MOBILISING FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION
1. Strategic Proposal
That we organise a rally at the Adelaide Town Hall in November 2016, where Adelaide Arise launches an extensive ongoing inter-Church grassroots prayer and conversational campaign - similar in terms of scale, intensity and impact to the Billy Graham evangelistic campaign in 1959 (see video link below).
This is mostly a decentralised campaign - working from the grassroots up by church-goers and citizens. It is designed to support the efforts of centralised leadership in Churches, lobby groups and government - so all are actively involved on assignment for the common cause of transformation and unity. One in, all in.
2. Key Steps for Mobilisation
We propose a seven-point campaign to ensure effective mobilisation and transformation:
(1 ) Command Centres - establishment of a city-wide command centre to guide mobilisation strategy and structure and 17 other command centres - one for each metropolitan council/city (e.g. City of Marion). Similar to military ops rooms - with maps and other visual material - but oriented to Christian matters including our strategies, progress, verses, prayer etc. In biblical terms - a place like a "tent of meeting". These centres may be temporary or permanent, in coffee shops (like Koorong Books) or on church premises. A place for passionate, active leaders - for strategic conversation.
(2) Suburban Prayer Networks - say 450 volunteer prayer network coordinators and prayer teams - one for each for suburb, hopefully within 12 months. The training for this push to be facilitated by a strategic alliance between Adelaide Arise and the Australian Prayer Network, to ensure effective and focussed inter-Church prayer training of prayer teams (ideally including willing participants from local churches).
Intercession is critical as we stand in the gap for the people of each suburb and seek God's wisdom while we are "humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God" for that suburb and city. This is the engine-room. This is love and service for God and neighbour in action. This is church outside the four walls. This is where the preamble of the Australian Constitution can be delegated to us as a mantle - of spiritual authority and responsibility. If our governments fail to acknowledge this fundamental principle, then we should show them how it works. Man unfortunately does not learn from history, so is destined to repeat it, and recycle failed strategies and structures. Such is the pathway to tyranny as good men and women do nothing. Let's show them how we can move from centralised government to the kind of decentralised government provided for by the Constitution and the word of God - that is truly for, of and by the people - where the social capital of each community can be restored to a healthy state of independence and public good.
Each group meeting will also be like a command centre, with maps etc. showing where active street-block prayer teams are deployed for each block around where Christians live, where there is a local Church and where there is a School running a Safe Schools program (mesh block training will be provided based on current activities in Torrensville and previous street prayer campaigns).
Liaison with local Churches is a must. Training and advice will be provided on how to set up and sustain this vital component of the whole campaign. Each suburban team - in conjunction with local Churches and Christians - can also take responsibility for approved letterbox campaigns (such as dealing with traditional marriage etc).
(3) Regional Shopping Centre Prayer Groups (inc. Rundle Mall) - if a council/city boundary includes a regional shopping centre, then when the various suburban prayer group warriors come together for that council/city, they will form a roster for an active and visible prayer group team in that shopping centre for at least one night per week (shopping centre training will be provided based on current activities in Rundle Mall, where in that location alone we would like to see 300 prayer warriors in uniform T-shirts. In people terms, Rundle mall is the centre of Adelaide - the sort of place Paul might visit first. People will come up and ask for prayer and conversation.
(4) Gap-Closing Strategies - mobilisation strategy at all levels to follow 4 distinct strategic gap-closing strategies or phases (call, enlist, train, engage) to help jump the huge gap from where we are now to where we want to be, and overcoming threats and grasping opportunities in that climb. This to be done by forming successive mobilisation waves, building to a tsunami of prayer and market-place witness across the land. Training will be provided. Each wave will involve an effective call, committed and passionate enlistment, effective training in focussed intercession and seeking God's wisdom, street prayer, relevant scripture and finally, engagement with God, government, other Christians, the community, the lost and with the enemy.
