FROM A BAR TO BEIJING

08.06.08 l Somewhere on Hainan Island, China

From a Bar to Beijing 
The supernatural ways of God have infected every day of our journey thus far. Divine encounters, powerful salvations, incredible healings, and the manifest Presence of God have marked us. We are out in the village on this beautiful mountainous island standing in the South China Sea off mainland China. There’s definitely a different feel out here from our first Burn launch in the fastest growing city in the nation (Shenzhen) and even from our second in the capital city of this province (Haikou). We are in a place where time somewhat stands still. Deemed the “Hawaii” of China, the island of Hainan is a popular vacation spot for the growing population of Chinese who can afford to travel. But the village we are in now is off the beaten path of vacationers.

Although you would think the government is somewhat relaxed and laid back in a place like this…think again. Please remember this is still China and NOT Hawaii. The week before we were coming out here…the host pastor of the first ever Burn in this region was arrested and brought in by the police on charges of suspicion. The government is anxious, worried, and fearful as the Olympics kick-off this friday and cracking down on anything they see as out of the norm. I guess a room crammed full of boisterous Chinese going for 24 hours of nation-shaking heart-pounding worship would raise a bit of an alarm!! Nevertheless…we could not deny the hunger of the people and so we moved locations to a place less common for a gathering like this - a sweet bar/nightclub. PERFECT!!!

Fire ripped through the place as the concept of vertical and Davidic worship was “caught” during the first set. We experienced something that has never happened during 24 hours of burning before - A WEDDING!! That’s right!! A couple that was denied a wedding by their family because of their love for Jesus desired be unified in the BURNING presence of God with all their radical worshipping friends!!! How amazing and prophetic is that?! This is definitely a prophetic picture of what God is doing in the nation today. He is longing for the true marriage of the lamb to take place across CHINA!! It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen happen in a BURN before and we were so honored to be apart of this event with the couple and their loving community.

There is much more to write but time is short and wifi is scarce. Tonight we depart for the final leg of our journey. We know God always saves the best wine for last and so we are expecting something to happen beyond our wildest dreams during our final Burn launch in Beijing. The entire world is gathering in that city this week…and God will ALWAYS get the glory when the attention of the world is at stake. We are contending for a mighty wave of God’s Presence to pour out of this burning furnace and wash over every tribe and tongue gathered there. We know God will manifest this through healings, salvations, miracles, and we’re elated at how this might all unfold.

Please pray for safety as we pass through the rigorous security process on our way into the city late tonight…we want to protect the precious lives of those leaders and pastors we’ll spent the last week with. They are forever in our hearts and they are BURNING like never before!

We’re gonna finish this off strong…but we covet, value and MUST have your prayers in this crucial hour!! We are confident in the truth of John 1:5 as we wrap up this assignment:

The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out! (MSG)

Feel free to pass this on!!

stay in the heat…
sean and the burn china team