It is so exciting to me to be able to report to you all on what God has been doing over the last three months. I have to admit that the time that we have all been dispersed since our last gathering seems longer than that, and thankfully, God has been busy at work. Instead of loading you all down with a really long email, I'll send a few shorter ones throughout this week on what God has been doing. This one will focus on the small group that I feel the Lord told me to start.
When I was sitting with you all at Andrew's church in Denver listening to Matt Hulst share about his experiences at Bethel, my heart was stirred with passion. Not only were things happening up in Minnesota where Matt had made himself available to the Lord, but I was in the same stage of life as he was, going to a University. God challenged me to start a small group when I got back on my campus at Biola University, focused specifically on outreach, while also having times of prayer and accountability. Going into it I was completely at a loss as to how to go about leading it, so I told God that He would have to direct it completely. We started at an average of about 7 guys for the first few weeks, each week differing in our conversation and fellowship. Over the next few weeks we kept growing and saw a couple people even from other dorms joining. By the last meeting of the semester we had 12 people at the small group, and the small group will continue into next semester as well.
So far in outreach we have prayed over our campus, had times of listening to and obeying the Lord (in a very YWAM fashion), and visited a local Community College where we did survey evangelism. It has been a struggle to find a lot of ministry, but the Lord has brought people into divine appointment with us and moved strongly when we have stepped out. I have also talked to two or three other people from other parts of the campus who are interested in what we do in our small group, and they want to start parallel small groups in their own dorms. I am calling them..."Awaken Groups!" I believe its a pretty fitting title and people want to hear about them and get involved once they know what we are about. I am just seeing how many people on my campus want to be involved, but just need a spark to set off their readily kindled hearts. It just takes testimony!
This is just one area where God has shown his faithfulness, but I don't want to wear everybody out with one email. I will write one or two more later this week, but as for this area of God's move, pray for:
1. God's continued stirring on my heart and the hearts of those around me to pursue awakening in prayer and action
2. More opportunities for ministry and outreach to open up
3. A spirit of boldness on our group
4. Wisdom for me in how to lead the group
Thank you all for your partnership with and inspiration to me.
Its time for my second update. I hope this encourages you all where you are at right now.
In this time of revival, prayer is the vehicle that will drive the move of God. When I was at Biola last semester, I couldn't help but miss the prayer room that was so available in Kona. At Biola they have a prayer chapel, but it is always silent and not conducive to times of group intercessory prayer. I started trying to find a place where I could really just cry out to God, and the only place that I had was my own room when both of my roommates were gone, but even then it was only at times that my room was available and it would never be the most private of places. So I talked to my dorm senator about getting a prayer room started on campus. She told me to email a specific senator who was already vying for a prayer room to be started. Once I got into contact with him he sent me an email of a very specific and bold proposal that someone had already drawn up to build a prayer room on campus just for that purpose. It is so encouraging to see that God is already working in and through many other people, knowing that I can just partner with them many times.
God has also been speaking the importance of prayer in my family. My father and I went to breakfast once over my Christmas break in Colorado Springs, and the end result of our talk was that we were going to start praying with my other two brothers for an hour every morning. This was also in part because of the challenging messages we heard from Lou Engel and others at the One Thing Conference. These times of prayer have been great for our bonding as a family, but have also been trying. We have to be aware of the devil's attacks and vigilant against apathy and complacency in our prayers. We also are doing it at six every morning so it gets very tiring, but I believe that God is going to break through and speak and act in great ways. My brother Drew and I have also decided to continue this at Biola once we head back. We are hoping (or praying) for great revival on that campus, and God is already doing it!
So what you all can pray for with me is:
1. That God would speak and reveal His heart in what we should pray
2. For the Holy Spirit to stir many others to prayer on our campus
3. That God's glory would be revealed on our campus
4. For endurance in prayer and intercession
Thank you all again for your support.
This is the last of my three updates. I hope these have been encouraging and challenging to you. Let's remember who is in charge and what He is capable of. This update is focused on real stories of awakening.
Ever since my DTS I have questioned how I can bring passion back with me and truly affect the people closest to me. It is easier, I believe to start a new friendship, laying out what you care about and the passions that God has placed on your heart than to change old ones. Old friends many times just want things to be the way that they were before. They want what is comfortable. But change is possible for them through us, those who know them best. I thank God that my family already cares about the things that I care about, but now I have really seen the Lord moving among my close friends as well.
The first friend that I have seen this with is Jesse. Jesse has never been a bad kid, and in fact he has been strong in his convictions. But with that comes a bit of a hotheaded and prideful demeanor at times. When he has gotten a certain thing in his head, specifically about someone or something, he speaks it out and allows it to affect him. I was able to sit down with him one night and address this head on, seeing as how this attitude had just manifested that night. Jesse isn't irrational, and really he loves justice, but there was a lack of unconditional love for his enemies. I was able to just lay out the plain truth of Jesus' teaching to him in a way that directly challenged certain attitudes and actions that he so readily expressed. Jesse is a strong Christian man, and I in no way want to portray him as a bad person. He has so many qualities that I admire and respect, and he has made wise choices in his life. The point of this story is seeing a strong Christian move from focusing on his relationship with Christ alone, to now starting to look at how he can love and forgive others when it doesn't even make sense to do so. This is the step that we all must take to truly start to affect the world for the Lord Jesus--moving from an inwardly focused Christian life, to an outwardly focused one. Not focusing on injustices as they negatively affect us, but willingly suffering injustices so that we may advance the Kingdom. By the end of our conversation he said, "I don't know about you but I'm excited! This isn't the normal conversation that I have with people." The Holy Spirit is truly stirring on his heart in an awesome way.
The other person that I have seen awakening in is my friend Alyssa. This is quite a different story than the first. I met Alyssa two summers ago in between my DTS and SBS. We had connected pretty well, but I didn't know where her standards were at other than the fact that she was a Christian by name. I picked up on a couple things just by the way our conversations would go and concluded that her standards didn't match those of the Bible. We hung out a couple more times before I went to SBS, but I decided that it wasn't an uplifting friendship for the time. Over my SBS she was still on my mind as someone to keep in prayer and a couple times I texted to see how she was doing. I never got a reply, but over this break she approached me at the college group at our church thinking that I didn't even remember her, but she wanted to say hi anyway. Evidently she had gotten a new phone number and didn't get anything that I was sending her. This time however, I could sense a difference in her, ever so slightly. I ended up having a long conversation with her, having found out that she had a past that she was ashamed of. I was able to just speak truth to her, whether it be that she was forgiven and justified completely, or that I would be her friend and love her even if she messed up again, or even that weakness, when submitted to God, is where God's power is made perfect. She said, "I know it was God that you came back when you did." She had just broken up with a boyfriend of nearly a year and a half who she was almost engaged to. Since I have been in contact with her again, her heart has been tender toward the Lord, and she has expressed a deep desire to break away from the things of the past. I will be encouraging her to take steps to break from the past, whatever that looks like (if its DTS then so be it). God's timing is truly perfect.
In these situations, please pray for:
1. A deeper knowledge of the Lord's love and desires to these two people
2. A willingness to surrender everything to the Lord (specifically for Alyssa)
3. Strengthening in the inner being of each person
4. A deepening of intimacy with Christ
I love you all and pray that God will show himself mighty to save in your lives and the lives of those under your influence.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Heather's Story: God Is Moving, Week
Right now my life is in huge transition. In the last two weeks I have switched time zones, countries, communities and cultures. I went from a 7th floor apartment outside of Taipei, Taiwan, to a two story house in a tiny town in the middle of Illinois. It's been an interesting transition. I'm really thankful for the time that I had in Taiwan. I was doing a 9 month School of Biblical Studies with Youth with a Mission. It was 9 months of Bible study, tracing our way through the Bible, living each chapter and book as we studied it. I loved it. Also while I was there, I got to build relationships with some Taiwanese people. Two of my friends there ended up getting saved which was undoubtedly the best part of my time there. Two nights before we left Taiwan, we had a bonfire at the beach with our Taiwanese friends, most of whom did not know the Lord. It was that night that one of my friends decided to give her life to Jesus. After we prayed with her, she gave me a hug and said "Thank you for bringing God to me," it was one of the most incredible moments of my life. So good. I want to spend the rest of my life bringing God to people that don't know Him.
Now I am at home and I will be here for at least the next 5 months. I am planning on working with the youth group at my church and spending time building relationships with high school girls, giving them someone to talk to about whats going on in their lives and encouraging them to spend their time and lives on God and what is eternal. I'm really excited to be home for a while and building relationships here, and getting an idea of what God is doing in the church here at home.
Now I am at home and I will be here for at least the next 5 months. I am planning on working with the youth group at my church and spending time building relationships with high school girls, giving them someone to talk to about whats going on in their lives and encouraging them to spend their time and lives on God and what is eternal. I'm really excited to be home for a while and building relationships here, and getting an idea of what God is doing in the church here at home.
