Broken Jars Beginnings

In 1989 while ministering in Suriname, Doug Norwood received a vision from the Lord of an incredible outpouring of power and blessing that would begin in the Caribbean and spread to Europe, North America, the Pacific rim, and to the ends of the earth, enabling the Kingdom of God to fulfill its mandate in the earth in preparation for Jesus’ return. Together with prayer and Godly counsel, that vision gave birth to today’s Broken Jars.

It is as if the Lord were ready to pour out grace and power on a parched world. But the huge reservoir He created, the Church, is now broken and in need of repair. Instead of a massive cistern, the Church is now a loose collection of small jars, so many of them broken, mere chards. Many church leaders jealously clutch their own little pieces of clay, pleading in prayer for a downpour of blessing, but prepared to receive only drops.

Broken Jars recognizes that those small fragments, mere imitations of the whole, which so many grasp and claim as precious, must be surrendered to the Potter; the small jars must be broken, as was the alabaster jar of the penitent woman who anointed Jesus (Mark 14: 3-9), in an act of total surrender. We have treasure in jars of clay, Paul tells us (2 Corinthians 4:7). Indeed, when Gideon's soldiers smashed their jars, there was a release of light and power that overcame the darkness and transformed their world.

Our mission is to present unity in the Body of Christ as foundational to the Church’s success in the plan of God. But before that unity can be built, the hearts of church leaders must be gently and lovingly broken. When the hearts of church leaders are focused on Jesus and His Kingdom, not just fragmented portions of it, we can assist in the development of strategies for engaging in the common mission of the Church and in ongoing teaching and discipleship ministries designed to enhance the Church's realization of its purpose.



		The name “Broken Jars” and how this ministry came to be


	In 1989 while ministering in Suriname, Doug Norwood received a vision from the Lord of an incredible outpouring of power and blessing that would begin in the Caribbean and spread to Europe, North America, the Pacific rim, and to the ends of the earth, enabling the Kingdom of God to fulfill its mandate in the earth in preparation for Jesus’ return. Together with prayer and Godly counsel, that vision gave birth to today’s Broken Jars. It is as if the Lord were ready to pour out grace and power on a parched world. But the huge reservoir He created, the Church, is now broken and in need of repair. Instead of a massive cistern, the Church is now a loose collection of small jars, so many of them broken, mere chards. Many church leaders jealously clutch their own little pieces of clay, pleading in prayer for a downpour of blessing, but prepared to receive only drops. Broken Jars recognizes that those small fragments, mere imitations of the whole, which so many grasp and claim as precious, must be surrendered to the Potter; the small jars must be broken, as was the alabaster jar of the penitent woman who anointed Jesus (Mark 14: 3-9), in an act of total surrender. We have treasure in jars of clay, Paul tells us (2 Corinthians 4:7). Indeed, when Gideon's soldiers smashed their jars, there was a release of light and power that overcame the darkness and transformed their world. Our mission is to present unity in the Body of Christ as foundational to the Church’s success in the plan of God. But before that unity can be built, the hearts of church leaders must be gently and lovingly broken. When the hearts of church leaders are focused on Jesus and His Kingdom, not just fragmented portions of it, we can assist in the development of strategies for engaging in the common mission of the Church and in ongoing teaching and discipleship ministries designed to enhance the Church's realization of its purpose.

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