(5) People Power - each suburban prayer team should liase with other suburban teams with each of the 3 tiers of government i.e for each ward councillor, Mayor and State/Federal parliamentarian - impacting those that govern through prayer, counsel and support and to bring more "salt and light" into local community development. In a sense we are talking about a 4th tier of government - one that informs the other 3 tiers about local needs concerning the physical, social and economic environment and for effective representation and accountability. We want our country back.
(6) Win the Word-of-Mouth - all involved to help activate new heights of God-centred strategic conversation, so that we command the word-of-mouth conversational space. We must emphasise the words "God's Created Order" or GCO, as distinct from the other world-view "New World Order", or NWO which is currently swamping us on all fronts. We should only speak the truth in love (without judging or criticism) - reminding them that when we step outside the design and functionality of God's Created Order (as set out in Genesis Chapters 1-3) then risk travels with freedom. We introduce the lost to the person, plan and goodness of God, reminding them of our Christian heritage etc. In this way we elevate the discussion into the realm of truth, rather than pointless and endless arguments based on realm of fantasy and lies. Don't get sucked in to worldly debate. We need rivers of truth and love flowing into the desert and roadways in the wilderness - in the human mind and collective consciousness to displace the enemy propaganda. Find soft entry points for new types of conversation. Scatter the seed. Speak for God. It's the truth that will set them. We are responsible to speak. God persuades and wins the outcome.
(7) Local Mission - cooperation between local Churches and prayer teams to stimulate local mission and church attendance (where churches too preach, teach and practice the same strategic phases - call, enlist, train and engage).
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Selected Texts:
2Ch 7:14, Neh 2:20, Num 10:35, Psa 18:48, Psa 68:1, Psa 91:7, Psa 94:16, Pro 6:9, Isa 9:6-7, Isa 14:12, Isa 60:2, Mat 6:33, Mat 25:23, Joh 8:32, Joh 17:21-22, Act 4:23-33, Act 7:26, 2Ti 3:7, Rev 3:17, Rev 19:19
Short Video Clip - Billy Graham 1959 Crusade in Australia http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/29205/billy-graham-s-crusade-in-australia-1959
3. RATIONALE/BACKSTORY
(1) Why mobilise? - Mobilisation is the act of assembling and preparation for war or other emergency. Australia, like other countries, has mobilised for war in the past. The Israelites had their trumpets for rallying the people for worship and war. The Church had its bells for rallying the neighbourhood. However, Paul sounded a warning - "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (1 Cor 14:8). Mobilisation is a people-movement for active service, moving with zeal out of apathy (inc. passivity, world mindedness, luke-warmness) to repentance, self-denial, persecution and sacrifice for God and the greater good. For the Church it includes hearing and doing outside four walls.
(2) Why arise? - Australia is at the cross-roads. As Christians we have to choose this day whom we will serve with all of our heart, mind and strength. The right choice sees us returning to our first love, joyfully obeying the two love commandments and doing our job of worshipping and serving God to the utmost.
(3) Opportunities/benefits - These include commendation from the Lord, avoiding defeat, securing the victory, blessing for the Churches, change-agents and all Australians, healthier minds, more freedom, stronger elector/elected connections, empowering the people etc. However a huge opportunity is the potential for global harvest. Think global (7 billion people) and act local. Think Australia as a witness to the nations, Adelaide a witness to other cities in Australia and the Gospel going forth with power, un-compromised by worldly thinking. Think "Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before; like a mighty army, moves the Church of God etc"
(4) Threats/costs? Clash of world-views, offending people, persecution through intimidation, bullying, fines and imprisonment. Life-changing self-denial.
(5) The problem? What happens when a nation forgets God, as Australia has done? The result without fail is what we see in Australia today, systemic failure and significant spiritual, moral, and financial decline. History is a good teacher. It tells us that, without a fresh alternative strategy and structure, the end-game of such decline is authoritarianism, slavery, collapse and conquest. How might we illustrate the condition Australia is in today? It seems like we are like a ship adrift on a stormy sea without a rudder, with torn sails, no forward momentum, no charts and the captain, officers and crew more interested in fighting among themselves over power, promotion, glory and on-board treasure than saving the ship and the passengers, who are either ignorant of the clear and present danger or too busy fighting for survival against the rising level of sea-water.
