The Lam-ily Update!

Angela's IHOPU Awakening experience

2010-02-16T09:58:00.002-06:00

Over the last couple months, I have only been able to attend a handful of the IHOPU Awakening meetings, but each time I have been able to go, the Lord has significantly encountered me, and I have felt more and more awakened to His love and heart for me. He has been freeing me from so many unnecessary burdens and expectations that I had been feeling as a first-time mom.

I had been struggling with exhaustion from Noah’s newborn feeding schedule, guilt in my heart for not always wanting to and loneliness after our families went back to California and Thai returned to work. But in January, the Lord began to pull on those parts of my heart.

One evening at the Awakening, a friend began to pray for a new understanding of God’s love for me, as my Father — a loving caring Daddy. This touched me deeply and left me in tears as the Lord was taking away the loneliness and overwhelming sense that I was on my own.

Another night during worship, I sensed the Lord invite me to the area in front of the stage where people were receiving prayer. Distracted by Noah, I missed what the prayer focus was and felt unsure about going forward. But the Lord prompted my heart again, and I finally handed Noah to Thai and went forward to get prayer. Kneeling down, I began confessing my great need for Him to empower me to be the wife and mom He designed me to be. I asked Him for fresh joy and grace to empower me as I prayed Nehemiah 8:10, that His joy would be my strength, and Psalm 51:12, that He would restore the joy of His salvation in my heart.

At that moment, the prayer leader walked back on stage announcing, “Moms! All of the moms here come forward. Gather around these moms and pray for them.” I laughed to myself. Different people began to come around me and pray for renewed joy to be my strength and grace to cover my soul. This so touched me, as I knew the Holy Spirit was leading them to pray for what I had been asking of Him. After more time of prayer and tears of joy, I finally spoke, “Lord, thank you. I am so glad that you see me. You actually see me.”

-angela-

Collegiate Day of Prayer – Feb 25th, 2010

2010-01-30T00:39:00.012-06:00

Our nation is increasingly in a crisis of faith. We desperately need an infusion of God’s transforming Spirit. You and I can do something about it.

College campuses are historically places where God has awakened our nation and revived the church to His purposes. “More potently than by any other means, change the university and you change the world,” said Harvard Professor and UN Ambassador Charles Malik. If we win the spiritual battles on all fronts across our nation but neglect our college campuses all our progress will be undone in a generation.

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.” The problem is with the number of workers rather than the non-believing population. At the same time the war for the hearts and minds of college students has never been stronger. More and more colleges are sending out workers who destroy God’s kingdom rather than building it. Students across our nation need a cross-generational prayer movement to shift this tide.

In short, they need you.

For almost 100 years our nation has reserved a special day each year to pray for colleges. God faithfully answered those prayers and America witnessed an era of ongoing revivals and awakenings.

Let's believe God together for another great awakening in this generation. There has never been a greater need than right now. Nearly 100 years later, it's time to break the silence!

Would you join with thousands of others to relaunch the Collegiate Day of Prayer in this century? Would you commit to praying individually or gathering a group to pray on the Collegiate Day of Prayer on February 25th? The future of our country and millions of souls depends on winning the spiritual fight for our colleges.

Please do the following two simple things:

1. Go to http://www.collegiatedayofprayer.org to get more information, see who else is praying, and let us know you are praying. Making our prayers visible by joining together will encourage everyone and multiply the number of people praying for students.
2. Forward this email to others, post it on Facebook, your blog, or elsewhere.

-thai-

Stepping into a Fall of Newness

2009-09-08T11:32:00.002-05:00

How was your summer? Amazingly, it’s coming to a rapid close!

As summer passes, Thai’s responsibilities ramp up here. In July, he was asked to become the Director of Relations for the OneThing Regional Conferences. With a team of 6 joining him to mobilize young adults, churches and college ministries, he has been travelling almost weekly to spread the word about OneThing Conferences coming this fall to Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Raleigh/Durham, NC. If you are in these areas, we would love for you to join us—the conferences are free, bringing in stirring speakers and worship leaders from the Int’l House of Prayer.

While Thai has been on the road, I’ve continued to focus on the Luke18 Project and preparing for Motherhood. After our Summer Leadership Program, I personally learned two things. I need to lean more on my team of Luke18 coaches and staff (mainly God’s provision) to lead the students the Holy Spirit has drawn to the Luke18 Project. And also that I needed to pull back from full-time ministry to let myself fully engage in preparing for our coming son, Noah.

Since July, my leadership within Luke18, and schedule in the prayer room, has been shifted to part-time. Just recently I visited the University of Kansas, as they met for the first time this semester and felt like I was coming home. I love being on campus with these students. I also can’t wait to meet little Noah! And am grateful for the time I have to rest, pray, prepare our home and my heart for his arrival in late October. I am blessed to continue balancing both for the next month.

