I was going to wait to publish this post until my personal annieverary at IHOP on the 20th, but with all the action and fun going on over the next few days I thought it more appropriate to post it now, even thought I’m jumping the gun a little bit. Enjoy….

This week I have been at the International House of Prayer for 5 years. A lot has happened to me and changed in me in the past years. I remember when I first heard of IHOP. I was a full-time youth-ministry major at a Bible school in Denver. As the end of my freshman year was approaching I realized that Bible school was not working for me. I knew I wanted to go into full-time ministry but this didn’t seem to be the right path for me. The classes were good but they were more focused on topics like how to increase the attendance of your youth group and how to plan a summer camp. They weren’t offereing classes on “How to lead your youthgroup into prayer and fasting.” Also, the school was an environment that was not challenging my character or life in God. I knew I needed something different.

In the search for what to do I ended up hearing about this 24/7 house of prayer in Kansas City. I applied and was accepted into their internship. So on Thursday, September 20th I drove west on I-70 in my little blue Honda Civic for 8 hours….

My first night in Kansas City I went to the prayer room to see what things were going to be like. It was a couple double-wide trailers, put together with ugly green carpet and a bad sound system. It was amazing! When I walked in there was one guy with red hair and a beard playing his guitar singing christian folk songs with several people in the room reading their Bibles. I foolishy assumed that this was what IHOP was like for the other 11 prayer meetings durring the day. The next morning I came back with pen and journal in hand prepared to soul search in my new home. To my absolute shock my bearded friend was gone and there was a loud band in his place. There were lots of dancing people and flags waving everywhere. They were praying for Israel. I tried to committ to my plan but that failed quickly. So I tried to join in but I was so off balance that all I could really do was watch. So I left.

My 10 month internship began on Monday the 24th. It was a crazy season of learning. Not only did I learn much about the Bible and the fiath but I learned how much I wasn’t who I thought I was. I remember coming back to Kansas City after Christmas break and realizing that I was more glad to be driving to Kansas City that I was sad to be driving from Castle Rock. I knew this place was my new home for a while.

In the past five years so many of my mindsets have been radically changed by the Lord. My concepts of ministry and anointing have had a drastic overhaul. I have drummed at over 20 onething conferences: local and regional. I have worked several odd jobs around the IOHP Missions base, including cleaning toilets and shipping boxes.

I have learned that the size of my ministry is not important.

I have learned that God has not called me to be popular, famous or succseful, but to be faithful and obedient.

I have learned that I am living for eternity. All that I do in this life directly effects my life in the ages to come.

I have learned that having intimacy with God is the most important thing of all. The first and greatest commandment is to Love the Lord with all I am. This is a reality that has to be rooted and grounded within me before I can do any other ministry that will be fruitful and succseful.

I have learned that the Lord calls us to “Wait until we are endued with power.” There is wisdom in waiting on God to be released and sent in our personal ministries.

I know that my primary calling in life is to be a part of 24/7 prayer for the rest of my life. Anna and I intend to stay in Kansas City until the Lord sends us back to Colorado in His timing for a House of Prayer in Castle Rock.