From Ray Simpson, Guardian of the International Community of Aidan and Hilda:
Punk Monk: new monasticism and the ancient art of breathing by Andy Freeman and Pete Greig (Regal 2007 253 pages)
Our friends take the story of the TwentyFour Seven prayer movement on to the emergence of Boiler Houses – so called because prayer is kept on the boil in centres where devotion and hospitality are lived in some sort of community. The Boiler House at Reading was on the site of the ancient abbey, which in 1164 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, dedicated ‘to the worship of God for ever and ever’. Boiler Houses, have emerged in Staines, Manchester, Germany and USA though some seem to be on temporary lease.
The authors link this movement with the new monasticism. They suggest that nearly every major monastic movement began as a violent reaction to compromised religion. However, they reject those aspects of traditional monasticism that seem to them extra-biblical, such as extreme asceticism, spiritual elitism or unhealthy introversion .They make frequent references to Celtic monasticism. Inspired by Scripture and the ancient Celtic monasteries they compiled a list of six essential Boiler Room practices: 1. Prayer 2. Pilgrimage and hospitality 3. Learning 4. Creativity 5. Mission 6.Justice. They seek to keep a daily, a weekly and a monthly rhythm of prayer; for example, the same group may come at the same period each week, or the first Sunday of each month might be 24/7 prayer.
There is an extra-ordinary resonance between what the authors write and what we are committed to. However, much of this is still only a dream. A movement that lasts needs three kinds of leadership: strategic visionary, effective operational, and warming inter-personal. Can we all learn in time?
From the November 2007 newsletter of Fresh Expressions:
24/7 Prayer publication out
I really enjoyed meeting Andy Freeman and Pete Greig of the 24/7 Prayer Movement a few weeks ago. Their new book, Punk Monk, explores the creation of 24/7 communities – Boiler Rooms – following a contemporary monastic pattern. It’s very thought provoking and highly recommended.
From Amazon reviewers:
Like most of us, I have shelves groaning with books purporting to give me this tip or that key to making my church larger and healthier. A small percentage of those books recommend intense (e.g., 24-7) prayer. Of those, I believe Punk Monk to be the best.
In this book, British authors Andy Freeman and Pete Greig describe how God led them to establish a Christian community based on regular prayer. (That's the "breathing" part.) This group has grown to a worldwide network of "boiler rooms." (Visit http://www.boiler-rooms.com/ for a list of these communities.)
This book is a must-read for everyone who believes (along with John Wesley) that "God does nothing except in answer to prayer". If you want to see God change your church, and your world, read Punk Monk!
Yours aye in Christ,
Michael Morgan, Ph.D.
Teaching Pastor
The Gathering Place
Pomona, Calif.
From around the blogs:
Talking About a Revolution says in part:
As I was reading the book on the train last night, I had that familiar
prickling feeling on the back of my neck, as I again caught the passion
for this stuff. For places of passionate prayer and compassionate
service, for lives of intimacy grounded in acts of love and mercy... I
remembered why God had called me to get stuck in to this boiler room
thing, back when I had no idea what a boiler room was and I had no idea
where Wandsworth was.
Anamachara says in part:
Boiler Rooms are part of the neo-monastic movement; as such, they are
entirely new and dare I say cutting edge expressions of the impulse
toward creating Christian community, but respectful and honoring of
other holy expressions of intentional faith community over the ages,
from the early Celtic monasteries to the Benedictine and Franciscan
traditions, to Protestant communal movements such as the Moravians.
Like other neo-monastic groups, the 24-7 Boiler Rooms combine zeal for
prayer with a willingness to do ministry in unconventional ways. for
these punk monks, this means reaching out to urban teens and young
adults who might be strung out on drinking or drugs, embroiled in a
life of petty crime, or simply so immersed in the skater/goth/punk
culture that something like monasticism (or, for that matter,
Christianity in general) would seem irrelevant if not totally stupid.
....
Punk Monk, however, offers hope
that monasticism is not going to die out any time soon, and that it can
still be relevant to the young. We just need to be prepared to accept
the fact that the monk of the future just might be covered with tattoos.
From a letter to the author:
Dear Andy
I hope you & the family are well.
I have just finished reading your Punk Monk book & want to thank you for writing it & sharing so openly about your experiences. As the 'uncool' mum of 3 'cool' girls, I was not privy to the whys & wherefores of the Boiler Room & 24/7 workings while it was in Reading. Somehow I never really 'got it' - do you
understand? And all the more so because it seemed to be aimed at that next generation with whom we were struggling at home! But your book has illuminated & explained it all is a beautiful & clear way & I can say a loud 'Amen' to what the Lord has been doing in those holy places.
On a personal level your teasing out & re-weaving in of the Celtic & monastic threads in a way that does not compromise the Scriptures makes total sense to me with my Irish RC convent-educated heritage. I had pulled away from that area for a long time - long story! - but your book has helped me to make clearer sense of that part of me & to see it in a much more positive light. So a big 'thank you' from me!"
~ Deidre
The Ibiza community is headed up by Brian and Tracey Heasley and is a year-round community, which serves as a base for a large number of summer missions. Due to the nature of the community, there is an emphasis on the creative, with DJs and dancers as part of their team. They have a new building that allows them more space to minister to the workers of Ibiza and have a prayer room. Ibiza is known for its young tourist population that come for the clubbing lifestyle. Ministry to the visitors (particularly in the summer) involves praying with people on the streets (and in the clubs), helping people in distress and generally blessing the community. Early missions in this area are in Red Moon Rising and they are now in the process of building a more long term community and ministry in the area.
The Colchester Boiler Room is very active in prayer rooms, the town prayer net, prayer trips and "street pastoring". In addition, they have community feasts that look like a lot of fun. Their blog is full of their latest news and activities.
Located in Minneapolis, MN (USA) The Source is a community alive with the arts, outreach to at risk youth and urban subculture, prayer, and training. They are exploring celtic traditions, urban culture and moravian history of prayer. They meet together throughout the week for study, prayer, outreach and community meals. Their website reflects their arts and urban youth focus and is full of great pictures and information on their work in downtown Minneapolis.
The Guildford Boiler Room have been busy this year. Last fall the Guildford House of Prayer was launched, joining together with the Church in Guildford to cover one week of every month in prayer. This spring the 24-7 Prayer Spaces podcast was launched. The Boiler Room website has information on how this boiler room developed, a calendar of upcoming events, resources for God's Story, pictures and (soon to be) downloads of teachings.
Located in Egham, UK on the edge of Windsor Great Park, this boiler room grew out of the East to West ministry and was previously located in Staines. Meeting regularly on Monday and Thursday, this community keeps a regular blog full of stories, poetry and pictures.