As we finish up our second summer here at the Int’l House of Prayer, it reminds me that we’ve been here a year now--WOW--and so much has changed in our hearts, in our ministry roles, and our own personal family life. But one thing has remained the same, God’s heart towards us. Thankfully our opportunity to meet with Him, serve Him and be ministered to by Him in the prayer room has been a consistent part of our lives. This has been huge as we continue to minister and grow as a family.

Know that we are praying for each of you, our family, our friends, our partners. As we shift into a new Fall season, we are praying that it is a season of unity and grace over your family and amidst all you may have ahead.

Saints Rumbling in Prayer for California

2009-03-04T21:40:00.004-06:00

There is something beautiful about saints gathered to pray. Saints humble and at peace, ready to intercede because they know they will be heard.

Tonight there is an army of saints in the prayer room, as every Wednesday night we focus on praying for California. Many are young here but eager to race forth with the promises and truth of God’s word written to be current day prayers we beckon again and again before the Lord with Hope, Faith and Love.

California, you are not alone. Christians in California, you are not lost in the blur of your State’s wickedness. But indeed He sees you; He loves you, so much that He would gather hundreds of faceless young and old saints to stand on your behalf.

They’re praying for rain. They’re praying for glory to fall. They’re praying for salvation to sweep through the streets just as refreshing waves hit your shores all day long. Things are shifting, things are breaking, things are happening in the Spirit in California. Our prayers are with your own.

California—God sees you, loves you and is calling you forth to be a glorious Golden State of His Righteousness.

16,000 young adults, 20 guests, 2 conferences, 1 house for Christmas!

2009-01-21T10:56:00.008-06:00

What a holiday it's been!

It was our first Christmas as a married couple – and we had family, old friends & some very new friends fly in from across the country to spend the holiday with us (and of course attend the onething08 young adult conference :). I think we had nearly 20 people (including parents & in-laws) packed into our new, not-so-large, 3-bedroom home for 2 weeks! It was the beginning of the Lam-ily Bed & Breakfast! But we were SO grateful for the opportunity to be a blessing with our new house that the Lord has so miraculously provided for us!

Most of our guests were student leaders on their college campus who had planned to come out to attend the onething08 conference as well as our Luke18 Leadership Summit. The onething08 conference had over 16,000 young adults from across the globe in attendance being challenged by the messages of intimacy with Jesus, the lifestyle of prayer & fasting, and the message of the forerunner – and people left stirred and provoked to go deeper in the Word and to grow in the knowledge of God. And about 500 key leaders of prayer furnaces on their college campuses and of their cities stayed for our Luke18 Leadership Summit – it was a powerful time of exhortation, encouragement, and equipping by Lou Engle, Bob Sorge, Mike Bickle and others for leaders who are laboring to pioneer a context of sustained prayer in their region. People left with awakened zeal, a new burden, and renewed vision to see a "house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:7) that would contend in prayer "day and night for God's speedy justice" (Luke 18:1,7-8) on their college campuses and in their cities. It was so powerful!

And so it was — our first Christmas married, breaking in our new house, hosting a myriad of family & friends, serving a conference & coordinating a summit, and remembering our beloved King Jesus who gave His life to give us life. Thank You.

-thai-

16,000 young adults in ardent worship & prayer...

Mike Bickle & Lou Engle leading onething08

encountering Jesus...

A generation of young people going hard after God.

Thanksgiving Thanks! (A bit belated!)

2008-12-09T20:22:00.015-06:00

November was quite a big month for us Lams... :o)

It all began with an incredible trip to San Diego, California. It was so surreal to be back in our homeland. A little south of our hometowns in the San Francisco Bay, but California nevertheless! About 33,000 gathered for the Call San Diego, to pray for the State, coming elections, and prop 8.

Every time I took a break from my meeting with students and parents at the Luke18 Project booth, my heart was gripped by the beauty of God’s presence in the stadium as people prayed. Even now, reflecting on it a month later, I am still touched to tears by the memory of it. I am so glad God invites us to pray and participate in the expression of His love and longing for a people, especially California.

After coming home, resting and acclimating to the prayer room from the trip, so much of Kansas City just felt right. My heart knew this was the place we are supposed to be as intercessory missionaries giving our days and nights to prayer and serving Luke18 Campus Prayer Movement. It was fitting that everything came together, quickly for the purchasing of our first home!

Excited and full of gratefulness, we moved into our new house over Thanksgiving week! WOW! The house is about 7 minutes from IHOP and about 5 minutes from our old apartment—which made the move gracefully smooth!

By Wednesday night of Thanksgiving week, we already had guests over for Thanksgiving dinner! It was a joyful night, with so much diversity! We had southern pecan pie, a lemon-lime turkey, Amish style cranberry sauce, the best green bean casserole I’ve ever tasted, and Thai’s infamous yams. It was awesome—hectic with so many cooks in a new kitchen—but so much fun.

