God has not forgotten Indonesia. She has caught the eye of her TRUE love and He is still captivated by her beauty. We have so much hope for this Nation, and we are here to remind these people that they have the power to change it. This past Friday, August 1st  2008, believers from all over the city came together for 24 hours straight to worship, pray, and listen for the songs of heaven… the first time this has ever happened in Pontianak! Indonesians are intercessors to the core, and it is so fun to be apart of this. Obviously this was only our first gathering, and we can see that the people here are beginning to understand the vision of the Burn more and more. But now we have seen the areas where they are still kind of stuck in their own traditions and even some religious tendencies! Well, this is one of the main reasons we have committed to staying here for a year, it enables us to really teach the believers here the importance of WAITING, listening, and being creative with their instruments! These are very key points, and for some reason very difficult to get them to understand. But these things take time, and we are willing to do it! Our plan right now is to gather these musicians and intercessors and do a “Workshop Weekend” and show them what vertical worship looks like in a semi-practical way, and get a little deeper scripturally with them.

God is moving here, and we can feel it so strongly.

Our next Burn is on August 15th through the 16th~ and we are expecting BIG things. Thank you so much for praying with us for Indonesia!

Here is a video of one of our sets!  This will give you a tiny glance of what it was like….

(http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v315/brainofcotton/?action=view&current=Movie365.flv)
and i will be sending more photos…..

Sitting in our first Burn here in Pontianak, and it feels surreal. We could have never made this happen on our own, God has been opening door after door, and now tonight it is actually happening! Twenty different churches from all over the city are apart of this 24 hours of worship and intercession! The first time in this city anything like this has happened! It has been going on for only 4 and a half hours so far, and already I am exhausted. Indonesians are crazy intense and just keep going! Hahah I love it so much.
We need your prayers today….

Help us intercede for this Nation today ☺

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

God has been bringing me back to this verse constantly for the past couple of weeks. I have read it a million times throughout my life, but I am now just starting to realize the power behind it. These are the words of the SON OF GOD! Even when it just 3 people in a little room in the jungles of Borneo, asking God for mercy, He cares. We ask, He provides, we seek, He reveals, and when we knock, He will open up the doors!! That is just the most amazing concept to me. It gets hard seeing all this poverty and people in the most horrid living conditions, but that makes me want to cry out even louder. Indonesia captures our hearts more and more with each day.

We spent the past month doing ministry with a YWAM team from Australia. They were gracious enough to invite us into their team for 4 weeks and treat us as their own. We were able to bring a different type of spirit to the YWAM team, and they loved it! Everyday we would spend time in deep intercession for this nation and the people we were going to minister to. We also did many hours of worship together which truly created a bond between the Burn team and the YWAM team that only God can do. I saw worship/intercession and missions come together in the physical form. There was a very good balance of the two, and it seemed to be 10 times more effective than when they stand alone. Two weeks traveling from village to village really shows you a lot about life. It is crazy how simple they live out there…… but there is something so pure about it. All three of us really enjoyed ourselves learning about this culture, and spreading light into the darkness of religion. Even way out in the middle of NOWHERE, people are going to church only out of tradition. There is no life, no fun, no laughter inside the churches! It was sad to see. But now we see even more specific things to pray for here in Pontianak. We saw those things with our own eyes, now our hearts are in it, so we will keep contending.

Last night we had a very good meeting with a local church. I thought we were meeting with only the pastor, but he ended up bringing over 20 musicians along with him. We were so excited when we walked in that room seeing all those young faces looking at us with such eagerness and expectancy. It is really funny… they think just because we are white and from AMERICA we have a 4 year degree in biblical studies or something! But it is great because they listen very intently to every word that comes out of out mouths, which makes it much easier when you are nervous! Sharing about our vision for this city, region, and Nation is one of my favorite things to do. It is so great to be able to come into this Islamic country and meet with Christians reminding them that this is God’s country, and “ you have power to change it!”.
This generation IS rising up. I believe that things are starting to change all over the world. Prayer and worship are the most powerful things, and we, as the Body of Christ are finally starting to figure out how to use them effectively.

This month we are focusing on meeting with at least 3 churches a week from around the city, sharing with them the importance of Unity among believers and asking them if they are willing to take time to come together to worship, pray, and listen for the voice of the Lord. I am praying that all these meetings will go as successfully as last night! If everything goes as planned, we will start burning together in August! As SOON as we can!

Please be praying for:

-    Super Natural favor with the pastors who are not as open as we would like. Pray that their hearts will be open to this “crazy” new idea of freedom with our worship, and that there will be NO offence taken.

-    Favor with the language learning.

