Wild Goose is a unique opportunity to intern with one of 24-7′s nationally recognised leaders… placements are currently available with members of the UK teams supporting prayer, communities and operations, with Boiler Room community leaders, and with other key leaders in smaller communities (all placements are worked out in relationship with, and supported by the UK team).

Wild Goose is mostly for people who already have a connection with, or a sense of calling into the 24-7prayer movement in some way… for those who want to walk and work and live more closely with this wild global movement, in practical day-to-day ways.

It’s not always exciting. Sometimes it’s hard work. Sometimes it’s boring and frustrating and challenging… but Christ is in and over and through all these things as well, and our aim with Wild Goose is to learn together how to find and hear Christ in and over and through all things. In working with the 24-7 leaders… in other part-time work that the intern takes on… in study and reading… in mission and adventure as well as in rest and retreat-times… even in play.

And this is why we prefer to describe, and why it is probably better to understand and approach Wild Goose, as a pilgrimage rather than a training course. Unlike other training courses, it doesn’t rely much on regular classroom learning, but in regular reflection… alone and with others, in journalling, and in conversation with the 24-7 leader (or ‘coach’).

The Wild Goose journey/adventure is unique to each intern, shaped by them and the 24-7 leader they’re walking and working with. In many ways it is unpredictable and flexible… although there is usually some convergence with other interns – books to explore together, national gatherings and events to participate in, and around three week-long ‘retreat-style’ visits with Boiler Room communities (and perhaps elsewhere… previous year’s interns experienced an unforgettable five days on Lindisfarne/Holy Island in Northumberland as well as visits with the Guildford and Standford Boiler Room communities).

We consider Wild Goose to be a novice year. This doesn’t mean that intern’s existing experience and skills aren’t important. It just means that Wild Goose is a learning year… with the emphasis on learning through active reflection (stop, look, listen, think). For those who are interested, there will be opportunities to continue learning and living with 24-7 prayer beyond the Wild Goose internship.

Here’s a rough summary. Wild Goose;

• is a discipleship, apprenticeship, learning journey.

• is one-on-one. It is one intern with one 24-7 leader/coach.

• is life-on-life. It isn’t simply about learning particular skills… it is about working together and walking together. And it’s a two-way learning experience… both intern and 24-7 leader coach must be open to learning and transformation.

• is about shadowing, not simple volunteering.

• is about prayer and reflection. The learning philosophy is based around the idea that we do not truly learn through experience (good, bad, classroom, practical, etc.), but through reflecting on experience (stop, look, listen, think)… and through choosing paths of transformation from that reflection, in co-operation with Holy Spirit.

• is part-time. Interns need to have 2/3 days available to walk and work with the 24-7 leader/coach, and must also have some kind of part-time work or volunteering to fill the rest of the week. (Learning to reflect on work-life, and to transform it, is just as much part of the Wild Goose year as the time with the 24-7 leader/coach).

• is relatively cost-free. Interns need to be financially self-sufficient, and they are responsible for their own food, accommodation and living costs (which is why it is often best to participate in Wild Goose in the intern’s home-location). They also need to be prepared to cover their own travel, books, etc. during the Wild Goose journey, and to contribute roughly £500, which will help pay for the Boiler Room community retreats, plus cover some small admin costs. (£100 will be payable at the start of the Wild Goose journey, the rest as the retreats come up.)

• is costly… for interns and for 24-7 leaders/coaches. Wild Goose is a commitment to learn and listen and be transformed and risk and give and live and love and reach higher and run faster and dig deeper and grow in the fruit of Holy Spirit and in the Three Loves. This is a costly grace!

• is part of 24-7′s learning field. Wild Goose will take place within the boundaries of 24-7′s global vision for prayer, mission and justice through communities.

What the Wild Gooses say;

Catie Raikes; “Thank you God, and thank you Wild Goose, for the emphasis on reflection and teaching me to do that. I have struggled with anxiety in my life. Journaling has really helped with that. Also with the intimacy of relationship with God! My prayer life’s been kind of transformed this year, partly by journaling. But really my understanding and experience of every day life with Jesus has gained extra solidity, excitement, freedom and trust.”

Emma Nicholson; “Well, this year I became a traveler rather than a tourist, a human “being” rather than a human “doing.” I have stopped and therefore seen that the Kingdom of God is in and amongst all things – if I chose to find it! Wild Goose has given me time to stop. Time to reflect and time to “be”. Be myself and be with Jesus. I look back over my year, through the pages of my journal I see the footprints of Jesus weaving beauty into a chaotic life. This is something he has always done but this year positioned me to see it. I am thankful for so much … for the tears shed in coffee shops, for answered prayers, for the confusion, the questions, the doubts and the smiles. But most of all I’m thankful for Jesus; because he knew I needed to be here. He knew I needed to adjust my rhythm of life and to walk with someone through it. He has pulled down the walls I had built and the boxes I had in place to just see him. In a nut shell this is what Wild Goose has done for me – destroyed my life in the most beautiful way and I’m forever grateful for that! Amen.“