With the wrapping up of the first month of the Campus America 2010 year of prayer, we wanted to share an update to help us who want to know more about what God is doing in our state specifically so that we can all have a bigger picture of how the Holy Spirit is moving among us and on campuses across the state. This is such an exciting time–Seriously! It’s seems like every couple of days we find out about students–small bands of friends on campuses–who have been moved by God to call their campus to pray 24-7. We’re just trying to keep up with Him.

Here’s some of the prayer and conspiring going on on your campuses around the state:
–>Each of the following are student-led prayer initiatives happening this semester

UW Platteville – Just finished strongly with a week of prayer among campus organizations and churches in the community. They used the upper room of an old house owned by a church a couple blocks from campus. Pete Johnson and a number of others organized this community prayer event and are looking forward to the next as well–if you want to read a little about it, there is a blog post about this on the Campus Wisconsin blog and on the Campus America website.

UW Stout and UW Eau Claire – in the last month the Lord has brought together some passionate and vivacious students from different Christian orgs at each of these campuses who are currently planning seasons of 24-7 prayer. Dayn has had some God-led meetings and moments while hanging out on campus with these guys. Pray for Lauren Milloux (Eau Claire) and Heather Joy Schrader (Stout) as they have committed to being catalysts for their campuses.

UW Madison – a number of students and a supporting church are planning a three to four week season of 24-7 prayer in the sanctuary of a small, near-by church during lent. Elizabeth Godlewski called the initial meeting to initiate this and there has been quite a turnout of interested individuals. This eclectic group of individuals are asking other students to join them in a 21 day period of personal prayer and fasting [of various sorts] as a way to prepare in sanctification. The Holy Spirit has been moving in such dynamic and powerful ways here in so many different student groups, it is very difficult to keep up with Him and do justice to sharing what’s going on here. You need to talk to these guys yourself.

UW Whitewater – God is bringing together a number of passionate prayers from different organizations and churches to do a week of 24-7 prayer [Feb 21-27] that will happen both on campus during the day and at the nearby Methodist church. This will happen on during the week same week that the Collegiate Day of Prayer will be – Feb 25th. From my conversations with a few different people, the Lord seems to be speaking strongly about seeking His face in unity, as well as new creative ways to invest in long-term discipleship.

UW Green Bay – Lindsay Meyer, a student part of the local Campus Crusade chapter who I [tim] met through nothing short of a God-led miracle one year ago [if you’d like to hear a good story about this, just ask me!], and some of her colleagues hosted a prayer room at a nearby church last semester and currently making plans among Christian orgs on campus for possibly multiple seasons of 24-7 prayer this semester to carry the baton with the Campus America year of prayer calendar.

Maranatha Bible College – There are students at this college who are seeking God’s face in calling their campuses to deeper prayer through 24-7 prayer. One student said that he believes the uniqueness of the student-led, grassroots character of doing something like this would be very impacting.

Lawrence University – God has been stirring up a number of students in the local Intervarsity chapter to pray [including Megan and Joia], so they are planning to do a full day of prayer on a weekend later this month. –Let’s hear it for the private uni’s keepin it real!

UW Parkside – Christin Okamoto [part of the local IV as well] has a heart for her campus, Parkside, and recently heard about Campus America 24-7 prayer and committed to being the Campus Catalyst for her campus. Pray for her and Parkside as she is in the beginning stages of prayer and conversations with others as to how-where-when-with who to do this prayer room.

UW La Crosse – The student community at this campus experienced a mini-revival a year and a half ago when they put a together a 24-7 season that lasted much longer than they originally intended. Having graduated last May, this is Dayn’s alma mater and current hometown. Sam Considine and Sara Eder are now taking the campus catalyst roll to further prayer.

UW Oshkosh – Okay, so I haven’t heard of what might be in the works for this semester, but it must be said that the Holy Spirit moved heavily last semester at Oshkosh through a two week prayer room that ended up going a little over a week longer than planned. The slots for the two week period were all filled up by students within 20 minutes at the kick-off event, and Derek Nelson the campus catalyst was even invited to a world religions class lecture to talk about unity in prayer–come on!

These are just some of the ways God is moving around our state in this monumental year.

There is more that will be unfolding over the course of this year, so we will be including those stories in these monthly updates. The Campus America team down in Kansas City sends out bi-weekly updates of stories and happenings from around the country regarding this year of prayer–if you want to get on the list to receive those updates, co to CampusAmerica.org and type in your email address in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Also, check out the calendar to see who is praying or will be praying–or see if there are gaps to fill and pray about conspiring with others in your group of friends on campus to carry the torch by filling them. Read more about becoming a prayer catalyst for your campus here.

