1. Catch the vision.
2. Announce the vision
3. Equip the team

It can seem a daunting task, but it's not impossible. You may be in the process of church planting, or you may be in a struggling church that hasn't seen growth in years. You could be facing a number of obstacles, and challenges, that you just can't see your way around.

Right now as you read this, you might be feeling a little like Gideon who hid in a winepress while threshing wheat, to keep it from the Medianites (Judges 6 & 7). A thought went through my mind as I was reading about Gideon, just how easy it is for us to develop a fortress mentality. When the going gets tough, we hide what God has given us within four walls, when really the church is meant for the people 'out there'. It's time for us to break out.

Catch the vision

"The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!" (Judges 6:12)

I can just imagine Gideon glancing over his shoulder to make sure the angel of the Lord had the right guy. "Huh? Who? Me?" "Yes you!" You might be a little slow in recognising that you are the very person God is calling to help build this team. Stop looking over your shoulder.

God looks at you and sees all you can be in him, and all you can do for him. He doesn't see fear, He doesn't see failure. He sees a mighty warrior full of the Spirit of God, overflowing with faith, love, and compassion.

The task God was calling Gideon to seemed impossible. "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Median's hand. Am I not sending you?" (v14) He felt totally inadequate for the task. He felt God had abandoned them, and doubted whether God would turn up. Gideon was full of doubts, fears, and excuses.

Gideon had never seen the wonders, or miracles, his parents and grandparents had told him about. (Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about..?) (v13)

Perhaps you have never seen the sick healed. All that is about to change.

I remember how some members of our team were amazed when they first saw someone healed, and that God was using them. Now they are surprised if someone's condition hasn't changed. When they see God heal, it is just as natural as breathing air.

One of the best ways of catching what God is doing on our streets, is to come with us onto the streets any Saturday, and watch how this model works. .

Announce the vision

"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him." (Judges 6:34)

Before you can be an inspiration for others to follow, you must first be inspired. You want to blow that trumpet with passion! The difference between the Gideon of the winepress, and the Gideon who summoned, and led an army into battle, was the Spirit of the Lord that came upon him. Before Gideon blew the trumpet, summoning an army to follow him, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Gods anointing transformed him.

We need the Holy Spirit's help. We can do nothing, and accomplish nothing, without his empowering. The Holy Spirit is the one who makes all the difference in this ministry. There is no power without His presence. Building a team, seeing the fruitfulness of this ministry on the streets, happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to do his work through us.

Simply ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you. Ask Him to saturate you in His presence so that you can speak with power, authority, and conviction. Ask the Holy Spirit to put His words in your heart and mouth. Ask Him to anoint your lips to speak the way he desires, in words of power, authority, challenge, life, liberty, love and compassion.

We have discovered that when you passionately share your vision for healing on the streets for your town or city, the Holy Spirit will cause people's hearts to jump, and rejoice in response, "God bless it! God bless it!"

Share what God is doing across the nation to encourage your people. Share healing stories, and explain the healing on the streets model. God wants to do the same thing, right where you are. If you don't have any stories of your own, you can take them from right off this website.

Its also important to remember the cost involved. It will demand time, energy and commitment. If you run with the vision, then you're in it for the long haul.

Our team in Coleraine have been outside the town hall every Saturday since Easter of 2005. They minister when it's pouring with rain, when it's so cold, that if you stood in one spot for too long your feet would freeze to the ground, when the sun is blazing through the sky (on those rare occasions!). I think they misspelled the name of our town.

I am still amazed, that week after week no matter the weather, our team turns up, people still come from far and near, will sit on chairs in full view of the whole town, and allow us to minister to them. I have seen the whole team in tears as God reveals His heart for the lost and hurting.

Instead of getting burnt out and weary, they are revived. They hate to miss a Saturday, because they don't want to miss out on what God is doing. I have to tell them to take a break! This ministry is life giving. The fact is, as we give, we receive, but so much more. Our lives are changed as a result. Every morning when I wake up, I think about Saturday on the streets. I think God longs for us to be there also. I can't wait to be in the awesome presence of God on the streets.

Ask people to register their interest in joining the team. They need to know that experience isn't necessary and that training is provided. They also need to know that not everyone who registers their interest will be ministering on the streets.

Equip the team

"Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb-line in the hand of Zerubbabel" (verse10)

Gideon had little stomach for battle. He had little strength, but God told him to go with what he had. You may be struggling with lack of resources and people to begin with, but as you go with what you have, He'll bring the increase. God will supply all your needs.

"The LORD said to Gideon, You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her" (Judges 7:2)

It would be amazing to see the whole church register their interest for the healing on the streets. If they have, then you really blew the trumpet well! The reality is, you want the right people out with you on the street.

Out of the 32,000 men that responded to Gideon's call, God sifted that number down to 300.

We have put in place safeguards, to protect the church and the public. There has to be accountability. Remember that this ministry is a visible one, and you are in the public eye. We don't allow anyone outside of the healing on the streets team to minister with us, unless they have been through the training, are known by the leader, and have been given the go ahead. It will just save you from conflicts and problems (and a major headache!) which can occur, when someone outside of the team uses a different model, or style of ministry.

The team consists of committed Christians regularly connecting with the life of the church. They must be part of a small group, and have the ok from their small group leader that they're not flaky. No one ministers on the street until they have been trained, equipped and released to go. And as they go they find God has been out there all along!

Training is essential, that's what the HOTS manual is about. Anyone wanting to be part of the team must meet the above criteria, and every prospective team member must go through this training. This ensures the model for Healing on the Streets remains strong.

Looking forward to hearing your stories from the streets!

Blessings,

Mark

Please contact the Causeway Coast Vineyard office, if you wish Mark Marx to come to you for a weekend of training and launching out. You can contact us by e-mail (info@causewaycoastvineyard.com)