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Intention

To prevent individual interests, giftedness and ministry ideas from diverting our attention and hearts from Jesus’ commission to share the gospel with all.

Scripture

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

– Mark 16:15

“Live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ… standing firm in one spirit, in one accord contending together for the faith of the gospel.”

– Philippians 1:27

Reflection

In March 2025, 350 YWAM missionaries came from all over the nation to spend five days together intentionally waiting upon the Lord.

There were many gifted leaders and committed missionaries among the gathered group. Some were evangelists, some were prophetically gifted, many were strongly apostolic, others were skilled teachers, while some were gifted pastors. Many had been a part of building meaningful ministries in response to visions and dreams that the Lord had previously given them.

Prior to gathering, I had been inspired to hear about so many wonderful visions and creative ministry ideas brewing around the nation. However, with the number of ministries and ministry centres growing, it was becoming difficult to find ways for us to collaborate. I sensed that we needed realignment, and I knew that the only way to achieve this would be by us waiting upon the Lord together.

We had many times of silence as we sought to hear the Lord speak. But as we waited, words began to flow about our responsibility to share the gospel, and these continued throughout the entire week.

Toward the end of our time, people were seeing more and more prophetic pictures of water flowing gently from the centre of Australia out to the coasts, and then from the coasts into the centre. This symbolised the gentle but thorough sharing of the gospel across the entire nation.

These five days were powerful, as they brought us back to the clarity of Jesus’ commission: that all should hear! God was pointing us back to what was written in his word. He was realigning our hearts and unifying us around our mission to know Jesus and make him known.

God’s word has been very much like a plumbline to us at YWAM this year, and we’ve seen immediate benefits. We’re now freely finding ways and opportunities to work together. How frequently this is happening is a welcome indicator of our increased health as a mission.

This process also helped us understand how easy it is to become disconnected from each other. Reflecting back to the time before that national gathering, we appeared to have growth, success and multiplication. But there was a subtle temptation for some of us to focus more on developing our own ideas out of our own interests. Attention on individual giftedness diverted our focus away from on Jesus’ central commission.

The subtle temptation to see through our own lens of independence – ‘my sovereign ministry!’ – acts as a magnifier to continually highlight ‘my ideas’, ‘my vision’, ‘my dreams’ and ‘my way’. But this will repel any chance of kingdom-empowered unity.

The early Church was more immune to idolising their own sovereignty and the preoccupation with their individuality than we are. They had a great perception of serving the greater universal Church. This made it easier for them to maintain their vision upon Jesus’ clear and simple mission.

Being in one accord allowed them to move with such authority and power that they were able to turn the world upside down. The Lord hasn’t changed, and neither has his opportunity for Church to do the same in today’s world.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Holy Spirit and the gifts you have freely given to each of us by your grace. We also see and understand the amazing beauty, wonder and wisdom of your Church.

We pray for our pastors, teachers and ministry leaders who are charged with the responsibility to teach and guide us and equip us for service in accordance with your great plan and vision for the world.

We present to you the Reaching Australia 2033 plan as our offering as we seek to respond to your commission that every Australian should hear about you and your kingdom.

Amen.

Author Bio

David and his wife Jenni have led YWAM Brisbane since 1997. They are passionate about developing and releasing leaders who are equally passionate in their pursuit of God.

David is committed to increasing his personal focus upon motivating and multiplying all believers to share their faith, rather than relying on ‘missionaries’ to do so.

Prayer Points for October 2025

1. God to pour out his blessing and Spirit on every church in Australia and its leaders. Hebrews 13:7
2. All churches in Australia to grow in Christlikeness and win people to Christ. Acts 6:7
3. Widespread adoption of Reaching Australia 2033 and its plan to activate every believer in personal evangelism. Acts 1:8
4. Revival for Australia and for millions to come to Christ. Isaiah 64:1–2

We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to faith in Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ.

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