Garrett Boyer: God moving week 1
It always seems like God isn't doing much around me when I'm not out in another country doing open airs or house churches but I couldn't be more wrong. Is God ever not at work? The answer is no! And He's been teaching and showing me this! I have currently been called to serve and take care of my friend, Dan, who is a quadriplegic. While on a missions trip in Mexico with his school, Cedarville University, Dan attempted to do a back flip which resulted in him landing on his neck and crushing his spinal cord. One of Dan's companions, who "just happened" to be a paramedic, rushed to his aid. To make a long story short, the result of Dan's accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. He has been in and out of hospitals not knowing what lies ahead. But he's never given up or lost the hope that God has a plan.
Last summer, after my DTS, God called me to come home and reconcile with my family and get involved with my church. In doing so I got involved with the college ministry there and attended weekly small group at the house of one of the leaders. It gave me great hope to know that I wasn't alone in my home town. Again, to make a long story short, God grew me so much more than I could imagine while being at home after doing my DTS with Youth With A Mission.
On Easter our leader asked the group if we would like to serve in some way. After praying we felt we were to go over to Dan's house and have a small dinner and communion with him and his family and serve them in any way we could. We had an awesome time of prayer and testimonies and took communion to dwell on what Jesus has done on the cross for us and what He has done in our hearts recently. When the night was over I felt strongly that I was to serve beyond that one night. I have known Dan since Awana so I wasn't ENTIRELY out of my comfort zone. After a few weeks of helping out around the house and giving his parents some time to themselves, Dan asked me one day if I would be willing to come with him to school in the fall so he could finish classes. He is a pre-law major at Cedarville University. I told him I would pray about it. After praying and dwelling on it for about two weeks, I felt strongly that this is what God wants me to do. So I obeyed and told him to sign me up. After two weeks of minor medical training, we were on our way to Ohio to school.
In the first few months, it was hard getting used to my responsibilities. Dan is entirely dependent on me for everything from getting out of bed, to eating breakfast and getting ready, to going to class. I was only getting a few hours of sleep per night. I started having lots of feelings of frustration, fatigue, and even depression. I was hardly in the Word and barely ever took time to just stop and spend time with God. He has taught me so much through this. I am learning to find joy in intentionally seeking Him out and making an effort to break away from the world and stresses and just be with Him. Dan is part of an organization at Cedarville called OPE (don’t know why the college refuses to call it a frat). But OPE is a group of guys with a heart to know God, follow Jesus, and become more like Him in all ways. OPE’s central theme verse is
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
We have a weekly bible study and accountability group (called blade group) that has been amazing. It’s been so good to meet all these guys and befriend a lot of them. They have been so supportive and encouraging through all of this. But the most amazing thing is to see God moving in the hearts of these guys. Even in the short time I have known them I have seen huge changes and revelations. I know God is using my obedience to Him to show these guys a new side of God they’ve never seen. I don’t mean to sound arrogant or anything like that in any way, but through my simple obedience He has shown these guys the servanthood of God and what it means to fully surrender your life to Christ. It has proved to be a challenge for some and a joy for others, but nevertheless God has entrusted me this part of the “Awaken Message” and to bring it into the sphere of life that God has me in at this moment. God is alive and well and changing the hearts of many to bring Himself Glory and to share with us His perfect and Holy righteousness. God has shown me His power through my obedience over and over again. Whether I can see all that He is doing or not makes no difference, it’s knowing that He is at work all over the globe in EVERY sphere of life whether big or small, for there is no big or small with God. He is alive and at work in the hearts of the guys around me in order to bring about His ultimate purpose and He has allowed me to be a part of it. What more could I ask for? God is at work and wants us to join with Him.
Last summer, after my DTS, God called me to come home and reconcile with my family and get involved with my church. In doing so I got involved with the college ministry there and attended weekly small group at the house of one of the leaders. It gave me great hope to know that I wasn't alone in my home town. Again, to make a long story short, God grew me so much more than I could imagine while being at home after doing my DTS with Youth With A Mission.
On Easter our leader asked the group if we would like to serve in some way. After praying we felt we were to go over to Dan's house and have a small dinner and communion with him and his family and serve them in any way we could. We had an awesome time of prayer and testimonies and took communion to dwell on what Jesus has done on the cross for us and what He has done in our hearts recently. When the night was over I felt strongly that I was to serve beyond that one night. I have known Dan since Awana so I wasn't ENTIRELY out of my comfort zone. After a few weeks of helping out around the house and giving his parents some time to themselves, Dan asked me one day if I would be willing to come with him to school in the fall so he could finish classes. He is a pre-law major at Cedarville University. I told him I would pray about it. After praying and dwelling on it for about two weeks, I felt strongly that this is what God wants me to do. So I obeyed and told him to sign me up. After two weeks of minor medical training, we were on our way to Ohio to school.
In the first few months, it was hard getting used to my responsibilities. Dan is entirely dependent on me for everything from getting out of bed, to eating breakfast and getting ready, to going to class. I was only getting a few hours of sleep per night. I started having lots of feelings of frustration, fatigue, and even depression. I was hardly in the Word and barely ever took time to just stop and spend time with God. He has taught me so much through this. I am learning to find joy in intentionally seeking Him out and making an effort to break away from the world and stresses and just be with Him. Dan is part of an organization at Cedarville called OPE (don’t know why the college refuses to call it a frat). But OPE is a group of guys with a heart to know God, follow Jesus, and become more like Him in all ways. OPE’s central theme verse is
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
We have a weekly bible study and accountability group (called blade group) that has been amazing. It’s been so good to meet all these guys and befriend a lot of them. They have been so supportive and encouraging through all of this. But the most amazing thing is to see God moving in the hearts of these guys. Even in the short time I have known them I have seen huge changes and revelations. I know God is using my obedience to Him to show these guys a new side of God they’ve never seen. I don’t mean to sound arrogant or anything like that in any way, but through my simple obedience He has shown these guys the servanthood of God and what it means to fully surrender your life to Christ. It has proved to be a challenge for some and a joy for others, but nevertheless God has entrusted me this part of the “Awaken Message” and to bring it into the sphere of life that God has me in at this moment. God is alive and well and changing the hearts of many to bring Himself Glory and to share with us His perfect and Holy righteousness. God has shown me His power through my obedience over and over again. Whether I can see all that He is doing or not makes no difference, it’s knowing that He is at work all over the globe in EVERY sphere of life whether big or small, for there is no big or small with God. He is alive and at work in the hearts of the guys around me in order to bring about His ultimate purpose and He has allowed me to be a part of it. What more could I ask for? God is at work and wants us to join with Him.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Psalm 145 Praising God's Greatness
I exalt You, My God the King
and praise Your name forever and ever
I will praise You every day;
I will honor Your name forever and ever
Yahweh is great and is highly praised;
His greatness is unsearchable
One generation will declare Your works to the next
and will proclaim your mighty acts
I will speak of Your glorious splendor
and Your wonderful works
They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring works, a
and I will declare Your greatness
They will give a testimony of Your great goodness
and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in faithful love.
The Lord is good to everyone;
His compassion rests on all He has made
All You have made will praise You, Lord;
the godly will bless You
They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom
and will declare Your might,
informing all people of Your mighty acts
and of the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
Your rule is for all generations
The Lord is faithful in all His words
and gracious in all his actions.
The Lord helps all who fall;
He raises up all who are oppressed.
All eyes look to You,
and You give them their food in due time.
You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and gracious in all His acts.
The Lord is near to all who call out to Him,
all who call out to Him with integrity.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;
He hears their cry for help and saves them.
The Lord guards all those who love Him,
but He destroys all the wicked.
My mouth will declare the Lord's praise;
let every living thing
praise His holy name forever and ever.
and praise Your name forever and ever
I will praise You every day;
I will honor Your name forever and ever
Yahweh is great and is highly praised;
His greatness is unsearchable
One generation will declare Your works to the next
and will proclaim your mighty acts
I will speak of Your glorious splendor
and Your wonderful works
They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring works, a
and I will declare Your greatness
They will give a testimony of Your great goodness
and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and great in faithful love.
The Lord is good to everyone;
His compassion rests on all He has made
All You have made will praise You, Lord;
the godly will bless You
They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom
and will declare Your might,
informing all people of Your mighty acts
and of the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
Your rule is for all generations
The Lord is faithful in all His words
and gracious in all his actions.
The Lord helps all who fall;
He raises up all who are oppressed.
All eyes look to You,
and You give them their food in due time.
You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and gracious in all His acts.
The Lord is near to all who call out to Him,
all who call out to Him with integrity.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;
He hears their cry for help and saves them.
