About

Tobar was birthed out of Emmanuel Church, Lurgan. Emmanuel Church has a vision ‘to help rewrite the story of Craigavon, Ireland and the nations, with the good news of the Kingdom of God’. For twenty-five years of rollercoaster adventure we have given ourselves to this vision. We have witnessed more than we could have ever asked or imagined, experiencing many moments of incredible kingdom breakthrough and walking through some of the most devastating valleys.

During the last fifteen years God has 'enlarged our hearts’ for the whole island of Ireland, depositing a dream in our spirits to believe for a spiritual awakening in this land. Over this period, as Emmanuel Church's influence has grown we have sensed God mature a charism upon us to serve as a Resource Church in Ireland. As such we felt led the Lord leading us to bring definition and identity to this growing apostolic, extra-local calling. Two key passages of scripture have been formative for us in this process.

Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water... Genesis 26:18-19

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka (Weeping), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. Psalm 84:5-6

The idea of old wells being reopened and new wells being released has gripped the imagination of Emmanuel Church’s Leadership Team. As such, Tobar - the Irish word for 'wells' or ‘springs’ - provided the perfect indigenous identity for an apostolic network we sensed God was birthing amongst us. Today the Tobar Family is a network of churches, missional communities and houses of prayer across Ireland carrying the share values outlined below.

Relationship - we are friends, held together in life-giving and accountable relationships.
Kingdom - we teach and embody a Kingdom theology where Jesus’ Lordship is proclaimed in every sphere of society.
Missional - we are committed to the broken and lost in our communities and to seeing Ireland rediscover its identity as a sending nation in the 21st century.
Charismatic - we love and value the person and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Bible - we immerse ourselves in the God story as God’s inspired word to us leading us into personal transformation and as our guide towards true apostolic ministry.

Tobar consists of an apostolic leadership team, recognised and released by the local eldership of Emmanuel. This team consists of a mix of senior leaders from within Emmanuel Church and leaders from other Tobar Churches.

Tobar and 24-7prayer

Emmanuel Church has a long established and fruitful partnership with 24-7prayer. 24-7 Prayer exists to revive the Church and rewire the culture through an international movement and communities of non-stop prayer, mission and justice. Across the world many churches, of all shapes and sizes, find their primary place of belonging, support, accountability and shared missional purpose within the family of 24-7. This is family is known as the 24-7 Community Networks. The vision of the 24-7 Community Networks is to build an apostolic ecosystem of churches, missional communities and houses of prayer across the nations aligned to 24-7 Prayer’s core practices (prayer, mission and justice) and dedicated to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:16-20). Tobar is an indigenous expression of the 24-7 Community Networks in Ireland.

ABOUT

Tobar and 24-7prayer