Another eventful day in November came on the 22nd--my 30th birthday! Thai orchestrated a day full of adventure, from Cheetah sightings at the Kansas City Zoo, to athletic challenges like ice skating. He coordinated (quite skillfully) a surprise dinner, and then a surprise after party! It was a really wonderful day!

As November was a month of events and activity, our hearts were so grateful for all that God has done in the past year. So many of you, our readers, intercessors & supporters, make it possible for us to labor as intercessory missionaries helping to lead the Luke18 Project at the International House of Prayer. We are so grateful for you, and each of you are truly a gift of God to us as you partner with us in our ministry and our prayers are with you!

We pray your Thanksgiving was one of deep joy and gratitude, and hope for new blessings and revelations of Christ as we draw near to Christmas!

-angela-

"A Great and Terrible Day..."

2008-11-05T01:08:00.004-06:00

I may not have been the only one overwhelmed by emotion as the Tuesday polls announced our new President Elect to be Barack Obama — what a shocking and stunning moment.

That day, I maneuvered as much of my schedule to be in the prayer room for every time of intercession for the elections. And I wasn't alone: the 800-capacity room was utterly full the entire day. During our prayer meeting before the polls closed, no seat was empty, no mouth was closed, no heart was lingering... we were all fully engaged like a desperate company waging supernatural war for life and righteousness as we prayed for leaders and legislation that stood for the protection of the unborn and for the preservation of marriage being between one man and one woman.

Exhausted and worn, we trickled home continuing to pray as we waited to see the results. And as the electoral count surfaced and the picture became clear, who was elected was not who we'd hoped for...

The morning after the elections, as we all returned to the prayer room, Mike Bickle & Allen Hood, leaders at the International House of Prayer, commentated on what a "great and terrible day" it was for America — as America momentously elected the first African-American to the highest office of our nation (who not too long ago segregated "black" & "white") but at the same time overwhelmingly voting for "change" further away from the protection of the unborn and marriage.

We want to invite you to take 20 minutes to listen to a clip of this exhortation... we were both stirred to pray and intercede for our new President Elect, the young people of America, and for our nation as we are in the midst of moral decay. May we not be bystanders paralyzed by apathy and preoccupation...

Jesus, would You fill Barrack Obama with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom & understanding and that he might walk in a manner worthy of You, pleasing You in every respects. (Colossians 1:9-10)

The Call California: Standing in the Gap

2008-11-02T00:19:00.006-05:00

33,000 people gathered at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA for 12 hours of prayer & fasting for the 2008 elections, the protection of the unborn, the preservation of marriage, the state of California, and the future of America: "Jesus, we plead your blood over our sins and the sins of our nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America."

Lou Engle calling the nation to prayer...

"Return to Me with all your hearts..." (Joel 2:12)

Mike Bickle & James Dobson standing in prayer together for our nation.

"God have mercy on us..."

Jaeson Ma challenging the youth of America to live recklessly abandoned...

"Rend your hearts & not your garments..." (Joel 2:13)

Sean Feucht leading us into extravagant worship of our King...

"Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the peoples" (Joel 2)

A New Fall Approaches...

2008-10-17T18:04:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke up to orange light shimmering through the blinds. Having never seen that before, and hearing a rustling through the window, I curiously got out of bed early. As I peaked out, I found a beautiful misty morning reflecting the early light off the orange and yellow trees outside. What a wonderful way to be greeted by Fall.

Another beauty of Fall is the beginning of semesters and students heading back into their schools with a clean slate ahead of them. What was unusual for Thai and I was that this fall also held a blank slate for us as we entered into a new season with the Luke18 Project.

I was excited as the season started off strong at KU and UMKC, so many things we've written in past blogs were gifts confirming God's loving intention to awaken His campuses to prayer and the adventure of seeking Him first and solely.

As Directors of Luke18's Campus Prayer Movement, we joined our field staff, Joma Okwambua and Katie VanDerwerf, this month in Minnesota. Graciously, God has given us a huge burden for prayer on university campuses, and yet we are still wrapping our minds around how to effectively pioneer campus prayer movements. But I was overwhelmed at how much my heart tapped into His as we spent time in the Twin Cities and learned more of His heart for prayer in that specific region.

We witnessed the open doors and invitations that Joma and Katie have been given to see prayer unite the region. Students would just pop up in Katie's path, asking her for help to get prayer initiated on their campuses. Favor would go before Joma as she stepped back onto her alma mater, North Central University, from students to the president of the university. We grew more and more excited as we sat in a round table with student leaders from 3 major universities, North Central, Bethel, Northwestern Universities, who wanted to lock arms in prayer, together.

I was excited, until our last night in town, when we showed up to a regional prayer meeting Katie and Joma planned. It was set to be at Northwestern, in one of their new prayer rooms decorated by the students themselves. Expectations were set that maybe 10 students would show, maybe 20 if everyone who said yes, really came. But that night about 55 students packed into the room, worshiped for about an hour and then broke up into groups praying for their schools, I was caught in my own dismay and moved to tears.