The Lord guards all those who love Him,
but He destroys all the wicked.
My mouth will declare the Lord's praise;
let every living thing
praise His holy name forever and ever.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sean Murphy At 08 Gathering (Notes)
Yesterday was radically encouraging and inspiring, I think you guys are right where you should be at
Last night – happened to be at this garage, they could seat 30 people on all these couches. It was a killer venue. Eric and Jessica, Basil and Daylene shared their hearts, it was so God inspired, it really was. I was like wow these guys are coming, they are of no reputation, no great schooling, not like trained speakers but it was resonated and the people like locked on, this one guy just kept sighing, it was conviction coming on him.
At the end – asking the Lord how to end it. Truth is powerful, truth will reign and people looking for truth will lock onto it. You just need to keep walking in authority and that’s what you’re doing.
A question came out to you last night, how do you speak in Asia, how do you get out in Asia? We have connections all over the world, we gotta recognize that we are numb to this.
We are bridges to the body, this is one of our greatest commodities.
Being around you guys, many of you I know very well, others I don’t know, Gill said it yesterday, do you hear my mother’s heart for you? I want to express, I know we all share the same vision and heart, but I’m just so proud of all of you. You’re just awesome, you’re just stellar, not just trying to pat you on the back, God is doing mighty things through you. I am really proud of you guys
Things to be chewing on: There is a spirit in our world and it’s idolatry of education. Who are you worshiping? Are you worshiping education and knowledge or the Lord? Is God not too big to bring people into jobs and places to make money without an education. I would so much more hire someone who understands Afghanistan and China than someone who has been studying in a library for four years.
What about the pay scale? What about God?
YWAM is not anti-education, but just be careful
You are vulnerable to the spirit of the age, that you will be substandard and out of it but that’s not true
Education needs to be there to serve us, not for us to serve it because we’re trying to serve it and fulfill the dreams and desires of the culture.
If you’re not sure why you’re doing it, don’t do it. Don’t serve it, let it serve you.
You can do whatever you want with that.
I’m for college if its going to get you where you’re going to be
The disciples were called unschooled but they had authority. They recognized them as unschooled but they had authority.
Guys coming from Taiwan – involved in SBS, I’ve been walking with SBS for 10 years, staffing, teaching.
We had a huge stigma that SBS was head knowledge and nothing was happening.
There was heat on the program because of that – that has changed.
You’re using the Bible knowledge that you had radically to transform nations.
UNDEFINED
Meg: It’s nice that it doesn’t have a catch phrase because then we have to explain our hearts vs. a quick phrase.
Shawn: I would imagine that this doesn’t set really well with a lot of you guys, would you like it defined?
Matt: I like the idea of that, but that doesn’t mean you can say ok we’re done, you can define stuff and still be with the heart of undefined.
Dan S: Network of networks – Loren has always spoken stuff and it doesn’t make sense but it’s starting to. We are a network, and the Taiwan guys brought more people from Taiwan. Matt brought some from Montana originally, if we were to continue on with that we’re almost catching other people with that fire. A network of network is the beginning of a movement, it expands, explodes.
Andrew: Each one of us here represents a different network. I have a network here of people, you guys have different networks, the SBS network in Taiwan, we’re just representative of different networks that we are responsible for. It’s something that multiplies.
Mike: That’s why it was cool, the commanders of thousands and then of hundreds. Jen is the one who can network nurses into the network of Awaken and as it grows it becomes its own thing, different from the youth group of Colorado but also so much the same. Jill said that we are like the commanders of thousands and we will all network and it’ll become a movement.
Shawn: It sounds like YWAM, it sounds like a recreation of YWAM. There are all these networks tied into YWAM. It’s like AWAKEN is a new breath of life into an organization, this is even more fresh, starting a new wave of networks coming out of this old network of YWAM.
Dan S: We’re not just called to YWAM
Andrew: We’re not tied down to structural places, classroom without walls. It’s not something where we are confined to something, it’s a message to the body of Christ everywhere.
Shawn: This is something that is new to man, Loren and Dar love it, they want to know what the Lord wants from this thing. They see you guys as something very fresh and new
Mike: Can you define this classroom without walls? I want to commend you with the teaching team and Titus that you are breaking the old stigma
CLASSROOM WITHOUT WALLS
Shawn: Not anchored in one location, broader experience in the world but still together. In classroom through relationship, through e-mails, in Denver for 2 weeks, you are a class, but you don’t have walls, you can spread out of here and there is no classroom structure. I think we can meditate on that, and we could come up with 50 advantages to that.
Meg: Going back to the words that Jill got yesterday – fluid and flowing, in a classroom with walls if there are pools they can’t flow out, without walls it can flow out.
Dan S: are we seeing fruit question again,, what we heard was that yes Awaken has fruit its just not what people think.
Shawn: I think it’s a joke that you are questioning that you don’t have fruit. We’re insecure in it
Matt: We need to learn to be secure in who we are and what we’re called to.
Shawn: Don’t slam this thing into a box. I remember all these times that I wanted in a box and I thought it was going to get lost because it was not a box. But we’re trailblazing, trying to understand God’s spirit, it’s embarrassing to not be able to understand it and explain it to our pastors, but look at Loren and Darlene when they stepped out, that was absolutely out of the box. They were told that they could not take young people into missions, but he was obedient and even had to leave his church.
They are totally behind you on this, they’ll nail you if you try to put it in a box
Dan S: Can we sit on that, what’s the fruit?
Dan L: Part of that is about it being a message
Awaken is like a ripple effect, I drop a stone into waters, it’ll spread the whole way across the pond. If I didn’t know Athena and I was talking to her, or last night Eric speaking he might not know the immediate fruit of that, but who knows some of the guys might have been radically changed, so that is the ripple. He dropped the rock and those people are going to go out and talk to more people and it’s not like this tangible thing, but I just continue to see this ripple effect in my mind, and trust that God is going to use what we are speaking
QUESTION OF FRUIT
Derek: What I had on my mind, I talked to the sighing guy last night, I think it’s the individual person that’s Awakened and they go and awaken another person.
Radical power is displayed through simple obedience.
A picture of a heartbeat behind Awakeners. There isn’t a structure, we hear things and we obey and that’s it. If we want to simplify it.
Athena: Part of the fruit is this right here, God has put a message on all our hearts and without this group here we would feel alone in that. Even if we are alone all year we can come back together and recharge and go out
Shawn: There is a degree of holiness and authority on this group that is important. If this was a DTS there would be stuff to work through which is cool, DTS has become that we’re learning to work with that. In this group, everybody has a sharp perspective of what God’s got on us. You’re sold out, there’s nobody here thinking about turning to Islam. That brings a degree of authority, righeousness and purity that will launch you quicker, Psalm 133 – commanded blessing of God is going to be on that. This is a choice harvest, recognize that.
Andrew: Fruit is good, obedience is key. Sometimes we’re constantly trying to measure fruit, make that our gauge of success. We know that we know that he’s called us to it, but there’s no fruit. we need to know that we are obeying God, that’s why we’re doing this.
In Awaken, we aren’t calling them to us, we’re telling them to go, yeah there’s opportunities in India now, go for it!
Who knows who went into University with the message of Awaken that we’ll never know about.
There’s something with that
FRUIT IS GOOD BUT OBEDIENCE IS KEY
Shawn: Message make sure to be bringing, to basketball court or grocery store, that God speaks.
What are we obedient to unless we’ve heard from him. Frankly you guys, in any given DTS a good portion of that DTS isn’t sure that God does speak. The vast majority of people don’t know God speaks.
The vast majority. If we’re not speaking that message… man
Those guys getting all excited last night at youth group
Donna Jordan will not speak anything but hearing God’s voice, she says without that nothing else matters.
Garret: The school I’m at has very conservative Baptist roots, this is so foreign to them. That alone breaks my heart. I want to just agree with you on that.
Shawn: When Athena went to India I got a picture of her in a nun outfit, and when she went to India, and then you guys (Barlows and Breeses) went and that so encouraged me.
You hearing God’s voice is key in everything even in the future.
Fruit:
- bands
- connections
- Spheres – media, government, education
- Internet connections (for yourselves and for others who get on the website and read about Acts in the 21st century)
- Short term missions
- Local churches
- fruit is good but obedience is key
Andrew: I’m called to be obedient and being obedient with Awaken
Dan: Tell me if all of you believe this
“That we are better off connected to this message/ vision than we were disconnected, to live out the call of Awakening that God has put on our lives because if gives us reason, purpose, direction, accountability, assurance, inspiration, encouragement to do this”
It gives words to what we’re hearing
Everybody agreed
This Awaken vision is keeping us accountable, it’s keeping the fuel in us
Shawn: The whole idea of keeping the fellowship of believers is huge. These connections here are key and incredibly encouraging.
