Over 200 gathered in Ipswich for a day of praise, prayer, teaching and an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new friends too. For Tom Scrivens, elder at Hope Church Ipswich and founder of the Sent Generation movement, the wait had been long but worth it! “We were PUMPED to gather young adults together again at Sent 2022 - and what a day we had!”

For many, it was the first large gathering they had attended since the pandemic. Mikka Parker, student worker at Redeemer Church Colchester, was thrilled that SENT was back. “I was so excited that we'd get to take a group of students and twenties from our church - we've got loads of new people in our ranks that haven't been to many things like this before, and it's the first thing we've gone to together in a long time.”

One member of the prayer team was particularly touched. “It was the first time I've been in worship like that since the pandemic and I loved it! It was so good seeing all those young people going after God.”

Tom picks up the story: “God was so kind to us. As has been the case with SENT over the years, we had our heads well and truly lifted by God: lifted afresh to King Jesus, lifted afresh to His big purposes in the world and lifted afresh to what complete surrender to Him and living for His glory could look like for us. This was so timely in a period where we feel like we are constantly stepping out of one worldwide crisis and right into another.”

Tom Scrivens has a big vision for this future generation of leaders and pioneers

What could God do in a day?

Unlike previous years SENT 2022 was a one day event, but the team were convinced that God could and would move in powerful ways - and throughout the day He was speaking on themes of His faithfulness, unchanging nature and desire to connect afresh with His people.

During one response time, a word was shared about people having a real burden for prayer for Ukraine. Three people responded; one of whom had previously received a word about intercessory prayer six years ago. She had been weeping over the news from Ukraine, but also battling with God because she didn't want this burden to pray - but in courage and obedience responded to the word and was hugely encouraged when her own name was called out as part of it. It’s amazing when God speaks so directly!

From the very first session attendees were already hearing from Him - and not just the delegates! Mikka was hugely encouraged after a whirlwind of activity to get students along to the event. “In the run-up to the event I was praying, but also did lots of messaging, voice-noting, lift-arranging, pastry-buying… Anything to get our young people there, encouraging them to be expectant that God might speak to them!

“But in that first main session, in the first five minutes, it wasn't just relief I felt that we were finally there, but God spoke to me saying, ‘I'm glad you're here, not just for the people you brought, but for you.' It was great to then worship freely and step out in how I express that to God.”

Mikka’s experience was replicated in other attendees. Esteban Ocana was one student she brought along, who was powerfully helped by a shift in perspective. “During the first main session of Sent, I felt He was calling me to not be so introspective about my faith but to be outspoken, fearless and to share without worrying about covering the whole of His grandeur - after all, no human efforts could accomplish such a feat! So I asked for more opportunities to go out and talk about Him to people.”

Little did he know how quickly God would answer that prayer! “I had signed up to a seminar called ‘Sharing Jesus’, which I thought was merely a presentation and tips on how to share Jesus. While there was some of that, the next step of the session was to go out on the streets and ask people questions about hope, and share something of the Gospel with them!

“I felt like this was a direct answer to my thoughts and prayers, so I took the lead in my group - despite never having shared the Gospel in this manner. It was challenging at first, but near the end we were able to talk with and pray for a guy named Alex. It was reassuring to know and to remember that His message wasn't up to me - what I did or did not know, it was up to God.”

Sent 2022 was a fresh reminder to us that the Christian life is one of total surrender to God

Stepping out in faith

The ‘Sharing Jesus’ serminar was not the only opportunity for attendees to take a risk and try something new. 'Hearing from God’ was also an option, where many attendees were able to step out in the prophetic for the first time. Simone Wertegaal, who led the seminar alongside a team from Peterborough, shares how they were able to equip around 50 young people in hearing from God and pray for lots of them: “We saw quite a number of them set free from things they’ve been stuck in for a long time.”

One team member, Annie, saw many step out into the prophetic for the first time. “We led small groups in a listening-to-God activity. Each person was encouraged to step out to share a word for the person next to them using an image from a selection of postcards. This was new territory for most, yet it was amazing as several responded that a word shared did indeed speak into their situation.”

Her team member Jo saw similar results in her group: “One member of the group didn't feel that she had anything encouraging to share and felt like she was making up, but as she shared it with the girl it was intended for, the girl burst into tears because it was so accurate! Both were so encouraged.”

Tola, another member of the team, was reminded freshly of the importance of the prophetic: “I had the opportunity to pray with 3 young people after I shared a word with them. It spoke to them in different ways but was quite specific to each person, relating to their identity in Christ. It was just a beautiful experience and underpins the fact that we do need each other.”

Wouter and Simone Vertegaal shared a powerful story of God’s faithfulness

advancing god’s church

Hearing Wouter and Simone Vertegaal share their pioneer story with us was another highlight. Currently at Life Church Peterborough, the Vertegaal family will soon move to Nijmegen in the Netherlands with a team from all over the world to start a church plant. We had the privilege of hearing their inspiring story of risk-taking faith and surrender, and following Wouter’s challenging sermon on being living sacrifices (listen here), SENT delegates were able to respond immediately by sowing into an offering for the future church plant.

The result was inspiring! “We managed to raise £5000 for Plant Nijmegen and we’re excited to see that plant grow and take shape in the years to come,” says Tom, “What a day - thank you Lord!”

In our final session we were also able to gather and pray for the Nijmegen church plant and two other RM pioneering situations: Matt and Helene Spocchia’s gospel plant on the Isle of Sheppey, and Joel, Dan and Adam's church plant in Seoul, Korea. It’s wonderful to see how SENT was an opportunity to both engage with God on a personal level, but also lift our eyes beyond ourselves to what He is doing aorund the world.

Looking ahead

We know that though an event comes to an end, God continues to work. Many seeds were planted at SENT 2022 and we can only imagine the fruit to come! In fact, Tom is already aware of many ‘new beginnings’ from the day. “I’m hearing stories of people giving their lives to Jesus, of others praying out loud for the first time in our prayer session, and others sensing the call to nations.”

Mikka can’t wait to catch up with her group. “It was great seeing our students and twenties get to know each other better, hear from God for one another, pray together and wrestle with the things they were hearing. I'm looking forward to more conversations with them in the coming weeks and months about what God said and did at SENT, and how they're investing in and pursuing their part to play.”

Plans are now afoot for a special New Year’s event of prayer, fasting and feasting around the 31 December 2022 - 1 January 2023. If any students and twenties are excited by the idea they should let the team know.