I loved it and though we've met many people in the Twin Cities who talked about how difficult it was to develop unity between schools, races, and denominations, we were seeing it take place right before our eyes and it was beautiful.

I think I secretly thought, I wanna stay here! Until, quickly the Lord reminded me that His desire is to use our team to see this nationwide. And in that case, I wanna stay serving in my assignment at IHOP and continue to pray this into reality.

Will you join me, as the fall semester hits the mid point, to pray for a greater grace to encounter our students to seek Him first, seek Him solely and see Him move students all over the nation to gather in hunger and prayer!

-angela-

Week of 24/5 Prayer & National Coming Out Week @ U of Missouri—KC!

2008-10-07T23:42:00.005-05:00

This week at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), there is a tent set up in the middle of campus where students will be gathering around the clock to pray for UMKC. For 5 days this week, five ministries have each adopted 24 hours of prayer where students will take shifts around the clock in the prayer tent to believe God for spiritual awakening & revival on their campus.

But our prayer tent was not the only 24-hour tent to be found on the UMKC quad... an LGBT student group, Queers & Allies, had also rented & set up a 24-hour tent on the quad for the National Coming Out Week where students are encourged to "come out of the closet" about their homosexuality. What an interesting "coincidence": two 24-hour tents, one for godly prayer and the other for gay pride, to be set up across from each other on the same week on the same campus!

So last night, Angela & I were hosting an evening shift at the prayer tent. We were struck by the strange reality of us sitting in a prayer tent at UMKC across from a gay pride tent. We didn't know what to make of it, but we knew that if we were there, we were going to pray... So pray we did that God would break into the homosexual community at UMKC with His love and that revival on campus would start there. Next thing we know, a young lady walks across the quad from the gay pride tent to our prayer tent! In the next half hour, she starts opening up her heart and sharing about the challenges of her life. We end up getting to share the Gospel with her and praying for her. It was SO powerful!

And this was just the first night too. I believe what God is doing at UMKC this week is going to become a normal reality in Christian communities on college campuses — where prayer becomes the paramount priority of all ministry and where prayer is no longer just a "good idea" but a critical necessity. Please continue to pray for UMKC, this week of 24/5 prayer, and the homosexual community that we've had the privilege of reaching out to.

Co-laboring with you,
-thai & angela-

Three students from our new KU prayer furnace get baptized!

2008-09-30T10:44:00.009-05:00

About 5 weeks ago, we planted a new prayer furnace at the University of Kansas starting with 5 student leaders. We started a weekly worship night to take students deeper in worship of and love for Jesus (1st Commandment: Loving God thru worship) and a weekly prayer meeting to train students in prayer & intercession (2nd Commandment: Loving others thru prayer).

Friday was a powerful night. We had nearly 40 people at our worship night encountering the Father's heart for them and passionately expressing their love, gratitude, and adoration to the King of Kings. One student present, Zack, had come the week prior for the first time who had never previously set foot in a Christian meeting. He came to our worship night, experienced the presence of God, and came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior a few days later!! Thank You, Jesus!!!

So Friday night, we planned a baptism for Zack after our worship night. As we finished our meeting, 2 other students, Nick & Katie, expressed their heart to also get baptized because of what God had done in their lives! So we made our way to a local apartment complex where 25 students huddled around the gate of a swimming pool to watch as 3 of their fellow students made a public declaration of their faith in the waters of baptism! It was SO powerful!!

God is really establishing a powerful work at KU. I believe that what God is establishing at KU will become a training center for those who are going to be sent to the ends of the earth to pioneer prayer & missions in the unchurched, unreached nations of the world!

Please continue to pray for the University of Kansas, for our team of student leaders, and for all the students that God has brought us to train and disciple. Pray that God would continue to draw hearts to Himself, reveal Jesus to them, and ruin them with superior pleasure of fully knowing & wholeheartedly pursuing Jesus Christ as Lord.

His,
-thai-

Some pictures from Friday's baptism:

Praying for Zack who just gave his life to Jesus...

Zack coming out of the waters of baptism!

Praying for Nick...

Nick freshly baptized!

Praying for Katie...

Katie getting baptized!

Thai, Zack, Katie, Nick. Congratulations!

50 Days until theCall California...

2008-09-12T10:54:00.009-05:00

"As California goes, so goes the nation..."
—Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco

This is the time for our light to break forth like the dawn! The church is not at the mercy of political decrees of destruction; Jesus alone is the Lord of history! I believe God is calling for the church, through the weapons of prayer and fasting, to act as an agent of righteous revolution in order to displace kings and overthrow their immoral decrees of destruction.