Dan S: If we really believe that we are better off now connected to this than we were before, then wouldn’t the cry of our heart, when we see people that were like us, wouldn’t we want them to be connected too and have this for them too?
When Matt meets someone at Bethel, who wants this too, wouldn’t he want to bring them in.
Matt: Want to give chance for criticism.
Amy’s Mom: What are you doing differently because you are a part of Awaken than you would do in your ministries on their own.
Derek: Would we really be doing these things anyway if we didn’t know about our friends doing things in their ministries. I can do this in my country because they are doing it there.
Community and fellowship, after I’m here I’m so recharged to live my life better.
Synergry
Brittney: Just the fact that I have people saying yeah you can do this, yeah you’re not crazy, even that peace meant a lot. God said to go overseas and do this crazy trip and having all these guys saying yeah you can do that was so encouraging. Even my parents were like WHAT? To have a network that says yeah, we believe in the call that God has on your life and its been empowering to see others believe too
Mike: When we’re in community, we’re not only focused inwardly but also focused outwardly. This is important to focus on with the gathering.
Dan L: The whole aspect of communication, I’m not just coming in, I’m also calling them to come with me. If I was just a YWAMer, huge emphasis on going, Awaken is different because there is a heart to come back and call others to come back in an intentional way. It’s like, we’re gonna gather together and speak in a very intentional way and communicate the stories of what God is doing.
Shawn: With York with this media thing, as God moves, York can put that together and further transmit that to the body for greater transformation
Amy’s Mom: That’s what I was hoping that this was, you guys are all spread out and you all have these incredible stories, and it’s these stories that ignite people, you have this network of stories to tell. Instead of telling them within your ministry, explode them out to the church, its incredible.
Matt: With awaken, I want to bring authority to us in this group, a lot of times when we’re solo, we feel like we don’t. Claim it, it’s truth, if it takes the label of Awaken to know that you have authority then use it for a while. I’ve seen friends who have gone out alone and they crashed. If I feel down and then I realize that Derek is over there doing the same thing, I want to keep going.
Criticism – network of networks. What is our fruit, what do we want? Is it for people to come to our gatherings or is it for people to become Awakeners.What are we preaching, for people to sign up to this Awaken website or for people to come organically.
Derek: Network of networks – maybe not goal that we are going for but it becomes a strength for us. Organic quality of Awaken that grows naturally, it’s not our goal to make it this, but it naturally is that – strength for us.
Shawn: You guys need to be over the top an encouragement for one another.
If I say one negative thing to my son I can destroy him. It takes about 10 positives to bring him into a place of really believing in himself.
Tacoma team – they are like ridiculously encouraging. I was in Kona and they just started speaking encouragement to me, and I just started weeping and laughing because I was like you are just weird, you don’t know me and you are more encouraging in truth of me and who I am more than people that know me.
You guys be radically encouraging to one another. Any time you can say something to someone, don’t hold it back let it fly.
If this is only fruit, that’s radical.
This is a bit of a rebuke: I’m hearing this.
People are praying against things and I’m hearing bits and tabs of jealousy. There is no room for that whatsoever. It was just in bits and pieces of prayers, here’s why I know it, I’ve walked in it myself.
When I first became a Christian I went to Hati and our hearts were right and God was with us. And I got super jealous of Steve, he always got to drive, all these stupid things. I got so mad that he was doing quiet times, I couldn’t keep up with it, I would turn his alarm off.
Here’s the point – as a young man, I was jealous of Steve because of certain gifts and disciplines he had. I couldn’t keep up.
I bet you guys are feeling this way… DON’T GO THERE it is of the enemy, you’ve got to see the gifts in one another. Call out the gifts you see in Andrew, you have to do this in the body. We beat ourselves down more than anyone beats us down. Yank out the gifts in people and call them into being. I can see gifts in people and my favorite thing is to call them into being. I did that in Michael in Samoa and you guys have that ability, that’s what Paul did, what Jesus did. This is HUGE in Awaken
This website thing is key – there has got to be a commitment. Make a commitment that you will go on the website once a week and stay faithful to each other. Get over the difficulty of putting it on the website. It’s not complicated, we need to be in touch with one another and talk about what we’re wanting to do.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, you have to be in touch through the website, ask God he’ll show you what to do.
Athena: Something unique about this group is that everybody in this room is a leader in some way in their life. It’s not easy being leaders sometimes because you feel lonely or get tired of having to make the calls. Bringing a group of leaders together to encourage each other is so good so we can go back out to our ministries.
Shawn: There is this pediatric office where you have to go out and do a two week ministry… commitment
Maybe you guys need a commitment like this.
Meg: These gatherings do inspire you to go but its almost by the end of the year it’s like dying out inside of you. Being the only one is hard and it dies out by the end of the year.
Shawn: Even a quarterly deal, a bi-annual trip, something so that you can continue coming together, think of practical things to keep the flame fanned.
You can’t have worship every day, what are those things?
What else did you hear?
Anything you don’t agree with?
Kai: Started out with focus on America, then West, now the church in general. I think the words we got, the main focus we got was America, yes we need to be out in the world but it seems like America is where God is leading us. We have lots about America. Obviously God is transforming us a little bit, but I don’t want to let go of the words that God has spoken to us. We can’t just forget about the old words. A big focus was America, Awakening the Western church in America, communicating to the church here, it seems like we’re going like out to the world.
Shawn: Responses?
Hannah: I felt the same way. When we started talking about the words and I think about what the Lord has spoken. God’s promise was for America to be totally awakened to Him, I felt like God’s words were completely open to America. Most of us are from America. I don’t necessarily resonate with the vision of the whole world, I resonate with America.
Kai: We’re in the world influencing, but the message was meant to awaken America.
Athena: There is something about coming back to America and sharing what you’ve seen all over the world, also a challenge to get out of where you are comfortable, out of America. Starts in the west, but challenge to go out, out of walls, comfort zone and see God in a new way. You can hear other people’s stories and we can share stories, its great to do ministry where you are living as well, but you’re still comfortable, unless you’re challenged in some way here you have to be out of your comfort zone.
Shawn: The eyes were to be opened in America… is this right?
Dan S: It was origionally for America, and I remembered feeling awkward with Dan at first praying for America. But I think in my heart God was shifting us and saying nope, there’s more to it. Yes I started you with America because that’s what your ears were open to hear, now I’m wondering if it’s more than just the western world, is it the church as a whole? It’s amazing how much people in Egypt and Cambodia who are Christians need to hear this as well.
Recently, we went through how the young people were to go into missions and it transformed, there were all these seasonal things. God challenged them to set new parts of the vision, like God set the vision, God said different things were a part of this. We haven’t gone to God as a corporate group.
Hannah: It’s also like what am I believing God for, I want to know what I’m supposed to be believing God for.
Dan S: The body of Christ has always been our focus, our message is to the body of Christ. Ultimately because the message is to the body of Christ it will go to the world.
TO THE CHURCH FOR THE WORLD
Is that just the US, or to the church of the world?
Mike: can we define that more? Awaken is an individual message, individually I feel very called to the lost, bringing the message of the 10/40 window to the church.
Dan S: You guys are only going to be teaching Christians in SBS and teaching the Bible, you will be teaching the church.
Derek: My stories and testimonies come from the lost. Once we’re together we’re sharing with the church. You can’t neglect either of them.
Dan S: We aren’t necessarily going to go awaken Darmsala because there are no Christians there.
Shawn: Now I see you trying to box it in, get over the box thing, the Lord’s not gonna let you do it.
Matt: We’re trying to connect these two networks, ok Dan is trying to go to India and also do Awaken and we can’t really connect these, but its like our identity and how we do this.
Shawn: It’s good to go through the conversation to see where we’re at together.
Awaken is a people who think that they are living in an extension of Acts, that’s almost a catch phrase
Garrett: Its in us to reach the lost, that’s what the body of Christ does, is, will ultimately be. Its in us to do but obviously this Awaken thing is so crucial within ourselves to go and do that. I’ve been wrestling with that, is our focus Awaken or the kingdom of God?
Matt: Right on
Erica: Alicia was just saying how in Revelation there are hot people and cold people, are we hot people trying to heat up cold people.
My question and understanding of how I have seen you guys is that you guys are a group of people who are serving the Lord actively throughout the whole world and you come back to the US, the US is so blessed but we’re not blessing others, Impacted me in DTS is that you are blessed to bless others. You guys as Awaken are calling the US to be a blessing and coming together to encourage others and call others that they can do things to. When Mike has talked in our church, he’s shared the Casting Crowns song and wrote a poem specific to the US. When I explain what Awaken is I say its trying to Awaken people in the US to what God is doing, the God of the Bible is still the God of today.