-    And pray the spirit of the Lord will Reign in this Country!~

I love you all, thank you for all your support and prayers …..

Brit

  Two nights ago the lights went out. Our team just sat in the
darkness praying for this nation and interceding on behalf of lost
souls. We sat and worshipped God and exalted his name in a nation
where over half the people choose to look the other way. It was an
incredibly intense time as we declared things over this nation- we
declared freedom, we declared love, and we declared light.

What an amazing time I’ve had over here in just the past couple of weeks!
God has really begun to open my heart to feel his love for Indonesia.
The team and I just got out of the villages about a week ago after
spending two weeks there. We had the amazing opportunity to partner
with a YWAM team from Australia on their outreach and it was awesome.
From the time that I got there to the time that I left I was just
about left speechless. I didn’t want to leave!

The kids were adorable and treated me like I was a celebrity. They
just followed me around everywhere even though we couldn’t talk very
thoroughly, they just wanted to watch me. I had a really neat
experience bathing in the rivers- actually it was quite fun! And of
course all the kids wanted to bathe and swim with us. They all jumped
at the opportunity to help me wash the soap out of my hair!! It was so
cute! At one village I lost my sandals, so I walked barefoot escorted
by the children to the nearest market. One part of the road was
incredibly rocky and really hurt my feet a lot and as soon as the kids
noticed my pain- THEY ALL TOOK OFF THEIR SANDALS AND WALKED ON THE
SHARP ROCKS WITH ME SAYING “SAKIT, SAKIT!!!” (oww, oww). I was so
touched….

In many of the villages the people said they believed in Jesus, yet
they would have witchcraft and objects in their home that were
supposed to protect them. I was so sad to see how deceived they were.
To think that God is not enough for protection. To not have a fear of
the Lord. To not have a revelation of God’s father heart. To not know
the freedom they have in the Lord.

This month, I am especially excited because we are going to be able to
focus fully on the Burn and our ministry of worship and prayer. The
leader of the YWAM base here, Vecky, is going to have us meeting with
pastors three times a week so that we are able to share our hearts and
form relationship with spiritual leaders in this nation. Please be
praying that we are able to clearly communicate what God wants us to
and please pray for favor.

Two nights ago the lights went out. I prayed for light and woke up
the next morning with it streaming in my window. Everyday millions of
souls here are drowning in darkness. Everyday I pray for their
blindfolds to be taken off so they can see. Everyday I pray for God’s
light to illuminate tomorrow….

Thank you so much for your prayers,

NATALIA

For the past month I have been watching God take this team to another level. We have been through some rough stuff, but I can see His hand leading us with each day.  These past couple of weeks have truly been some of the best times we have had yet. I have been pleasantly surprised with the passion that has been coming out of each of us. Living with these beautiful Indonesians has already been such a positive and educational experience.

We love you all!

JESUS REIGNS IN INDONESIA!!!!!

Britt

Hello everyone! We hope this letter finds everyone well and blessed! This past month has been a whirlwind of exciting events as God began to shift the foundations of Burn Team Asia. He began to speak to each of our hearts and is now sending us on an amazing adventure!!

We believe the past three months with missionaries, Drew and Sarah Clark have been an intense and incredible training ground for what God wants to do through us next. We have discovered and absorbed so much in the short time that we have been under their leadership. We have learned the importance of focusing on relationship and not religion. We have been taught the value of community. We’ve been shown the significance of moving in and with the rhythm of the culture that surrounds us. The way that Drew and his team live their day-to-day lives reflect their passion to reach out to the lost and unsaved. They have given their lives to the call of Jesus upon each and everyone of them. We have grown to love them like family as they have taken us under their wing and ministered to us with all they have.

For reasons beyond us, God has now called us in different directions. About two weeks ago, the Burn founder, Sean Feucht came all the way to Indonesia to help in our time of transition. It was such a blessing to have him here helping make connections with people we never would have dreamed! Burn Team Asia will be leaving Bali and moving to another island in Indonesia named Borneo. We will stay there and partner with a YWAM base for the remainder of our nine months in Indonesia. This past Tuesday and Wednesday, Brittany and Pastor John Parks flew to Borneo to check out the base and meet with the leader, Vecky.  From the time that they landed to the time they left, Vecky had Brittany meeting with several pastors from all over the island to share her passion for this nation. God spoke to their spirits and they instantly grabbed a hold of the vision of the Burn. She left with them begging for us to come and plant this next move of God. We are so thrilled about this opportunity because it has been the cry of our hearts to work with the indigenous and native people of this land. We have so longed to impart the fire of vertical worship and watch it take root among God’s people. YWAM Borneo has heard our vision and is more than ready to serve this God-given desire in our hearts. God has so much favor on our team and we are just blown away by his grace. We just want to walk in the footsteps of God and have him be the light to our path. We believe that God is going to move mightily through us in the next nine months. We can’t wait!