Therefore, we are summoning believers from all across the state of California, as well as those from surrounding states, to gather for a Joel 2 moment. When there is no remedy, when there is no natural hope, God still has a holy prescription. Blow the trumpet in Zion, gather the people, and call a fast. Let pastors and leaders gather to cry out to God for a move of repentance & prayer and a great spiritual awakening. We believe the harvest is ripe and that God is not done with the state that has spawned so many moves of God.

If your heart burns and resonates with this sound, mobilize your communities and fan the flames of prayer! We must strike, strike, and strike again. I am daring to believe that history will speak of 2008 as the year of a great prayer reformation that launched the greatest harvest in history. Why not?

Let the believers of California gather and cry out to God believing that California could become the flash point of real change in America not the open door to societal collapse. Let us return to fasting, prayer and seeking the face of God at theCall California on November 1^st, 2008 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA.

In twenty years we will say to our children and grandchildren that we were there when stadiums were filled with fasting and prayer and the Lord responded with mercy and power once again.

Pray for Sarah Palin, Christian VP Candidate

2008-09-04T19:07:00.006-05:00

Regardless of your political background, I think this video will encourage you to see the heart of one of the candidates running for Vice President in the upcoming election. Here, Governor Sarah Palin is exhorting the graduating class for Master's Commission in Wasilla, Alaska this past June. Please pray that she would maintain the fear of the Lord and her life in God in the midst of political pressures and that Jesus would give her a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God and would enlighten the eyes of her heart so that she would know the hope of His calling for her (Ephesians 1:17-18 (the verse she prayed over the graduating class :) ).

-thai-

TheCall Journey: Thai's Highlights

2008-08-28T19:25:00.000-05:00

By 10am, there were already 50,000 people gathered on the National Mall in DC.

And by mid-day, the crowds grew to 70,000...

Lou Engle leading the nation in prayer: "Jesus, I plead your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America."

Facedown in repentance crying out for God's mercy...

"God, would you break into my heart..."

Standing in silent intercession for the the voiceless unborn with red "LIFE" on our mouths...

The Luke18 tent - sharing the vision of catalyzing, equipping & resourcing young pioneering leaders to plant prayer furnaces on their college campuses and eventually to the ends of the earth.

Ange & I with friends from Alabama who were helping us at the Luke18 tent...

70,000 people. 12 hours of prayer & fasting.
"God, You are the only hope for our nation..."

Now, we are back home in Kansas City changed. We are assuming our new role as the Directors of Campus Prayer Movement with the Luke18 Project. And God has indelibly marked us with a new burden to see a young generation who burn for the burdens of God's heart and who stand in passionate intercession and eager expectation to see God's Kingdom come and His will be done on their campuses, in our nation, and on earth as it is in heaven. Father, would You make the reality of theCall more than a event but a sustained Luke 18:1-8 lifestyle of prayer & fasting until we see the fullness of Your will done.

-thai-

TheCall Journey: Ange's Reflections...

2008-08-28T14:25:00.005-05:00

August 16th, was really powerful. About 50,000 people gathered in D.C. at the National Mall. Like many big events, a lot takes place in the days building up to it. After two weeks of praying in front of the Supreme Court, praying around D.C. and training the Luke18 interns, we were all in a daze at 7am when we made our way to the subway.

I was sleep deprived and a little cranky as Thai and I carried banners and flyers on the subway and around town to get to our Luke18 booth at the Mall. After setting up I became encouraged, as hundreds had already found their place for prayer even 90 minutes before the corporate prayer started. Awesome friends and loved ones began praying for me, because I didn’t want exhaustion to steal the beauty of what God had in store for the day. And He did!

In about 30 minutes after their prayers, my heart was revived, and my energy was pushed by the simple joy of being part of a special day… and so it began.

Starting with worship from unknown singers, we began to corporately praise God from the grass before the Capital Building. The hours seemed to fly by as we began to pray over our nation and all the different ethnic groups within the U.S. that they would walk in their full destiny. A time was spent to pray for students and parents. There was a time when men prayed over young men a Father’s blessing.

Then we began to pray over our hearts, that God would clean us, as individuals, then as the Church, and then as a nation. We confessed our sins to each other, then prayed for each other. Then we launched into a prayer for the nation… that God would cover us with His blood, have mercy on us, end abortion and send revival to America.

It was extremely intense and exciting as we joined together, hand in hand in repentance and a corporate cry against the darkness our sin has allowed to reign in our nation. It was powerful.

On top of that, through the whole day, Thai and I worked together sharing the vision of Luke18 to many from across the nation who want to continue praying on their college campus & in their community subsequent to TheCall. It was awesome. Some students were encouraged and hungry to start, while others presented their needs as Christ is actively being pushed out of the academic world. God gave us divine appointments and even two beautiful college students who served us all day.

It was just a beautiful day of prayer, community, repentance, humility and victory.