Dan S: The message of Awaken is to the church, it is, it just is, I do think yes that its for the US, but I do believe there is more to it, not just the US>
Athena: think it’s the US effecting the outside world or…
Dan S: Body of Christ
Athena: If people in Mongolia see a Mongolian embracing their culture and at the same time becoming a Christian theres a lot of power in that.
Matt: For me a big chunk of my heart is for America, broader sense – I’m with Dan, it is to the church for the lost for the world. My heart is just ringing true, its to come back and share God stories, to my hometown and my college.
I’d love to go to New Zealand with Lake but my deepest heart is for America
Mike: We have actually talked about going to New Zealand but my deepest heart is my homeland. Perhaps it is that vision, to the church for the world, within that each persons mission and network is gonna be different, we have to be ok with that.
Shawn: The make up of this group, you’re gonna have a hard time trying to fine tune this as just America just by your make-up, I don’t know that you have to be too concerned and parked on it. Where the awakening is happening, don’t be too concerned, you don’t really have to worry about that, make sure you are walking in obedience to these things. Maybe too big of a deal.
Dan L: Mike I want to affirm you dude in speaking about the lost. I believe that every person in this room wants to reach the lost. One aspect of that would be going to the church and challenge the church to go out and reach the lost, whatever stories I use, that is what I’m doing is using those stories to reach the lost. I want to affirm Matt and Dan that the message is for the church. I do love America but it has to be bigger. We’re a group of 20 year olds. D-rice is love being in India, but he loves being in Philly too. I love being here, I love being in New Zealand and I love being in Taiwan and encouraging them to raise up and join the church. Maybe we just need to encourage one person from Mongolia, and I just think of the impact that she is GOING to have when she goes back and I believe that she is going to have when she goes back.
Kai and Hannah I want to affirm your heart for America and the issue of obedience. I want to affirm that in you as well. I love that you guys love America. If you never go overseas again, that’s ok. If you go or don’t I know it’ll be obedience
I want to go to America, to New Zealand, to Taiwan, to Cambodia, it is to the church
Dan S: Origional word was go to the lost but don’t forget your own people. I did just think the US, but I think that God could be changing within me… when I was thinking of my people I was thinking about the Christians, the nominal Christians. My own people is the body of Christ as a whole. Because I know I’m called to the lost, but I’m also called to my own people who have already heard, so they could unthaw
Andrew: Acts 1:8 in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
What’s your Jerusalem? What were you called out of when you were awakened? Be faithful to what you were called out of, from your own home and then outwards from that.
Be faithful to your Jerusalem, then out to Samaria. A lot of us were called out of the dead church, so we need to be faithful to be going back and communicating that, then going to those Judeas and Samarias and the end of the earth.
Shawn: It sounds like God is speaking, lets check in with Him. You want to walk in obedience and unity as well.
Question is this: Is Awaken called to the US church then to the worldwide unsaved people OR to the church for the world (unsaved)
Marc: Why would we say who this is for? Testimony is for everyone, not just for Christians specifically. I’m wondering if its like a wholeistically thing, people will connect with the testimony, it is what it is.
Shawn: If Dan is in Spain, he should not talk about Awaken? Its good to be back, it never hurts to go back to the Lord so we’re in unity.
Marc: I just see that testimony is powerful and when I describe it to people who know the Lord or who don’t, I don’t need to change it either way. I tell Dan’s story all the time, and I don’t change it. I wonder if it’s just what it is
Derek: I think maybe it started with America cause we’re Americans…. but this word is for each of us… Go but don’t forget your own people. Dan Lake may want to minister in America, but he is called to New Zealand to not forget his own people. Maybe its people from every nation going to their homes
Garrett: God’s church is not just America, God’s church doesn’t have a nationality. I feel strongly that Awaken is for God’s church. That’s everywhere.
Jacqui: I saw a picture of flowing water and a human hand trying to grasp it.
I feel like we’re trying to define something that’s undefinable. I think it’s wisdom to try to think on it but I think we are trying to put it in a box.
Andrew: I think it’ll always be our tendency to be like it’s fluid but what is it. When I was praying I got
Christ said, He was in Awaken. What he was doing was going out and awakening, he was very intentional and going to the Jewish people, he was intentional with them and also very intentional to the lost. That’s what he was doing was awakening people. Christ was saying to follow Me, he was the origional awakener, it’s not about religion, he was very intentional also about hanging out with the lost. Going out and living it and telling the church to look at what we are doing and challenging them to do the same. Follow us as we follow Christ. Come with us out there and be a part of it.
Jacqui – not completely solid keeps our focus on God about what we are doing. Fruit is good, I was seeing this machine and the fruit just comes out, but if we keep looking back at God, it forces you to come back and listen rather to force it into a box.
Meg: Back to the fluid, as Erica said we are hot people, hot is fluid and an ice cube is hard, solid cannot move.
Matt: The comment of that its to the church doesn’t mean that it ignores the lost, its that there is a huge army of people who love the Lord and they want to hear the Lord, there’s a whole army and you’re like God IS this and then they can go out to the people. I love hanging out with people who don’t know the Lord
Shawn: John 3:16
I think you guys hit it right off when you first said it. I think you’re gonna constantly be challenged with trying to put it into a box, this hand trying to grab water is something you’re gonna have to remember.
In Samoa whenever we had extra money we fought over what to do with it, this was our biggest problem.
Now we know exactly what to do.
I would imagine, THIS issue is going to come up year after year, the enemy is just going to try to trick you in this thing.
Dan S: The reason I brought up fruit in the first place, I constantly get people within this group feeling very insecure about Awaken because its not defined. I’m fine with that, we’re all secure in it being undefined now, will you continue to be insecure in this being undefined?
Well, are you really secure after we leave this week with it being undefined? I feel like God wants us to be confident in our weakness, I don’t want us to kinda whimper when people ask us about this, we need to be confident in the Lord and what he is saying. I am FINE with the direction of where this is going, but I want to know what I’m gonna hear in a couple months
Shawn: If this is from God, and people aren’t comfortable with that, they need to deal with that with Him, it’s a personal matter between that individual who is saying I have heard from God but that’s not good enough for me. Maybe a fluid movement is good enough for some of you
Dan S: What are you responses going to be when a leader comes to you and asks you what it is, are you gonna say it is undefined and here’s why….
Shawn: I think it would be fine to throw up a couple catch phrases. Chapter 29 is fine, that’s ok to help people grasp it, I would encourage you to have some of this to share with people that need this.
Andrew: The first thing that comes to mind to tell people is that its communicating that the God of the Bible is the God of today and this catches them. It’s ridiculous how excited people get when you just tell them that.
Matt: Being a community of people who are willing to be available, obedient and expectant.
Shawn: You guys got all these, put them on the website, memorize them just so you have them.
Derek: Awaken is the ocean, no country contains Awaken, we’re intentional about going home. If we contain it it becomes a lake.
Dan Lake: I’m changing my name.
Rebecca: Before when we prayed and were silent, Its for the world. There’s people dying and going to hell, not to forget the lost. The reality of it is that people are going to hell, and that should break our hearts. The reality is that God is alive and moving, look what he’s doing with Christians and the lost, people are dying and going to hell. We can’t grab it but we can’t forget the lost.
Shawn: Kai say what York was saying.
Kai: I was confused because God did say America. York’s word brought clarity – we are called to Jerusalem and to the world. America I am from and feel called back to, and Dan to New Zealand, we all have a different part and called back. What’s your Jerusalem?
Shawn: This is a really white American group, weird. It wasn’t weird like bad but its just curious to me. I had forgotten that America thing, I understand now why it is this way. I would expect next year that it would become more diverse. I don’t say that to sound weird, but it did go through my mind.
Dan S: As we’re concluding here, we will jump back into this tomorrow. We’re gonna take this to our meeting and go super practical.
We want to highlight some of the big things we’ve come to conclusions on
Picture of network of networks
Message of Awaken that draws us together
2002 in Cambodia I was amazed at what God was doing, it was burning on my heart God why didn’t I know this? “Dan you are called to the lost, don’t forget your own people”
After a few years I shared it with other people, they shared it, they shared it, we are here today.
It started off with the four people, and they shared it, and it expanded
Main Message – shared with four, shared with three each, shared with two each, shared with ten each etc, it naturally happens we are all connected to the center message
Difference between an Awakened and an Awakener
Awakener is called to go out and take the message
Shawn: Categorized in Kona because reports to Kona, under the counsel. Name of the segment that we are under is “ministries” but we are not a ministry. There is some confusion that needs to be taken out of this. You are moving into a movement, not a ministry. The Lord is molding you in this, like the hand trying to grab water
Early in the early stage, I remember talking with you guys, Dan was concerned about having too many people join this because there were people joining who were not great public speakers. How do you tell people not to be a part of this because they aren’t good speakers? How does God start what we thought was a ministry with only letting some people in?