In the meantime, Satan has been full forced attacking our team. About two weeks ago, John was in the hospital for four days because of an amoeba in his stomach. Then, just days after he had been released we had to take Rob to the hospital. They said that he had ecoli in his stomach and immediately put him on antibiotics. He was undergoing tests and x-rays for the past couple of days while the doctors here tried to figure out what else was going on with him. He still had fevers off and on, his stomach was huge and bloated, and he was in an unbelievable amount of pain. The doctors decided to remain optimistic and because of miscommunication, they had misdiagnosed Rob. After talking to a doctor on our Burn board, we knew that we had to get Rob to a more adequate hospital in Singapore as soon as possible- it was a matter of life or death. Thursday night, Pastor John Parks and Rob flew to Singapore and by the mercy of God arrived just in time. Rob was rushed into the ICU straight away. We are not sure how long they will be there and this is a tremendous blow to our team. While Rob is in Singapore, we will still have to make the journey to Borneo and plan to leave on Tuesday, the 10^th.  The enemy has worked hard to bring disease and destruction to us in this time of change- but he will not get this victory!!! We are pressing on and we will WIN!!!

As is evident, this incident has so hurt our team financially and would love for you all to pray for a supernatural outpouring of God’s provision. In addition, please pray for our team as we travel to our new home for the next nine months. Please pray for direction, clarity, comfort, peace, and strength. We love you all and will email you shortly after our arrival in Borneo. God Bless!!!

BRITTANY

I truly cannot explain the excitement that is inside of me right now! God has been reviving my heart with a new passion for this Island and these people who are around me. As you know we have been living in Bali for about 2 months now, and it has been a good experience so far. But there is such a heavy spirit here that tends to bring confusion and cloudiness into your mind. I knew that before I even came, but the thing I did not know was the fact that when this happens, you are not very aware of it! To be perfectly honest, the past couple of weeks I feel like I have just been “going through the motions”. I basically had forgotten the true reason I was called here and I didn’t even REALIZE it. A couple of days ago someone asked me…. “why do you feel God has called you here?”. I paused for a second, and it was like something clicked inside of me! OH YEA! I am here to cry out for a lost and deceived Nation. I am here to prophecy over this generation that is rising up all over Indonesia. God has been giving me this new eagerness to contend for revival in this place. I feel all giddy inside!!!! Seriously, our team has a whole new outlook on this year. We CAN do this.
God has been reminding us to keep PRESSING ON. No matter how difficult and slow the process, we MUST keep going. As we praise and lift up His name in Bali, He will come. Our biggest tool right now – waking up every morning and getting on our faces before God, asking Him what to do! And that is what we have been doing and will be doing for the rest of this year!
We had this last Burn at our House in Seminyak. Usually it is held at the facility in Nusa Dua, which is about 45 minutes away from where we live. It was nice to have more of an intimate feel. All we needed was a guitar and a jimbe! We had a ton of fun just sitting in His presence and asking Him to visit this Island with His glorious fire. We have met some amazing people from all over the world. We are still in the small beginnings, but God is doing it.

Our biggest prayer needs right now….

1. Divine Appointments with musicians and intercessors who will connect with our vision.
2. Clear thinking.
3. Direction for our everyday lives!

Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words. I just want you all to know that no matter how hard things get over here, God has this team in His hands, and we are tremendously excited for what He has planned for Indonesia.