Let’s get together in La Crosse February 19-20^th for an Upper Wisconsin Area Campus Gathering! In the last few years God’s been moving in pretty simple, yet pretty powerful ways.  There’s been a historic movement of prayer rising up all across the world and has recently come to America, uniting the States in an unprecedented year of nation wide, non-stop intercession.  It’s clear to those tuned in that God is moving in fresh, exciting, and significant ways.  And lucky for you and me, God has called us to be a part of it.

And we’re just trying to follow His lead.

We’re planning a pretty simple, yet expectantly powerful gathering this February the 19^th and 20^th in La Crosse, WI—the official “Upper Wisconsin Area” Gathering.  It’s a call specifically focused on gathering and assembling those God has been speaking to and raising up in prayer in the general “upper Wisconsin area”, extending also into our border friends to the west (yeah Brett Favre and the purple and gold).

There will be food, fun, and fellowship, some listening, some praying, some vision casting, and equipping as we connect with some old friends and meet lots of new ones.  God’s calling individuals from all across Wisconsin, most recently (that I’m aware of) in Stout, La Crosse, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, Madison, Platteville, Steven’s Point, maybe even Whitewater, Winona, and the U of M—really all over.  God’s calling us to get together, to assemble, that He may reveal more of His heart and desire for Jesus to be made known in our lives and in the lives around us.

Here’s the practicals:  It’s free, with suggested $2 donation for breakfast.  We start Friday evening 6:30pm—Saturday noon at La Crosse Christian Church.  Hot drinks, some sweet snacks, a free place to crash, and an awesome Saturday morning breakfast.  All you need to bring is your sleeping bag, your love, and expectant hearts.  And some of us will be hanging out afterwards to get some lunch/embarrass ourselves ice skating (it’s free!) if you want to stay a bit afterwards.

PLEASE RSVP!! Let me know by responding either to this email at maddux12@hotmail.com or via facebook at Campus Wisconsin so we can get a numbers count and be all prepped up for you.  This could just be a simple gathering of the fellowship of the ages.

Loving you, praying for you, dreaming with you,

The Campus Wisconsin Team

Tim, Dayn, Anell

What: Upper Wisconsin Area Gathering (come pray together and share!)
When: Friday, Feb. 19 at 6:30pm to Sat, Feb. 20 12pm
Where: Sessions and Breakfast will take place at the La Crosse Christian Church

Who’s invited: Students and anyone who has a heart for prayer on college campuses in Wisconsin

Students in Platteville painting in preparation for the 24-7 prayer room

I thought to myself that Friday night—a week of prayer is a LOT of prayer, and a lot of slots to fill. As I over-looked the room where students were signing there names to time slots for the next week, I suspected it would be a stretch to fill the week, and there would probably need to be a further appeal by the organizers to other groups elsewhere to get it done. The group there was not small, just not large enough by my estimation to easily fill prayer for a week straight. Well, I was wrong. By the time I needed to exit the door and head back to Madison, Pete Johnson, one of the main coordinators of the prayer room reported to me that almost all of the slots were filled.

There were two things that hit me that night that brought to light some wisdom Trent Shephard had shared through his recent book release God on Campus and a podcast from the Campus America gathering in Kansas City on January 1^st. At the gathering, Trent told about he and his wife’s recent experience having a baby and it actually being born four weeks early. For them, they felt like they were unprepared for it, but God made it clear to them that it was His timing and they were ready. They were ready because it was time.  Reflecting on how Trent likened this to the experience of Campus America, calling a nation’s campuses to unbroken prayer during 2010, I am beginning to see God demonstrate that it is time. Extraordinary prayer is happening in seemingly ordinary places–namely Platteville, WI–and He is the one calling these sons and daughters to Himself in it.

The other bit Trent wrote about in his book that rang true to me that night was the viral effect of friendship and prayer. He shares from history of different bands of friends on campuses who prayed together, intentionally engaged the world, and encouraging one another, and how many of these networks of prayer-filled friendships have deeply impacted the world. That night in Platteville, I conversed with Zach and Mike, two UW Madison students who had driven out with  eight others just to be there to encourage and pray with the UW Platteville gang as they started their season of prayer. “Some of the Platteville students were real supportive of us last year and joined us when we had our 24-7 prayer room, so we want to return the love,” Zach told me. I have no doubt that these bands of prayer-infected friends on campuses who are connecting, encouraging each other, and driving hours of distance to be together for this purpose are helping each other accomplish amazing feats and will seriously impact their generation as well as those following for the Papa’s kingdom here on earth.