This is not right that it should be so exclusive, needs to be more broad and open. It does need to be more open. In retrospect we can look back and see why, its about bigger things, bands, media. Anybody can be a part of Awaken if God calls them to it.
Don’t get lost in the tension, get used to the fact that you are part of something that there is going to be something that cannot be defined.
Mike: On behalf of the leadership, know that poop travels uphill. what happens is that when we are unconfident it goes back to your leadership. When we are back in our ministries we need something to say when we are out, that’s why looking at fruit.
We need to be confident in whatever it is that God has said, and the new people always bring things new. As I’ve been in this longer and longer I want to define this, but someone new has always said you cant grab the river. Be confident that we can’t grab it. Make sure that we don’t throw things in insecurity.
We can’t try to grab hold of the river.
Poop travels uphill – when we can’t define it to other people it puts a bad name on leadership… if I just say ooo I’m with this guy…. I’m not saying that’s whats going on but it could happen.
When you go back home they’ll want to know what you bring back to them, not just Oh Dan Shannon called me to go
Shawn: Be encouraged that these guys will get you some things to hang onto. There’s gonna be some catch phrases that will help you, definition to this undefined thing. It’s not going to be this fully nebulous shadowy thing, part of this is saying it’s a river we can’t pin down.
Jacqui – Awaken is not the only face of this movement, this is just one view of what God’s doing. It’s not about being an Awakener, it’s a message on the heart of all who want to show who God is and what he is doing, this is God’s thing. This is holy, this is not ours.
Erica: Streams that come off. Psalm 46
Shawn: Initially thought that it was speaking engagements, changing.
In your meetings, be wise about who you invite to these meetings. We’re not trying to be exclusive, but you’re trying to be wise in your inclusiveness. If you are a youth pastor in an inner city church next year, probably don’t want to load up a bus and just bring everybody, make sure they have a heart to also Awaken.
An awakener is someone that has that call on their life. There’s tons of people who have this in them.
Andrew: I think its like the disciples needing to fill the place of Judas, has to be someone that has walked with Jesus… we need to make sure that people can be in the right place in the body.
Amy: Something hat I got a lot from talking to people in Taiwan is to ask God if God wants to be in it, ask God if its something for you, if its not then don’t come. We have to rely on the word of the Lord in this. Its on people’s hearts, is this specific part of God for you
Andrew: When I was in Kona, there was a guy who came out and God clearly said no and so he went home. We have to be faithful with God and realize that God will bring it.
Shawn: Those who are here are of God.
Need help on this catch phrase
Awaken is a movement that is like 90% individual and maybe 10% corporate. You’re corporate now, on the internet, on trips sometimes, when working with Marc and the band, very powerful and significant individual aspects to this thing. That leads to confusion because Awaken sounds corporate. It’s primarily individual.
Jessica: Corporately individual
Dan S: The Awaken call is not on the corporate group, its on the individual. That holds it together, keeps accountability.
Derek: Gone to so many church camps and even at home church, we say we commit to follow God this year, and it’s a recommitment because it didn’t happen last year. I don’t want awaken to be like that. We should be different, it should be doing our jobs and then building and building and building.
Shawn: I think the corporate can be more defined now, but once we leave on Sunday that’ll be harder to define.
Dan L: Awaken is a movement of Christians who are collectively individual in the expression (communcation) of the message that the God of the Bible is the God of today.
Shawn: Corporate aspect can be somewhat defined, I think the website is key. That is really important, has got to get up and running, encouragement on there, you guys hit each other with communication and all that. Emphasize this, you will find yourselves back at this place again next year. Be aware that you cannot grab the water, you’ll find yourself there, when you start to feel frustrated, say I don’t think I’m trying to put this in a box, am I trying to grab the water or not? You’ll probably say I didn’t even know I was doing that.
Dan S: We all want to put it there, but the thing that can fuel you, we all get stirred when we hear the word movement, you can’t make it a lake, you gotta keep it an ocean, it’s a movement, keep it that way.
Jen: Why don’t we take it confidently and embrace it, we don’t have to process and recommit, we commit to communicating, we’re going to fast and pray etc.
Dan S: The reason we’re doing this is because these questions come at us all the time so we’re doing this SO we can get to that point.
Shawn: The process is tedious but the end is good
The aspect of missions trips is not on the leaders shoulders, its in your shoulders, you cant wait for the leaders to put this together, maybe the leaders will show up too. There’s not a whole lot of templates for it, its exciting to be in something fresh. This is how we did this, its weird, I’d love to throw it in a box but God won’t let us.
It’s exciting. I’m excited to write to Darlene, they’re looking to you, excited to hash it out with the Lord and see what happens.
Should we take a break or hit a few catch phrases.
What are some cool catch phrases that help us
“Communicating that the God of the Bible is the God of today, and is alive and working”
Mama J – explains message, not necessarily us.
Marc – God of the Bible is the God of today, I really like that and it draws attention among the church, but if we’re gonna say that this is just…
I see this generation, at least my experience with it, it seems like people are tired of this “track” of what is normal for lives, school, work etc.
“Awaken is the account of God’s blessing in the world”
We did this event and this guy died, we called it “Can God be trusted?”
If they actually knew what the blessings of the world meant for relationship.
Eric: What if they don’t know the God of the Bible, what if they don’t LIKE the God of the Bible?
Shawn: They don’t understand him.
Garrett: Unsaved friends at home, this would be intriguing to them. They are so turned off by the church and it breaks my heart, but this communicated in this way, I just see my friends being like this is cool.
“This way “ – bringing all these stories, God is not a Sunday School time in this building.
Hannah: “Calling people to respond the reality of God”
Dan S: We’ve said God’s active all over the world, are you?
Marc: The undefinedness of it, putting orthodox around it might scare people go. When we begin to start using Christian language, what are we doing, that will only associate us here and here but not everywhere.
Shawn: My hope is that you can walk out of here and your pastor asks how Denver was, that you would have something to give them, that could be something to look at
Dan L: Continuation of the book of Acts.
Mama J: Because there seems to be different audiences, maybe different phrases for each person, probably will be (90% individual)
Shawn: What if everybody brought five things trying to explain what we talked about today, not a ministry, a movement, not defined with borders. Trying to bring these things in.
Dan S: Communicate to leaders five things that we learned today about what Awaken is and what it is not. I want you walking out thinking that is COOL, I totally understand it now and I’m excited about it!
More Gathering Notes
Reforms and Clarity
Helpers – (banks of the river) Communication Ideas The Next Gathering
Reforms and Clarity in Awaken
Awaken is not a ministry, it’s a movement. Kickstarted this movement – message God placed on our hearts.
Word of the Lord for this week – from Acts, God put a message in Phillip, Paul and Peter in the beginning of Acts to go to the Gentiles, new time in the church
We are in a new time in the church, God wants to awaken them.
Responsibility lies 90% on the individual and 10% on the corporate. 90% of the awakening happens when we are in our individual lives. This will all take place individually.
Think about how the message is producing things in our lives.
This is to charge us and to continue this on – the time when we come together is not the main event of awakening.
It is clear to us that this message is for the Church, its always been for the church. It’s to Awaken those who are already believers, it’s the body. The body is sleeping and we are to wake it up.
The reason we are focusing on the church is so the world will be effected. The only reason for reaching the lost is the body of Christ moving. The core depth of our heart is for the lost, but we need the body of Christ to reach up into its potential.
Many of us are focused in our ministry to the lost, authority in us comes from that, we’re praying for the sick because then when we come back to the church we have a lot of this this this to show them, and a lot of this comes from us being with the lost.
Being a part of Awaken is not our sole purpose in life – the church. We have gathered together because we have been part of overseas missions and we have such a heart for the body of Christ to see what God is doing
I am very much called to the lost, I’ll be focusing on the lost in India. But this movement is to the lost
Question: Is this for America or the worldwide church. What is your Jerusalem? All of our Jerusalems will be different.
It’s a Network of networks
We’re seeing that happen. Each of us is continuing to bring more people in, from our networks and spheres. We’re one network and it kind of expands. A network of networks is the beginning of a movement.
It’s undefined
A movement has to be undefined. We’ve got to remember that as soon as we try to form boundaries it’ll stop movement.
It’s like trying to grasp water. If we try to contain it.
Whenever we are able to record the fruit of this we’re out of line, we shouldn’t be able to do this and know whats going on.
These were some of the key reforms or clarity that we’ve gone about.
A river does have banks, a movement without some kind of containment. Not full containment but some so that we can share it.
Helpers
CONTAINERS/ River banks
The God of the Bible is the God of today
- if talking to someone that doesn’t like the God of the Bible, then you can elaborate more
Moving Body of Christ from believing in God to following God
We believe that it is chapter 29 of Acts.
