Establishing Spiritual Beachheads
Many have been asking how we can move on from the inspiration of the video, to begin in earnest the work of city transformation. I believe that, yet again, George Otis, Jr. has an insight that will help us in this endeavour. In his book 'Informed Intercession' he develops the concept of spiritual beachheads and gives clear steps on how we can assess our progress. This concept has been further developed and applied by Martin Scott in his new book, 'Sowing Seeds for Revival'. Both books are incredibly useful resource tools and are available from The Resource Centre. This article, taken from both books, outlines the key points.
Beachheads can be defined as small plots of ground (often a beach) that serve as staging areas for invading military forces. Because of their strategic potential, defending armies will fight vigorously to prevent them from becoming established. As a consequence, most beachheads are secured at high cost.
Beachheads can be established in the spiritual dimension. Like their counterparts in the material world, these staging areas are the work of warriors, in this case, intercessors and evangelists whose ultimate aim is to launch breakthrough assaults on enemy strongholds. The goal in obtaining a spiritual beachhead is to bring a core of people through to a persistent place of focus where they find themselves unable to go back. There might be no guarantee of success, but they have firmly closed the back door.
Some spiritual beachheads have been established by a mere handful of intercessors. The transformation of Hemet, California began with twelve men praying through the night in a mountain cabin. Robert Hayanja's church-planting effort in the "Beirut of Kampala" started with five prayer warriors. Thomas Muthee established the spiritual beachhead in Kiambu, Kenya with but a single partner - his wife, Margaret. The key element, prayer-wise, is to pray that a fresh spirit of humility and a greater appetite for unity and prayer will come upon the church and the leadership in the region.
As unity begins to emerge it will be severely tested, but we must press through to a deeper level that embraces a corporate vision for the geography and a desire to see church in the locality expressed. United prayer has more to do with heart attitudes than with mass movements. As Jesus reminded His disciples in Matthew 18:19, 20, God's presence and power is manifested when just two or three believers agree in prayer (see also Eccl 9:14, 15).
Cuthbert's Beachhead - Lindisfarne
There will be setbacks, but it is only as we persevere that we come to the place of 'Rehoboth', where God makes room for us (Gen 26:17-22). Like Isaac, as these wells are re-dug, it will feel as if they are being filled in as quickly as they are opened. Spiritual passion, therefore, is essential to successful intercessory beachheads. Believers who wish to position their community for spiritual breakthroughs must pour their hearts and souls into the effort. Unless the Church is consumned with a burning desire for divine visitation, united prayer will become merely another project.
The good news is that contemporary spiritual beachheads abound but do not expect conformity (note: there are at least a dozen in England alone). Depending on their developmental status, they can appear quite different. Newly formed initiatives are typically small, unpublicised affairs in which a handful of dedicated intercessors seek to stimulate a renewed hunger for unity, holiness and prayer, especially among community pastors. Without an increased appetite for the things that attract the presence of the Holy Spirit, breakthroughs will simply not occur.
The bad news is that very few spiritual beachheads ever last long enough to realise their potential as breeding grounds for revival. Most start with good intentions and then fizzle out. Among the more common reasons for this attrition are weak leadership and the tendency to make unity an end in itself. Pastors gather together for prayer but their rendezvous are often lacking in passion. this is because the emphasis is placed on corproate assembly rather than corporate vision.
Trying to attract the widest possible cross section of participants, they create an environment in which personal agendas profilerate like mushrooms. In the end, unity is trumped by cordiality. Unable to acheive a common vision, they settle for a common place.
But don't get discouraged. Stay on course, and pro-actively hammer the message home. Be as Nehemiah, who would not be deterred for any reason in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Sometimes it is the no-name intercessor or influencer that gets the ball rolling in a community! Remember, the whole process begins with humility. In my observation in looking at catalytic figures in transformed communities, humility plays the single most compelling role.
Suggested further reading:
Informed Intercession, by George Otis, Jr
Sowing Seeds for Revival, by Martin Scott
Establishing Beachheads (video & audio set), by George Otis, Jr.