My heart is now set in eager expectation when we gather again on behalf of California at theCall San Diego on November 1st. I can’t wait to do this again in our home state!

-Ange-

TheCall Journey: Pre-Call Highlights...

2008-08-15T20:08:00.004-05:00

TheCall begins in 9.5 hours... Can a nation be changed in one day? we ask. We will be gathering on the National Mall in our nation's capital with an expected 200,000 people crying out to heaven: "Jesus, we plead your blood over our sins and the sins of our nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America."

Please pray for us and join us in prayer as we stand in 12-hours of prayer & fasting for the future of our nation. You can login watch TheCall online or via GodTV on DirectTV Channel 365.

Here are a few pictoral highlights of the past few days leading up to TheCall:

Having some fun moments with our Luke18 interns while waiting for the DC Metro.

Angela & Thai on the subway on the way into DC.

A pre-PreCall rally with Luke18, YWAM DC, Justice House of Prayer & Awakening Teen Camp. Lou Engle inspiring our generation to prayer with MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech.

Several thousand gather at the PreCall Rally for worship, prayer & exhortation...

Angela & Thai having a God-moment at the PreCall Rally...

TheCall Journey: Day #8 / Day #9

2008-08-11T07:33:00.006-05:00

"Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the things your eyes saw, and lest these things depart your heart all the days of your life. And you shall make them known to your children, and to your children's children." —Deutoronomy 4:9

Ange & I got to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC this weekend where we saw this quote. I am almost speechless to describe the experience... But we spent nearly 5 hours there that we will not very quickly forget.

They say you always see history in 20/20 vision: it was devastating to relive the tragic story of World War II and especially to see such prolonged indifference to the horrific atrocities of the Holocaust. I wonder what I would have done if I lived in the midst of the Holocaust — would I have been one to risk my life to speak up, intervene, defend and protect those being unjustly persecuted? Or would I have been one who silently watched and secretly "thanked God" that it wasn't me being dragged to a death camp? I would hope that I would have been like Corrie ten Boom who, to the peril of her own family, saved many lives from the hands of the Nazi and brought them into the Kingdom of God. Lord, may we not turn a blind eye to injustice and may You break our hearts for what breaks Yours...

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—
And there was no one left to speak for me."

—Martin Niemoller (1892-1984), Lutheran minister & early Nazi supporter who was later imprisoned for opposing Hitler's regime

TheCall Journey : Day #6 / Day #7

2008-08-06T23:13:00.001-05:00

Well the last two days have honestly been the most intense yet… God is moving our hearts and teaching us a lot. For one, we have gotten exhausted from the schedule starting at 6am and going until 10pm or so. In our weakness, there are so many testimonies of grace. There’s grace to take a break, there’s grace to let someone else lead, there’s even grace to push back the schedule and allow for more rest!

But what has been encouraging is how we are all learning that though we are called to pray, serve and lead—the result doesn’t rise and fall on our performance. As intercessors, we don’t always have to be eloquent in our cry for mercy. As servants, we can take a night off and let someone else help. And as leaders, we don’t always have to be dynamic and high energy.

In the core of our weakness, though weakness is humbling and sometimes disappointing, we are learning that God’s glory is so much greater in our lack and need. And what’s resulted is even more amazing. Because we’re learning to cry out for help, our posture before Him is so much more open to His touch, His love, and His spirit to really move deep within us. It’s a reality that has brought a mixture of deep laughter and touching tears in our hearts.

We would really love your prayers for our team and us. As you read, please lift up:

~ Pray for a new grace and energy to cover the Luke18 leaders. As we build towards TheCall, pray for a greater level of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Pray we are sensitive to His touch personally and also for His insight as we pray. We need Him!

~ Pray for healing and strength and protection. We walk all over and stand for 2 hours in prayer at the Supreme Court daily. I stubbed my toes really hard on uneven pavement and a cord hidden in grass cut my ankle. Neither are serious injuries but these little things are happening to many on the team and as we walk and stand much of the day, our legs and feet are key and don’t need one more distraction of discomfort.

~ Pray for TheCall. Our part is to pray and soften the soil before hand, but there are many working on countless details I couldn’t even count. Ask the Lord to fuel the staff in these days before the event and for His grace to give them peace as they work out of the love that beams in their hearts to serve Jesus.

Each of you mean so much to us. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

~Ange~

TheCall Journey: Day #4 / Day #5

2008-08-04T23:41:00.008-05:00

What a two days it's been since we last posted! Yesterday, 25 Luke18 interns arrived into Washington, DC from around the country and some from across the globe. We have interns from as far as Israel, Sweden and South Africa, but most are from college campuses in the states (California, Washington, Massachusetts, Florida, Alabama, Missouri to name a few). They are here for 2 weeks to get hands-on training on developing a culture of prayer on their college campuses. These young, pioneering leaders are so passionate to know Jesus and so eager to see their campuses transformed by Jesus.

