After the Winnipeg Gathering in 1999, it was felt by many that spiritually the nation had crossed the Jordan River, from a place of judgment to a place of favour. The Lord began revealing that the day was near when government leaders would begin to look to the Church for counsel and wisdom. But to assume this position of authority would require that Church leaders learn to walk together in true unity and humility.

The Watchmen team began to call a number of leadership gatherings with this heart: that the prayer of Jesus in John 17 may be fulfilled: May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:23). The first national leadership gathering was in the Ottawa Valley in September 1999, and since that time hundreds of leaders have gathered together from Vancouver, BC to Charlottetown PEI in regional and national leadership gatherings.

A major step in this journey came at a National Leadership Gathering held in Kelowna September 18-20th, 2001 . Coming just days after the September 11th attacks, it was a sober time. The Lord called us into the fellowship of death, dying to our own desires, agendas and ministry goals and laying down our lives for each other. Ezekiel 37 speaks of two sticks - representing Judah and Ephraim - which in the hand of the prophet became one stick that could not be separated. As over 110 leaders gathered at an outdoor fire pit, each symbolically took a stick and laid it down. These sticks were then bound together by French Canadian, Aboriginal and Inuit fathers and set on fire as the group took communion. That day a covenant of unity was birthed by a representation of the Canadian church leadership from over 50 cities.

The covenant represents the raising of a standard and the beginnings of a spiritual canopy of protection over our nation. This canopy will create a safe place for the release of the younger generations and will also allow the Lord to release gifts and authority that cannot belong to one individual - they can only be released to a corporate leadership, walking together in humility and brokenness.

The leaders make a covenant of unity. (Large)
The leaders make a covenant of unity. (Small)

Throughout 2002 and 2003, there were many national and regional leadership gatherings that the Lord used as building blocks to knit the hearts of His leaders even closer together. In October 2003, as a national representation of leaders met in Calgary, they were challenged by the Lord about the Acts 2 model of the early church: leadership coming into one accord and the Holy Spirit being released to be the one and only true head of His church. The covenant in Kelowna was renewed and taken deeper as the leaders once again took communion together and then signed the names on a scroll of remembrance, thereby inviting the fire of the Holy Spirit to come into each life and burn away anything that is hindering Him from having full control, that the glory of God might come to Canada.

In March 2004, the Lord once again called the leadership to gather before him in Ottawa to continue this process of refining and creating for Himself a team of leaders from the nation who will walk as a true family. A highlight of the Ottawa Gathering was the formation of a "cluster" of leadership. This represents a transition to a new level of spiritual authority as a model of a true corporate leadership team functioning together. The 100+ members of the cluster are leaders from every region of Canada who have committed to walk together to corporately discern, pastor, communicate, and administrate the vision. The Cluster is not an organization but a group of people who share a common passion and commitment to see the glory of God come to the nation and who have deep relationship of love and care for one another.

The Cluster makes a covenant to walk together. (Large)
The Cluster makes a covenant to walk together. (Small)