These guys are ready because it is time. We are ready–because it’s time.

Some very practical ways you can be praying for UW Platteville in this week:

[taken from their campus wiki page]

• Unity among the campus ministries
• Christians’ focus on Jesus, dependance on God in everything
• That prayer would become focus, our response, and our best plan.
• That we would begin to understand and live in the reality of Christ’s Victory
• Boldness
• Revival

Here is an excerpt of London’s strategic plan to soak their nation with unified prayer.    Mass prayer event planned for London. The capital is to be “saturated in prayer”, according to the Convener of the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP), London, Pastor Jonathan Oloyede, who has announced a major prayer event for 2010. West Ham Football Stadium has been booked for 30 May 2010 and the new Wembley Stadium for a date in 2011, yet to be revealed. Dr Jonathan Oloyede said the West Ham event next year, probably just weeks after the General Election, will be the culmination of 12 months of intensive prayer at parish and borough level across London: “Church leaders in London have been asked to choose a specific day in the coming year to pray for the needs of their community, as well as the nation. In addition, hundreds of churches in the capital spend 24 hours every month praying for the many needs of Londoners. “Tens of thousands of London Christians are also joining in spirit every day, at 12 noon, to say the Lord’s Prayer wherever they are – in the tube, on the bus, at their desk, or walking the streets. “The vision is to saturate London in prayer and by 2011, to have one million Christians in the UK and globally praying the Lord’s Prayer every day at 12 noon as we look towards our major Wembly Stadium event and onto the next phase.” In recent years, at GDOP central London events, senior politicians have been keen to harness the support of praying Londoners for their initiatives.  Dr Oloyede said: “Our vision is to soak London and indeed the nation in prayer through corporate and continuous intercession all year round. We believe this will enhance or precipitate mission and outreach all over the capital. We would like to see vibrant praying networks in every London borough, and in every town and city in the UK.”

I have personally set my Blackberry to noon everyday to remind me to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Is it possible to have campuses flooded with this prayer everyday? Are you up to the challenge to decree daily “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done”?  We each have a personal responsibility to connect with Our Father in heaven. As we pray in unison daily a symphony of voices touches the heart of Our Father.

God Bless you as the spring semester begins and new opportunities open to bless your fellow students with the simple message that they are loved with an everlasting love!

Anell Daniels

Wisconsin Prayer Network Coordinator

A prophetic word by Cindy Jacob spoken in 2002 at a conference in Minneapolis. “Madison will be a “pool of Bethesda,” a place of healing. The Lord says there’s going to be a revival at the University in Madison. Liberalism is going to break and it’s going to be a forerunner university. God is getting ready to do …things that are going to boggle the minds of those who are liberals, but even the liberals are going to want to see the miracles that break out. The Lord says ‘Look to the sororities, for I am going to bring a great revival in those Greek sororities and I’m going to overthrow that Greek spirit.”

There are now 12 days till New Years Day 2010. College students are making plans right now to gather on campuses in Wisconsin for 24/7 prayer. UW Platteville has scheduled January 22 as their 24/7 campus prayer kick-off date. I asked Pete Johnson from UW Platteville what we could be praying for as their plans move forward.

// //

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit UW-Oshkosh for a campus prayer room kick-off event on a Tuesday, and found myself in absolutely awe once again of how the Spirit moves and brings His family together around Himself through prayer. The week before this event I had met Derek Nelson at an Alpha conference through Dayn Lukes, my friend and state co-coordinator, who both had been friends years ago and just recently reconnected. Derek gave us the invitation to a prayer room kick-off event and explained a bit of his story in how God moved in him and four friends two years ago, which caused their response to gather three times a week in prayer. Out of these five friends’ investment and pressing in for two years has come a call to their campus, the students and organizations, to pray together 24-7, and a room that has been dedicated for just that purpose.