28 Chapters in Acts, beginning of the history of the church, and it has no ending. There is no ending, it just continues. God wanted to show that its continuing, the story is still being written. We are in chapter 29 today.
Its not just about believing this stuff, but stepping into it today
God is active all over the world today, are you?
Those can kind of contain this movement but its not fully containing everything.
The way you communicate the message of Awaken is different with each person, just like we saw with Angela. The way that she communicated that is different from the way that Dan did. That was her way of communicating that to her environment.
For you, maybe education setting, Matt – small group of guys
Jen – people she’s giving shots to
How is it coming out in your own life?
Connection
How do we stay connected?
Website – Chapter29.net (as in network whoo whooo)
Right now we have a blog going on, doesn’t seem to flow or work really.
What makes me go to a website? News
What if we get a calendar out, assign each of you two weeks of the year and they are responsible for it. During those two weeks, provide a written story of what God is doing and send a picture in to Andrew. Then that will be posted newly each week.
There will be an area to comment.
It might be three things – story, picture, prayer request
Second thing – come to the gathering if this is something you feel called to
Do you see yourself as better off connected to this group than not connected in living out the call of God on your life?
Not the same equipping every year, new focus and it will build in this.
Also put together a profile for each person
Next Gathering
Unique about this group – people who come into this a lot of us are longing for this, we’re like YES how can we do this better?
Something talking to Andy Bird about – what we’ve been doing in this community we have been doing a lot of community building and sharing stories but not a lot of a focus on equipping. How can we actually equip them to go out and do this.
Some of you have heard of Bill Johnson – church on fire, trying to make district a cancer free zone.
They had so many people getting excited and wanted to do things that were going on but they weren’t able to help them all, so they started schools
School of the Supernatural – 1-3 years
School of prophets – 2 weeks
Wanting to know how do I do this? They said come and learn for 2 weeks
We have a similar things, maybe we need to start more equipping in this time, say they can come during this time of gathering and we can equip you to be an awakener better. What does that look like? We don’t want to make a YWAM school or structured thing
We want to keep the organic thing in this, that’s what is cool is that we can’t define ir or get the credit for it.
We want to do it next year and invite new ingredients, invite people to come and bring these ingredients in not a structured thing, but invite them, tell them who we are and have them be a part of us and ask what they feel we should do and go with it.
Maybe somebody focused on speaking and then another person focused on media, focusing on equipping us to do what we feel called to do.
A person could come to the gathering next year and if they come we may never see them again but we can have them leave more equipped.
Move from just gathering to also equipping
Last week of June, first week of July
Matt: Heart with profiles – see where people are so that people can start initiating missions trips saying they want to go places together on trips. We want to have this available.
Dan S: I believe we’re on the edge of something. Like Jacqui said, this is happening all over. God has not given us like the secret key, we have to realize that other people have this same message and heart.
God gave these people the same message and heart
God’s message to the church is I want you to wake up and realize that the Holy Spirit is inside of you and I want you to live in it because I’m the same!
We can feel it, its within us, we witness to it. I also believe that it is no coincidence that we are here, that we are at the core of this. There is a reason that God has drawn us into this organic core of whats going on.
Even at the next gathering you all have authority to say this is where its going and this is where its been.
Not coincidence that you are all here at the beginning rather than in ten years or something
Hold onto that, God is doing something, we all sense it but we can’t grasp it.
I want to thank you guys for coming, and those who have stuck with me. I know you are not following me.
In the past years with Awaken I know I’ve made some mistakes, things that I wish we would have done but I am so blown away by the faith in this group, the tenacity to hold on to the word of the Lord even when its tough.
“I wonder if God just put Awaken in my life to humble me all the time, because that’s what it does”
Its trying to do something that doesn’t have a template.
Shawn: Important to highlight this 90/10% thing
Dan is not trying to get out of leadership or lessen his responsibility to the group, this is something of the Lord. The Awaken vision and what God has called it to be Dan is 110% in it. It might sound like he is exiting, I don’t believe at all that this is what it is. Take solace in that, security in that, as a leader he is committed to the vision.
Garrett: I just want to thank you for being obedient and faithful to the vision. Your faithfulness is why we are here, praise God for choosing you
Dan S: I leave tomorrow morning, I’m going to Delhi, I’ll get there at night. We’ve been praying about going back to Darhmsala, we will triple the population of Christians there while we’re there.
I didn’t plan on bringing a team there, but God has connected us with the Tibetians through stuff with the Dali Lama’s family. It’s been going for 2-3 years now, I met the Dali Lamas’ sister.
God opened a door for me to go into the secretary of the Dali Lama and hung out with his kids and his family.
They asked us about Jesus, asked us to go to church.
God called to Kona, really lead outreach team?
In India I would go and pray around the epicenter of Tibetian Buddhism, and I would pray that God would just bring somebody, and now I believe that God may call some people from this team I’m taking in (7 people) to stay there long term
Its one of the darker places I’ve been spiritually, would love your prayers, at least through December, maybe longer.
Words for Dan
Look through God’s eyes, don’t try to pop open the door with a crowbar, because the keys are on the wall
God is really proud of you. What you are doing is way over above what most would do, God has tremendous pleasure of you as a son. Stoked to put blessing on you
Team - the weakest person on your team is going to open up huge doors, don’t look down on them.
Athena – Remain vulnerable with us if there is a time you need prayer, you guys need to go in on high alert with spiritual guard up at all times. Stepping into a spiritual battle ground, stand firm
Shawn: I would imagine soon you will be with the Dali Lama and the spiritual stakes will be higher, and we need to cover him tenfold
Mike: Give wisdom, affirm that you do have everything you need to lead the team.
You HAVE the wisdom
Brittney – Isaiah 43
Jen – obedience, obedience, obedience. it might be that strategies that you have had before may not work
Helpers – (banks of the river) Communication Ideas The Next Gathering
Reforms and Clarity in Awaken
Awaken is not a ministry, it’s a movement. Kickstarted this movement – message God placed on our hearts.
Word of the Lord for this week – from Acts, God put a message in Phillip, Paul and Peter in the beginning of Acts to go to the Gentiles, new time in the church
We are in a new time in the church, God wants to awaken them.
Responsibility lies 90% on the individual and 10% on the corporate. 90% of the awakening happens when we are in our individual lives. This will all take place individually.
Think about how the message is producing things in our lives.
This is to charge us and to continue this on – the time when we come together is not the main event of awakening.
It is clear to us that this message is for the Church, its always been for the church. It’s to Awaken those who are already believers, it’s the body. The body is sleeping and we are to wake it up.
The reason we are focusing on the church is so the world will be effected. The only reason for reaching the lost is the body of Christ moving. The core depth of our heart is for the lost, but we need the body of Christ to reach up into its potential.
Many of us are focused in our ministry to the lost, authority in us comes from that, we’re praying for the sick because then when we come back to the church we have a lot of this this this to show them, and a lot of this comes from us being with the lost.
Being a part of Awaken is not our sole purpose in life – the church. We have gathered together because we have been part of overseas missions and we have such a heart for the body of Christ to see what God is doing
I am very much called to the lost, I’ll be focusing on the lost in India. But this movement is to the lost
Question: Is this for America or the worldwide church. What is your Jerusalem? All of our Jerusalems will be different.
It’s a Network of networks
We’re seeing that happen. Each of us is continuing to bring more people in, from our networks and spheres. We’re one network and it kind of expands. A network of networks is the beginning of a movement.
It’s undefined
A movement has to be undefined. We’ve got to remember that as soon as we try to form boundaries it’ll stop movement.
It’s like trying to grasp water. If we try to contain it.
Whenever we are able to record the fruit of this we’re out of line, we shouldn’t be able to do this and know whats going on.
These were some of the key reforms or clarity that we’ve gone about.
A river does have banks, a movement without some kind of containment. Not full containment but some so that we can share it.
Helpers
CONTAINERS/ River banks
The God of the Bible is the God of today
- if talking to someone that doesn’t like the God of the Bible, then you can elaborate more
Moving Body of Christ from believing in God to following God
We believe that it is chapter 29 of Acts.
28 Chapters in Acts, beginning of the history of the church, and it has no ending. There is no ending, it just continues. God wanted to show that its continuing, the story is still being written. We are in chapter 29 today.
Its not just about believing this stuff, but stepping into it today
God is active all over the world today, are you?
Those can kind of contain this movement but its not fully containing everything.
The way you communicate the message of Awaken is different with each person, just like we saw with Angela. The way that she communicated that is different from the way that Dan did. That was her way of communicating that to her environment.
For you, maybe education setting, Matt – small group of guys
Jen – people she’s giving shots to
How is it coming out in your own life?
Connection
How do we stay connected?
Website – Chapter29.net (as in network whoo whooo)
Right now we have a blog going on, doesn’t seem to flow or work really.