We love you

JESUS REIGNS IN INDONESIA

NATALIA

Hello to you all!!! I find I’m at a loss of words to say… I almost wish I could brag to you guys of amazing things that I’ve done here and get a nice pat on the back feeling very proud of myself. Truth is… missions doesn’t work like that. It would be great to say that I’ve seen 100 people saved this month or even 10 people. Ha- that would make my job easy and effortless. Never the less it’s been an amazing month to say the least because God has been showing me a new approach to mission work. That it’s not all about the result but just as equally important is the amount of work I put into it. That if I want to see even one person saved that I have to invest my time, my love, and my life into them. That Jesus’ heart and time is spent with children who beg on the streets, the prostitutes, this generation that drinks themselves numb… It is his presence inside of me that is drawing me to the destitute and the broken. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. These are the people that have lost hope and how awesome is it that the ‘hope of glory’ lives in me! That it is these people that God wants to shower his grace on. That this ‘least of these’ group will birth pastors, ministers, missionaries, and worshippers. God chooses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chooses the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. What a beautiful concept that God can take a prostitute and use her to speak to millions of women who don’t value themselves and tell them of a God who loves them just as they are; that he can take a child that begs for food and money on the streets of Bali and turn him into a passionate worshipper on his face begging for the spirit of God. God amazes me more and more everyday. I’m learning to not overlook anyone and that there is always someone to reach out to any and everywhere I go. With that in mind, it’s been easier to meet people and connect with them if for no other reason than the fact that God loves them with a love so deep that I cannot even begin to fathom. I only hope that he imparts that to me little by little. The Burn has been absolutely beautiful. Last Friday our team and other people desperate for revival in this land got together in our house(first time!) and contended for Bali. There was an incredible intimate and unifying presence in the room. We praised God and declared his holiness in one of the darkest nations in the world! We were calling on God to shine down his light on this lost nation. We are still wanting, searching, and waiting for more musicians to be able to sustain our Burn even longer. I would love to see 24 hrs of non-stop worship and intercession for Bali. Soon! J Please pray for divine connections. Our morning group devos have been awesome. Just with the 8 of us, we are worshipping and declaring that Jesus reigns is Indonesia. It has definitely been a great thing for the team just to daily remember why we are here and connect with each other on that thought alone. Still be praying for team dynamics- there always seems to be something going on. And just pray for me that God continues to speak to me and reveal himself to me more and more everyday. I’m nothing without him. Thank you guys so much for caring about what going on over here and for praying for me and Indonesia. It means the world to me. Love you all so much- talk to you soon!!!

Natalia Baker

This past week, I read a prophecy that Cindy Jacobs had spoken over Indonesia a little while ago. This word was very powerful and had MANY good things in it, but one paragraph really stood out to me the most. She specifically points out Bali, and says that God is calling people to this Island from all parts of the world. He is using this place to be apart of a great revival in Indonesia. Wow! It hit me as soon as I read it that that is me, that is Burn Team Asia.
At times we feel so completely alone. Sometimes we feel so small and insignificant, but this was a little reminder that we are just a part of a GREAT plan that God is intricately orchestrating for this nation.

The team has been doing very well over here. We have been building relationships, relationships, relationships! This is obviously KEY to make this thing happen. Last week the Burn was held at Abba Love Church ( one of the churches we are tightly connected with). Even though we were only able to do 2 hours, it was such an encouraging time for us. We had about 20 Indonesians worshiping along with us so passionately! This is a slow start, but we will do what we have to do to see this Burn Furnace sustained in Bali. I want this to be strong by the time we are finished here, and the fun thing is… I know it will be. Time is valuable here, and we are giving it.

This next week, we are having the Burn right here in our house. We have a large upstairs room where we are going to sit before God and seek His plan for this island. I am really excited for this because I think it will help give us a more intimate feel, and it will be easier for the people who come to join in with us. Be praying that God will blow His mighty wind and visit us this Friday. I want to hear what He wants, and what He has dreamed of for the people of Indonesia. I want to make it easy for the people coming to see what we are doing and why we are doing it. There is a reason we are gathering together, and I want them to be in on it.

God has and is doing great things in Indonesia! Like I said before, sometimes it is very hard to remember the big picture, but I know that God has called us here. We are just trying to be obedient with anything God wants us to do. I want to make sure we are constantly in pursuit of HIS plan and not our own.

Greetings all and thank you for your prayer.

This coming week will mark our two month time period here. So much has happened since I have arrived. this last week at Gathering(church) we had the best time with the lord that we have had corporately since I have been here. I am coming into realization that as I become more and more selfless, my purpose becomes more and more evident. In order to achieve what God has for us here it is truly costing us everything. Personally, my hardships have not been so much physical, but emotional and mental. As I get more and more in the rhythm of culture here, I am discovering how to reach these people. The message is the same, and always will be, how we communicate it, however, is always shifting and changing. This is what i have been plowing through these last few weeks. It is very clear that God wants us/me to be correct in my thinking, living and doing. Now we are just beginning to see what the Lord has for us here.

The last two weeks have been rough for me personally. I was having a horrible time sleeping and after a while it was really beginning to take a toll on me. Thank you for your prayer for this because I have had three consecutive nights of actual sleep, so PRAISE GOD for that!!!.

Please pray that we will be quick to hear the Lord and quick to respond to him. It is all of our desires to truly do all that we are capable of doing.

Please pray for Sarah Clark, who is very soon going to be bringing her and Drew’s son Malachi into the world.

Again, thank you all for your thoughtful consideration and prayer.