A group of us from the Madison Boiler Room drove out on a Tuesday night to visit these crazy prayer warriors, and after an hour and a half [and a couple U-turns], we arrived at the UW-OshKosh Union and entered a room full of students worshiping passionately. After the music segment, Derek emceed the night and invited a representative from each Christian org on campus to come up, each prepared to share their heart and a bit of info about the prayer room—some glowing with excited as they spoke about it. As Dayn was not able to be present that night, Derek read a letter of encouragement from him after a showing of a video story Dayn and some others had put together about a prayer garage that God used to do much at UW La Crosse. When the session broke, the students swarmed the 14 boards/sign-ups in the back of the room, each representing a day of the next two weeks, and had every hour filled within 20 minutes—something I personally have never witnessed before! Finally, the entire group shuffled out the door and marched down the street to the prayer room located in a former frat house, recently purchased by a Christian fellowship and repurposed for intentional housing. A commissioning prayer was given as excitement was still fresh and thick in the air. We madisonians had the privilege of joining a few leaders in the prayer room for a portion of the first hour.

It was apparent to all of us visiting that night that God was moving in Oshkosh in a powerful way, and we felt honored to be able to witness and participate in it. Since the end of the official season of prayer last Tuesday, many have continued signing up for prayer slots nearly filling the rest of the third week. As well, this week Derek was invited to share about the power of unity through prayer on campus to over a hundred students in a World Religions class. Come on!

Funny to see that yet again, God chose to start this ‘big something’ by breathing on a few friends and calling them close to Himself, long before they had any idea of it. In reference to a previous post, I seem to find myself asking once again, “What are you up to, Papa?”

Last night was a defining moment in my life. I’m really quite reluctant to put it that way because I seem to have had a lot of “defining moments” lately, but I believe it to be true. Yesterday, being Palm Sunday and the end of the Lenten season, was the last day of our 40 days of 24/7 prayer here in Madison. We commemorated the occasion with an all-campus celebration night. I got to play my horn in the worship band, and just that was a truly incredible experience. We had never played as a group before and just went through the songs a couple of hours before the event. We all had a very real sense of God directing our worship and it just flowed.

I could really feel the presence of God in the room as we worshipped, but then we had a time of prayer, and that was when God made His move. We were doing the “one voice” prayer, where everyone calls out to God together, everyone speaking aloud at the same time. At this point I was on my knees, just crying out to God with thanksgiving as well as supplication. My friend Rachel was sitting in the front, and I heard her crying out, “God, this city belongs to You! This city belongs to You!” That statement resonated so much with me (it felt almost like a kick in the gut!) that I started crying out too, practically screaming, “This city belongs to You! This city belongs to You!!” The cry just kept coming, and I couldn’t even form words anymore. I felt like I was giving birth, only without the physical pain, it was that intense. (I later found out that my friend Pamela was experiencing the same thing). I was overwhelmed by God presence in the room at that moment. I felt that a shift had occurred in the atmosphere, and that God was breaking through and taking control of the powers of the air. It was incredible. Words cannot describe what happened in that moment.

At the end of our time of worship inside, a couple of musicians led everyone outside, continuing the song we had been singing. We all followed Rachel, who was carrying the cross that had been in the center of the Prayer Room. Everyone grabbed a candle on the way out, and we stood outside in the center of Library Mall, still singing. Then my brother, Charlie, stood up and said that the candles we were holding were symbolic of the fire in our hearts, and the wind was symbolic of the adversity we are about to face. The only way we were keeping the candles lit was through community. The body of people helped shield the candles from the wind, and if someone’s candle went out, they went to the person next to them to relight it. Then Rachel got up and led us in repentance, first for ourselves, then for our campus ministries and Christians on campus in general, and finally for the campus and city as a whole. It was very intense, and my gut is tightening up even as I write this.

Then Rachel stood up and started exhorting and encouraging us to walk in faith, calling us to be the embodiment of Christ on our campus, to walk in signs and wonders just as Jesus did. Again, it was very powerful. Then I stood up and said, “You are the watchmen calling out on the mountain, ‘come, let us go up to Zion; let us go up to God!’ You are the watchmen, cry out! Proclaim the word of the Lord!” We ended our time outside by singing “How Great is our God!”

This morning I met with Pamela, and she showed me some of the pictures she took of the assembly on Library Mall. There was one picture in particular of Rachel carrying the cross back to the Humanities building, and you could actually see that it was full of little orbs of light. God had rent the heavens, and His angels had surrounded us! By our worship and prayers, we had called down a piece of heaven to earth. Praise God for His surpassing greatness! Holy Spirit, we ask for more!

-Kristina recently graduated with her masters degree in May and will be moving to Ohio where she will be coordinating prayer across the state for Campus America.