I have been SO stirred by this verse in 1 Samuel 14:6 — "And Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For there is nothing to prevent the Lord from saving by many or by few." I look at these zealous students and am challenged by the reality of this Scripture... God does not need the masses to save a college campus. God is looking for the many or the few whose hearts would be fully surrendered to Him who He could use to save a campus or a city and change the course of history.

I wanted to share some highlights to help give you a "picture" of what's going on:

Food for 45 people (25 interns, 20 staff) for 2 weeks!

Intern orientation breaks out into a prayer meeting!

Students being trained by veteran prayer leaders...

Ange & I having a little devotional time...

Putting training into practice: standing in front of the Supreme Court interceding for the end of abortion & revival in America.

Our evening "Rumble": a time of corporate worship & prayer.

Thank you for standing with us in faith. Please pray for our Luke18 interns that the next 2 weeks would be so beneficial and impacting in how they pursue Jesus and build His Kingdom on their college campus. We love and appreciate your friendship much!

-thai-

TheCall Journey : Day #3

2008-08-02T11:55:00.003-05:00

On February 2, Thai and I stood before hundreds of witnesses sharing words of love and devotion to each other, making a covenant for life. Many watched, smiled and took pictures. Today, six months later, we stood in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, silently praying words of love and mercy for America and for the ending of abortion. Many D.C. tourists watched, some smiled, some even took pictures. And then there were some who even joined us.

It didn't take as much boldness to stand as I thought. I think because we had prepared in prayer, seeking God's heart for the nation and it softened me to sense His delight in my standing before Him in prayer.

Our time was blessed and flew by as we interceded for America. It was really special standing next to my Groom as we prayed.

Highlight #3: As we stood, two teens (boy about 15 and girl about 13) and their parents watched from a distance for about 5 minutes. They walked away, and suddenly the teens came back, walking shyly directly to us. I thought they were going to ask what we were doing but they smiled real big at us and the boy patted each of us on the back, while the girl followed giving each of us a thumbs up. It was really precious.

I wanted to encourage them that though they don't stand with us, they too can make a difference in prayer. And this is true for you today. It is because of many of our readers and partners and friends, praying for us, supporting us, that Thai and I can be here.

So be encouraged, and pray with us today: Jesus, I plead your blood over my sins, and the sins of my nation. God end abortion and send revival to America.

You are with us, making a difference through prayer.

~Angela

TheCall Journey : Day #2

2008-08-01T23:08:00.006-05:00

We started Day 2 by visiting the original Justice House of Prayer (JHOP) located blocks from the Supreme Court & the Capital. It was where the prayer movement for the ending of abortion in America began. Every day, JHOPers will stand before the Supreme Court with red "LIFE" tape over their mouths in silent intercession: "Jesus, I plead your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God end abortion and send revival to America." [Watch an ABC news report on JHOP.] It was powerful.

It was a great way to start off our day, as we continue to seek God’s heart for our country. Over the next 2 weeks, we are going to join JHOP and spend a portion of every day with our Luke18 interns standing before the Supreme Court interceding for our nation and praying for the ending of abortion.

Highlight #2: This afternoon we visited a Christian man who has been praying for revival in America since he was in Korea during the Korean War in the 1950’s. It was amazing to sit with this very normal man who has devoted himself to prayer for our nation.

In the 80’s he moved his family to D.C. to help with the Reagan presidency, and has been here since. One young woman on our team asked him, “Is there anything you can share with us as we begin building furnaces of prayer on college campuses, from your years of intercession for America?”

He said, “Let me pray before I answer you [I smiled to myself]… It takes great prayer to see God change an atmosphere and bring an awakening. But I have learned that it takes even greater prayer to maintain the awakening and keep the ground God has won over the enemy. I have seen many intercessors cease their fervency, assuming the job is done, while really it is just a cracking open of what God has in mind. And without sustaining prayer, the battle is lost, leaving us to start over.”

This broke my heart as I saw myself as one of those intercessors. I am praying this solemn assembly called TheCall, will not just be an event but really a sparking charge changing my life to being one of continual prayer for America.

-thai & angela-

TheCall Journey: Day #1

2008-07-31T22:35:00.003-05:00

In the past month, we have driven nearly 60 hours on the interstates of America from California thru Nevada, Utah, Colorado & Kansas to get to Kansas City, Missouri (with a detour for a wedding in Michigan crossing Illinois & Indiana :). And at 10pm last night, we jumped in a Suburban with Luke18 staff and clocked another 20 hours from Kansas City to Washington, D.C. passing thru Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia & Maryland.

We got into Washington, D.C. around 7pm tonight and will be here for the next 2.5 weeks with the Luke18 Project helping with the Summer Leadership Training Program for college students from across the country who want to be trained in how to pioneer & build a culture of prayer in their college campus community. The 2-week intensive will culminate with The Call DC which will gather a few hundred thousand Christians on the National Mall of DC for a day of prayer & fasting for America.

