanna when we arrived two days ago: “these people are dry kindling…they are so ready for this!” She was so right and that statement has never been more true. I’ve never met people so tender towards the Presence of God. They just melt when He enters the room. They know their Jesus and He is keen to come visit them whenever they ask. They are a weeping, warring, waiting, hungry people and what I’ve learned from them in this short time has already changed my life!

This entire idea of Davidic night and day worship is a brand new concept in this nation. As we shared and taught on this yesterday with pastors and leaders around the city, they ate up every word we spoke and every prayer we prayed. They asked many questions and agreed that God’s Presence is the only hope to reach over 1 billion lost souls across the nation. Three things about what we’ve experienced have blasted me already.

1) As we strategized on how to plan this first of many BURNS…they suggested that we take 3 hour sets each because the typical 2 hours is just too short!! This is the first time in all my travels in planting the BURN furnaces across the world that I’ve ever heard this. We just couldnt deny them…so 3 hours it was!

2) I quickly realized that you don’t “lead” worship with the Chinese…there is no such thing. They blaze with all their heart towards Jesus and you just try to keep up with them!! They could easily do without you..that is a powerful revelation for the nations.

3) The pure simplicity of worship has hit me so hard tonight. I really struggled going into this BURN because they insisted that our team take the first  shifts while hundreds of eager NON-ENGLISH speaking Chinese were ready to worship with us. I tried to explain that it would be hard for them to understand and engage because I dont know any Mandarin or any of their songs. They taught me how to say “Jesus Come” and I knew that Hallelujah was pronounced the same (as in all languages). So that was enough to fill 3 hours of worship. THEY NEVER GOT TIRED OF SAYING THOSE SIMPLE WORDS…AND I REALIZED THAT I NEVER GOT TIRED EITHER!!

Maybe we make things too complicated in the West with our many crafty words. Maybe “Come Jesus” and “Hallelujah” is enough. It sure works over here in the fastest growing church in all of recording history.

Just some thoughts and revelations…We’re all getting blasted over here!! I’ve found myself just laying prostrate asking God for the same passion, zeal and fervor that drives them to weep, wail, groan, dance, and sing at the top of their lungs to their Father!!

Its beautiful, moving, and BURNING hot right now! Thanks for praying!

More to come!! We fly out tomorrow for destination #2…be praying for us as we go!!

stay in the heat….

sean