Check out this video update from that crazy bunch of prayer warriors at UW-La Crosse. Dayn Lukes tells the story of the Prayer Garage and how it’s humble beginnings grew to change lives and grow their community. Trust me, this story is worth the 5 minutes it takes sit and watch the video!

Watch on, my friends.

This was the experience of the Campus Wisconsin gathering the first weekend of April where God brought a seemingly small group of ordinary Wisconsinites together who just happen to have a heart for prayer on college campuses and a desire to see their fellow peers encounter Christ intimately and mess up their lives as He had for their own. Fresh from Kansas City, Wendy Andrews (national leader of 24-7 Prayer and Campus America) shared with us her story of being a very ordinary girl from a small city who brought her portion of fish and bread loaves to the Lord and how He made much of it. She shared the story of how God put this crazy idea of Campus America on the hearts of 24-7 Prayer leaders Pete Greig and Dave Blackwell through dreams, circumstance, and undeniable confirmation. The dream is that He wants to “call the dead to get back in the game” by drawing students at every 4-year college and university in the US to participate in an unbroken year of prayer during 2010.

On Saturday morning, students shared what God was doing on their campuses in prayer and how He was moving students to organize seasonal 24-7 prayer rooms for students of all organizations to encounter God in. These guys inspire me like no other! We also read aloud stories sent to us from Dayn at UW-La Crosse, Dan at UWM, and Isaac at UW-Eau Claire who weren’t able to make it but wanted to share the experiences they were having as a result of engaging in 24-7 prayer rooms on their campuses. Wendy also showed us some of the amazing tools God is providing in this endeavor such as the new Campus America website where students can connect and communicate as well as find info and share stories of what’s going on around the country.

Overall, I think we all had a sense that God was affirming the little ones–the ordinary students who know they need God more than anything or anyone else. These are the ones who He desires to work through. These are the ones He is going to bring His next revival through.

On this blog, I will be posting stories from students around Wisconsin who are witnessing God-encounters and prayer on their campuses. What a privilege it is to help connect students to each other so they can share these powerful and potent stories. When I reflect on all of this that is happening in prayer in Wisconsin and the US, the question keeps coming to my mind, “What are You up to, Papa?”

-Tim

Exciting News! We would like to invite you –champions of prayer on your campuses– and anyone who has a heart to see God move through prayer, intimacy, and power in the lives of students on campuses all over the state of Wisconsin, to come and gather on April 3-4 to seek the Lord’s face together and share with each other what He is doing on our campuses. Our friends at the Madison 24-7 Prayer Boiler Room will be graciously hosting this event and allowing us to invade their territory!

We will begin at 6:30pm on Friday, spending time worshiping together and move into story-telling time so that we can all hear about about what the Lord is doing on each of our campuses. We will sleeping-bag it overnight throughout the apartment flats in the giant Winnebago Street Boiler Room house (ladies and gents on different floors). In the morning, we will have breakfast together, hosted by the MBR peeps, worship, and seek the Lord together and about what He has for the future of Wisconsin campuses and prayer! Joining us will be national Campus America 24-7 Prayer leaders trekking up from Kansas City, including Wendy Andrews, to share with us the big picture about how the Lord is moving on campuses all across the nation. How amazing it is to be able to see the bigger story that we are a part of in what God is doing on the earth! [Check out this video for more]

We will officially conclude at noon and all go out to eat lunch together at a nearby restaurant. And if anyone is interested and able to hang around a while longer, we’ll have an optional afternoon game of Ultimate Frisbee at the park–a fabulous way to bring in the Spring time. Woo!

What: Campus Wisconsin Gathering (come pray together and share!)

When: Friday, April 3rd 6:30pm to Sat, April 4, 12pm

Where: Madison Boiler Room Winnebago House, 2201 Winnebago St. — Madison   [map]

Who’s invited: Students and anyone who has a heart for prayer on college campuses in Wisconsin

Note: We’d like to have representatives from as many college campuses as possible, so get the word out and feel free to forward this to anyone–the more, the better!

What to bring: Sleeping bag and pillow. No cost for the event, just gas money to get there, cash for a meal out for lunch on Saturday, and a $2 suggested donation to help cover cost of breakfast. Plan on eating dinner before you arrive on Friday as well.

RSVP PLEASE! Shoot me an email (campuswisconsin@gmail.com) if you plan on coming and if you’ll be bringing folks with you–which I hope you will be! Hope to see you there!

Tim Collier