Personally, I (Angela) have been looking forward to this trip because of the challenging ways we will be able to take a stand for America.

Highlight #1: As we were approaching D.C. we each began to share our thoughts about the week ahead as we prepare for The Call DC. Some of our group had clear expectations of the next two weeks and others, like me, felt excited but also unable to imagine what the days ahead would hold.

So a young woman in our group suggested that we pray and just seek God’s heart for what He desires out of our time here. Simple yet profound. It was awesome though as we began to pray together, acknowledging our need and desire for Him and even asking for His heart in this experience.

The atmosphere in the car totally shifted as we were all encouraged and even some of us began to cry. I was so touched just by God’s love for America and passion to see justice and truth reign. It was a powerful moment that led me to worship Him in my heart.

This was a huge way to enter the D.C. Area. Now we are here, getting ready for bed, but our hearts arrived here in a position of yielding to God that makes us hopeful for what He has in store tomorrow.

-thai & angela-

Recent Developments...

2008-07-24T17:54:00.002-05:00

Recently, an IHOP intercessor went to Myanmar where she is originally from and has been gaining huge favor with the government. God has mightily used her to initiate significant relief efforts and major reconstruction projects after the devastating cyclone that hit the country killing over 100,000 people.

We have been focusing many hours of prayer over her, her husband & children, and the devastated country. It’s been intense and overwhelming, but our faith is growing to see God’s Good News and Truth comfort & redeem the broken nation of Myanmar. For more information, please visit www.ilovemyanmar.org.

We have been asked to pray about committing to Luke18 Project as our full-time ministry assignment after our IHOP training & orientation is completed. The Luke18 Project trains young people how to start and build a Prayer Furnace on their college campus. A Prayer Furnace is a simple term meaning a community of students praying and fasting for revival and transformation of their campus and in their city.

We are pasboth sionate about young people, prayer & missions, and seeing God move on the university campuses of America. We are sensing this is where God is leading us to commit full-time, but please join us in praying for God’s confirmation and in praying for the people of Myanmar.

Lastly, we started a new blog called Personally Lam — we'll post more personal updates about how we are & developments in our new life here in Kansas City. The Lam-ily Update will be primarily our ministry updates.

Love,
-thai & angela-

A new heart in prayer...

2008-07-09T16:18:00.001-05:00

I know I have been not only busy but also a bit hesitant to post since our arrival. How do I describe our first days here? They are somewhat normal—because they involve us :o) But everything we do and all that we are both learning and see happening in our hearts is so new.

We began our orientation/training and time in the prayer room with what we thought was a blank slate. Yet as we spend more time in prayer so many snags in our hearts have come to the surface and have been touched by God’s truth.

I have been challenged to lay down a lot of fears about the unknowns in our future here and even my own fear of failing or rejection as we meet so many new people. It’s difficult to admit, let alone face, but even during our first prayer meeting God encouraged my soul with Psalm 84:11:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

An old California friend commented on my & Thai’s appearance being different after only a week of being here. I responded, “I know I am not a completely different person, but my heart has definitely been undone as I have spent more and more time in prayer.”

Praise God for He is our bright light to lead us in times of change and transition, as He shields us from the enemy who lies with fears about what “could” be ahead. Thank God for His provision of grace and community in a new city, for He would never abandon us of His love.

Angela

600 Down, and 1200 To Go!

2008-06-23T01:59:00.001-05:00

Some people say Californians can’t drive in snow, but today we drove thru flying salt!

After 600 miles and 9 hours of driving, we arrived safely into Salt Lake City tonight surviving our first “salt storm” through the Utah salt flats. As we got into Utah, we discovered the infamous salt flats (that strikingly looks like snow) where motorists will stop to “graffiti” messages into the salt. We decided to pull-off the highway to leave a message of our own… Well, as we were collecting rocks to leave our mark on Interstate 80, the winds began to pick up, and next thing we know, we are being engulfed by a “salt storm” (I don’t know what they are actually called). It felt like a sand storm except with flying salt! Reminiscent of the movie Twister, we quickly rushed back to our car as we were being overtaken by this massive cloud of salt… The next 20 minutes were spent slowly driving in zero visibility thru salt “fog”… A very unnerving experience for the California driver! Thankfully, we made it safely into Salt Lake City with a salty cheetah-spotted car.

It is starting to feel real… Today, Ange & I drove further outside California on Highway 80 than we’ve ever gone. Passing that mark was an emotional moment for us…there really is no turning back now. Sometimes to see God do things in your life that you’ve never seen before, you have to go where you’ve never gone. Thank you for standing with us in faith as we make this big transition in our lives. We love and appreciate you so much and will dearly miss seeing you regularly. But we are grateful that we can keep in touch over the Internet. Until the next post…

-thai-