January 2016 –
At the end of the year, we took an 11-day road trip to Kansas City and back with the whole family! It was a combination of ministry, visiting family for holiday celebrations and family vacation. Along the way, Shepard and I also celebrating our eighth wedding anniversary as well! Amidst torrential rains, snow, ear infections, six different hotels, Legoland, aquariums and lots of junk food, it was both fun and exhausting. God was with us.
We went to Kansas City for the Onething conference, where 20,000 young adults gathered for an annual prayer conference. I was privileged to participate in the invitation-only leadership summit that ran concurrent to the main conference. I was able to connect with some old friends, make some new ones and be super encouraged by teachings, testimonies, prayer and fellowship with other leaders.
As I set at the Onething Leadership Summit, with hundreds of prayer and missions leaders from around the world, I couldn’t help but be reminded that we are all a part of something bigger than ourselves. God’s kingdom is coming to earth, His gospel is going forth, and Jesus is leading His Church towards victory. Every church, every ministry, every missionary, every check written, every prayer prayed, every time the Gospel is preached, every act of love…. they are all small parts of a beautiful storyline that is unfolding across the earth. The amazing promises in Scripture will be fulfilled! One of my favorites is Malachi 1:11. I would even go so far to say that this is one of the primary agendas of God’s Spirit in our day.
For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts.
God has promised incense and offerings that will be offered “in every place” – this is a global worship & prayer movement that will fill the earth. I know that as I give myself to seeing Malachi 1:11 happen in my city and our region that I am apart of God’s agenda to fill the earth with His glory. As we disciple and train young people to go forth to cities and nations, they are carrying the incense wherever they go. You are a vital part of this historic movement too.
As we kick back into 2016, things are growing! There is more prayer and worship happening in the Boiler Room on a weekly basis than ever in the seven-year history of the prayer room – around 25 hours each week. We have six worship leaders from across our city helping lead worship, along with our three missionary staff who are manning the prayer room from day-to-day. Along with these weekly meetings, we are preparing to relaunch monthly Burns in February, taking the Burns outside of the Boiler Room to churches and venues across our city. In this season, we are also placing a lot of emphasis on cultivating community, team building, developing deeper relationships and discipleship among our Boiler Room community. This includes weekly meals at our home lots of other time together with people. There is a lot going on, so please pray for grace for us in this season!
PRAYER POINTS
- Burn Greenville relaunching with an 8-hour Burn on February 12 – pray for citywide unity and a fruitful weekend
- Unity and fellowship – that God would knit together our core Boiler Room community in a deeper way into a “family on mission”.
- We are hoping Matthew can make a fourth trip to The Call: AzusaNow in Los Angeles in April, and we are still believing for the funds to do so. We need around $1000.
Thank you for your support! Please send me your prayer requests. God bless!
The Lilleys
Matthew, Shepard & the kids
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To learn more about Matthew and Shepard Lilley and how you can support their missionary work financially, please visit How To Give