(6) Breakthrough biblical tips
· Get God on the agenda - all our thought, discussion, debate, planning and problem-solving must start with God, as we are reminded to by the first words in the Bible "in the beginning God" and in the first words in the Australian Constitution - "humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God". Who will speak for God? Who will stand in the gap for Jesus as the way, the truth and the life on all matters relating to our current position and future direction - for individuals and society? Here am I, send me? Be empowered. (Jos 1:9, 2Tim 1:7). We are authorised and responsible to show and tell. God is responsible for the outcomes.
· Seek God's wisdom - in the face of the failed over-arching strategy to rely on, trust in and depend on the wisdom of man, it's time to choose instead to rely on, trust in and depend on the wisdom of God. We need creative, break-through solutions from the mind of Christ.
· Clarify our expectations of political leaders - in terms of character, representation, accountability, problem-solving process, planning forward goals and strategies, abiding by the Constitution, avoiding un-mandated decisions on key issues, protecting our sovereignty, culture and freedoms. Help them be more visionary and transformational. Pray for and with them.
· Expose anti-God agendas, policies and media bias - where it is proposed we exchange the truth of God for lies based on deception, fantasy, intimidation and authoritarianism etc. Expose any efforts to establish "truth" by dialectical process (thesis, antithesis, synthesis).
· Seek always to maximise the public good of all Australians - including strategies for recovery that align with the best interests of electors, our children and future generations.
· Raise the Christian voice - it has been muted for too long and uncompetitive in the public square compared to those more strident advocating change, based on the wisdom of man and failed ideologies. See the power of God's Word flow into the word-of-mouth space.
· Encourage local contribution and creativity - rather than seek and apply God's wisdom and our own God-given intelligence and creativity we rely mostly on imported wisdom from people overseas. No wonder we have lost our sovereignty when we should be relying on the sovereignty of God. Lead others into the joy and effectiveness of biblical thinking.
· Encourage decentralisation - strategies should be developed from the bottom up as well as the top down. This strategy favours empowering the people with representative democracy and effective accountability. It also helps to embed our little "kingdoms" into The Kingdom.
· Emphasize God's Strategic Role - as Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer/Deliverer, Sanctifier and Glorifier (the latter including revival, change and transformation and requires redemption and sanctification first) ). The world knows nothing about true "sustainability" and "progressive" process and outcomes. Only matters aligning with the Kingdom of God add value - the rest is negative, unfruitful and destined for the rubbish bin of history, with not much legacy value.
· Promote the brand name "God's Created Order" (GCO) - as distinct from "New World Order" (NWO). Proclaim GCO based on Genesis chapters 1-3 and that initiatives that contradict these passages are doomed to fail. Emphasize freedom of choice and the risks of making the wrong choice, because anything outside GCO cannot, by design, be functional and successful.
· Elevate the discussion- avoid judgment, heated argument and concentrating on single issues. Be peace-makers. Maintain the truth/love nexus (speak the truth in love; help them love the truth). Elevate discussion and thought above single issues into the upper strategic reaches of the Kingdom of God zone. Sow exciting, refreshing seeds of truth and fresh, new narratives. Help the creative process of developing and managing sound, healthy minds. Truth in - rubbish out. Reality in - fantasy out. Focus is in - drift is out. Truth will set them free - instead of them being slaves to sin trying to cope with lies, distractive fantasy, spin and delusional propaganda.
· Protect the boundaries - each nation's sovereignty is marked by its boundary, allowing for its freedom from oppression, for self-government and for the development of a rich, unique culture. Borders are biblical - there by God's sovereign design. Isaiah tells us Lucifer fell and seeks to weaken the nations. Revelation tells us all the nations will give their power to the beast (they have done that mostly already). So, is a challenge to national sovereignty anti-God?