The front page of a recent USA Today article quoted a research project stating that 70% of Christian young people stop attending church by age 23. Tragic. My prayer is that you will not be a part of that 70%. Instead, may you finish your college years with a heart fully alive in God. So, how will you establish yourself in your faith so that you thrive during your college years? Many colleges across the nation are encouraging students to take a year off of college to do something that stirs up passion within them. Well, as Christians, wouldn’t it be great to take a year to cultivate a strong devotional life, reach young people, lead prayer meetings, study the Scriptures, and go overseas? Think DLA. Over ten years ago, Renata and I established this collegiate prayer ministry as

the center of everything we do. Today, we call that program DLA Missional Track. It’s a

12 hour per week discipleship program that empowers students to be

authentic missionaries of the gospel on college campuses and

work places. Seven years ago, we established a full time program focusing students to take a year to focus their lives on Jesus while leading their generation. Whether you go 12 hours per week or full time, consider moving to beautiful Colorado for a year to grow in passion for God, intercession for a generation, consecration of heart and Jesus’ mission for the world. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

One Heart.Two Tracks.

Which will you choose?

719.234.7711 | WeAreDLA.com

thursday 9:15pm

info meeting

in the Lounge outside the

Furnace Prayer Room

- David Perkins

missional12 hours/week

full-timeEquipping young adults in pursuit of education

or career with the tools to live on mission through prayer, discipleship, and community to

lead in their environment.

Missional track +empowerment through hands-on ministry training and

service to lead in the area that God is calling you.

leadership

12 hours per week: Prayer meetings, weekly

accountability, leadership, corporate service, and New Life

Church services.

Full-time:MISSIONALtrack + daily God times, theology classes, and ministry training.

Requirements

Tuition$1,100 includes DLA retreats,

theMill or DSM retreat, one Desperation Tour, apparel,

books, guest speakers, and banquets

$5,900 includes: MISSIONALtrack + classes and books, overseas missions trip, Desperation Tours, ski retreat, white water rafting, boating trip, and more.

Spiritual disciplinesDevotional & Intercessory PrayerRelational and Leadership Skills

Practical & Godly Living

Bible doctrine and leadership classes(credit available through The King’s University) Practical ministry training and development

Training

Home Sponsors’ provide room and board.

Not IncludedSchool and/or work required

Room & Board

2001

2003

2004

2005

2006

1st Furnace Prayer Meeting

Nights of Desperation Begin

Desperation begins full-time program

Missions to Thailand

Missions to Israel

1st Desperation Conference

2002

Furnace begins doing missions abroad: India

2003

There is a movement happening across the globe. Young people who are living for something

bigger than themselves. They are determined to begin with eternity in mind. It’s happening from the smallest rooms to the largest stadiums. What is it? Prayer, night and day prayer. Or at least it begins with prayer; where it ends has still yet to be seen.

Over-dramatic? I don’t think so. There are stories of young people gathering to pray all over the world. It was 2001, when I moved to Colorado to join a group of crazy 20-somethings who started the prayer meetings that eventually led to the Desperation Conference. We called them Furnace prayer meetings because we wanted prayer to fuel everything we did. I joined this movement because I believed in prayer; I also knew that I needed to be around people pas-sionate for Jesus who would stoke the flame in my own heart. As a burning ember needs another burning ember to remain hot, I knew that I needed friends that would chal-lenge me, help me and inspire me to know Jesus more. What we now call the DLA Missional Track pro-vided me wwwith friends that remain some of my closest in the world.

The prayer meetings that started then have not stopped for over 10 years. In addition to praying cor-porately daily, this past year, the Furnace Prayer Room started going around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The primary reason that we endeavor to fill the day with prayer and worship is because Jesus

is worth it. He is worth our time, our effort, our all. We live in a 24 hour society. Whatever you need or want is available to you 24 hours a day; so why not prayer and worship.

Not only is he worth it, but it matters. It really matters. When you look throughout history one common denominator between great moves of God is that there were young people at the core praying. I am inspired by these men and women. Their stories move me, challenge me and equip me. I don’t want to settle, but I want to go where they have gone.

One story that has been a huge piece in laying our foundations is that of the Moravian prayer meeting in Herrnhut, Germany. In 1727, a band of refugees who escaped persecution for their faith, united together to pray. They determined that prayer would burn at the heart of their commu-nity, so they divided themselves to pray in succession around the clock. The prayer meeting lasted 100 years!

After praying for God to move, they were quickly called to become the answers to their own prayers. What started as a prayer move-ment became a missions move-ment. Many went, giving all, to advance the gospel. Their anthem was simple, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suf-fering.” During the 100 year prayer meeting, over 2000 missionaries were sent out from this little village that started with just 300 refugees.

James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Today, any kid with a few hundred bucks in their pocket and a dream of seeing the gospel advanced all over the world, can come to Colorado and DLA to join the prayer movement, spend a year drawing close to the Lord, and find their place in His story.

Prayer is where this thing begins, but where does it end? Worship; it is about our King receiv-ing the worship that he deserves from every tongue, tribe and nation.

May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!

Draw Close to Goddan perkins

2008

2009

2010

2010

Missions to Africa

Beginning of Furnace Prayer Room - 18 hrs

Furnace Prayer Room goes night and day

Begin revival prayer tours to Herrnhut, Germany & UK

DLA merges to two tracks: Missional

(formerly known as the Furnace) and Leadership.

Missions to China, Tibet, & Nepal

2007

First night and day prayer effort - 1 week

2008

2011

In Jeremiah, God says, “I will give you Shepherds after my own heart that will lead the people with

knowledge and understanding.” In this passage, God is equating leaders with shepherds. Shepherds in Jeremiah’s day were somewhat looked down upon. They were in a very humble position and their job was to tend the flock. In fact, shepherds would sacrifice much; even risk their own life for the flock of sheep they were tending. We see in King David’s story that he fought a bear and a lion in defense of the flock. One application to our day is that a leader is one willing to sacrifice for the purposes of growing in God and impacting a generation. Too many students are considering how to accomplish what THEY want for THEMSELVES after high school; most often chasing money, success, and an overall comfortable American lifestyle. If you feel called by God, whether in business, medical, political, ministry or whatever area, it will take sacrifice in order to advance the kingdom of God.

The parable of the talents in the Bible is about people that were given a deposit from God, and the story reveals how they either invested or wasted that deposit. You have been given a deposit by God, what are you doing with it? If there is one result I have seen from students that have come to DLA LEADERSHIP track it’s that the sacrifice they’ve given in order to raise money and spend a year in training was returned to them

ten-fold. DLA LEADERSHIP track is an environment that allows students to increase their depth in God far more than attempting to on their own.

DLA LEADERSHIP track will give you opportunity to be exposed to ministry like never before. You will gain hands on ministry training, spend time in theology and Christian living classes, and be transformed by God in the house of prayer. This Academy is not just for those looking to go into ministry but for anyone wanting to:

• Develop genuine community • Grow in your relationship

with God • Learn the Bible • Do ministry • Go on missions • Build life-long friendships • Lead High School Students • Preach the Gospel • Get an accredited education • Snowboard/Ski the

Colorado Mountains • Lead prayer meetings • Hear from top Christian leaders

Our goal is that the year you spend in DLA LEADERSHIP track will be the best year of your life. You will grow in God, have a ton of fun, and become a LEADER in your generation! Consider joining us this year for the time of your life!

Lead a Generationtyrel koenes

Draw Close to God