What makes me go to a website? News
What if we get a calendar out, assign each of you two weeks of the year and they are responsible for it. During those two weeks, provide a written story of what God is doing and send a picture in to Andrew. Then that will be posted newly each week.
There will be an area to comment.
It might be three things – story, picture, prayer request
Second thing – come to the gathering if this is something you feel called to
Do you see yourself as better off connected to this group than not connected in living out the call of God on your life?
Not the same equipping every year, new focus and it will build in this.
Also put together a profile for each person
Next Gathering
Unique about this group – people who come into this a lot of us are longing for this, we’re like YES how can we do this better?
Something talking to Andy Bird about – what we’ve been doing in this community we have been doing a lot of community building and sharing stories but not a lot of a focus on equipping. How can we actually equip them to go out and do this.
Some of you have heard of Bill Johnson – church on fire, trying to make district a cancer free zone.
They had so many people getting excited and wanted to do things that were going on but they weren’t able to help them all, so they started schools
School of the Supernatural – 1-3 years
School of prophets – 2 weeks
Wanting to know how do I do this? They said come and learn for 2 weeks
We have a similar things, maybe we need to start more equipping in this time, say they can come during this time of gathering and we can equip you to be an awakener better. What does that look like? We don’t want to make a YWAM school or structured thing
We want to keep the organic thing in this, that’s what is cool is that we can’t define ir or get the credit for it.
We want to do it next year and invite new ingredients, invite people to come and bring these ingredients in not a structured thing, but invite them, tell them who we are and have them be a part of us and ask what they feel we should do and go with it.
Maybe somebody focused on speaking and then another person focused on media, focusing on equipping us to do what we feel called to do.
A person could come to the gathering next year and if they come we may never see them again but we can have them leave more equipped.
Move from just gathering to also equipping
Last week of June, first week of July
Matt: Heart with profiles – see where people are so that people can start initiating missions trips saying they want to go places together on trips. We want to have this available.
Dan S: I believe we’re on the edge of something. Like Jacqui said, this is happening all over. God has not given us like the secret key, we have to realize that other people have this same message and heart.
God gave these people the same message and heart
God’s message to the church is I want you to wake up and realize that the Holy Spirit is inside of you and I want you to live in it because I’m the same!
We can feel it, its within us, we witness to it. I also believe that it is no coincidence that we are here, that we are at the core of this. There is a reason that God has drawn us into this organic core of whats going on.
Even at the next gathering you all have authority to say this is where its going and this is where its been.
Not coincidence that you are all here at the beginning rather than in ten years or something
Hold onto that, God is doing something, we all sense it but we can’t grasp it.
I want to thank you guys for coming, and those who have stuck with me. I know you are not following me.
In the past years with Awaken I know I’ve made some mistakes, things that I wish we would have done but I am so blown away by the faith in this group, the tenacity to hold on to the word of the Lord even when its tough.
“I wonder if God just put Awaken in my life to humble me all the time, because that’s what it does”
Its trying to do something that doesn’t have a template.
Shawn: Important to highlight this 90/10% thing
Dan is not trying to get out of leadership or lessen his responsibility to the group, this is something of the Lord. The Awaken vision and what God has called it to be Dan is 110% in it. It might sound like he is exiting, I don’t believe at all that this is what it is. Take solace in that, security in that, as a leader he is committed to the vision.
Garrett: I just want to thank you for being obedient and faithful to the vision. Your faithfulness is why we are here, praise God for choosing you
Dan S: I leave tomorrow morning, I’m going to Delhi, I’ll get there at night. We’ve been praying about going back to Darhmsala, we will triple the population of Christians there while we’re there.
I didn’t plan on bringing a team there, but God has connected us with the Tibetians through stuff with the Dali Lama’s family. It’s been going for 2-3 years now, I met the Dali Lamas’ sister.
God opened a door for me to go into the secretary of the Dali Lama and hung out with his kids and his family.
They asked us about Jesus, asked us to go to church.
God called to Kona, really lead outreach team?
In India I would go and pray around the epicenter of Tibetian Buddhism, and I would pray that God would just bring somebody, and now I believe that God may call some people from this team I’m taking in (7 people) to stay there long term
Its one of the darker places I’ve been spiritually, would love your prayers, at least through December, maybe longer.
Words for Dan
Look through God’s eyes, don’t try to pop open the door with a crowbar, because the keys are on the wall
God is really proud of you. What you are doing is way over above what most would do, God has tremendous pleasure of you as a son. Stoked to put blessing on you
Team - the weakest person on your team is going to open up huge doors, don’t look down on them.
Athena – Remain vulnerable with us if there is a time you need prayer, you guys need to go in on high alert with spiritual guard up at all times. Stepping into a spiritual battle ground, stand firm
Shawn: I would imagine soon you will be with the Dali Lama and the spiritual stakes will be higher, and we need to cover him tenfold
Mike: Give wisdom, affirm that you do have everything you need to lead the team.
You HAVE the wisdom
Brittney – Isaiah 43
Jen – obedience, obedience, obedience. it might be that strategies that you have had before may not work
Thursday, October 02, 2008
AWAKEN finale at the York's
We ended up where we started, at the wonderful York's house. After going to DFC for church we went and had mexican food for lunch and then we watched the season premiere of the office for those of us who were still here. Then some more guitar hero and the hot tub. Saying our final farewells to those leaving in the morning. Then I got my socks blessed off once again because I got to go up in the prayer one helicopter and pray for Denver!!
AWAKEN at Sigur Ros
Andrews supporters blessed us with the most amazing breakfast of crepes and french toast and quiche and coffee, as we enjoyed them and each other and the morning. Then we took the crew shopping before they headed back to Taiwan and later that day some of us headed to the Sigur Ros concert at Red Rocks. We made it a late night by going to Tom's diner because parting is such sweet sorrow!!!
AWAKEN at Red Rocks
Friday was more discussion and prayer about the future of AWAKEN, where and when it would be and who would take on responsibilities. We grabbed some noodles for dinner and headed out to red rocks to say goodbye to Dan and send him out. Then we took a hike and worshipped in the Amphitheater where a woman came up to us crying and saying that God had sent her angels.
AWAKEN at the D Note
Thursday we had more time for prayer about the future of AWAKEN and then we met to pray about what and who would share at the D Note. The colorado springs emerge china team came up for the event to support and encourage us as did confluence, and burn, and arvada vineyard, and sooo sooo many others. It was a turn out that I could have only hoped for and it was God who made it possible. We all shared in some amazing pizza, music, testimonies, and videos.
AWAKEN and the Penguin Attack
The next morning amidst airport runs and greyhound pick ups, we had the immense pleasure of our Buddy Matt Hulst coming and speaking to us and sharing his unique part in AWAKEN, in University. While we were listening, a sort of handicapped Janitor in a penguin suit kept interrupting, and while Rebecca and I were busting up in laughter everyone else was very somber. Come to find out it was Sean Murphy!!! What a great prank. So after we heard from Matt, we had a couple of other special guest speakers from YWAM. Jon and Jill Bills came and gave us a prophetic word regarding awaken and we prayed into it. Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 22. We had a dinner of Chipotle, and then the groups split, some to go to Bridgeway bible study and the rest to stay at DFC. Again God moved in such amazing ways and not only were our audiences encouraged and challenged but so were we from them.
AWAKEN Eagle Rock
So Monday and Tuesday we pretty much had no place to meet and YWAM Denver allowed us to go use the Eagle Rock Facilities in the mountains. We all loaded up and headed to the mountains, arriving in the afternoon and scoping the place out. We had a time of prayer and sharing about the churches and then later watching some old footage of past gatherings. We went on a hike up Eagle Rock and got a ticket :( Later that evening we watched videos made by Andrew York and heard his unique calling in AWAKEN. We had a bonfire and schmores and a great game of Mafia, in which Garrett Boyer as always was the stinking mafia, but I killed him this year :) Our second day at Eagle Rock we had a time of sharing how we were called into AWAKEN and what it meant to us currently in our lives wether abroad or in the states and then we had some quiet time asking God what AWAKEN was and where he was taking it. There was lots of time for horseshoes and ping pong.... and a sweet game of frisbee golf at which Michael Brown is horrible and ends up in the bottom of creeks!!!! Taquito led us in an amazing time of worship and then we broke up into new groups to pray about what we should share at churches on Wednesday night!
AWAKEN At Church and the Broncos
Sunday we went to our churches and shared, and God showed up in amazing ways. In our church we learned that 14 year olds were waiting on God on their friday nights and getting pictures and then going out and praying for people. We were amazing and got to pray for and with them at the end!! Similar experiences happened in most of the churches. We all rendezvoused at Dan's house for some pizza, BBQ, Hot tub, fellowship, Broncos game etc... Angela Lagdameo shared her special part in AWAKEN in the government and what that looks like, and then that evening we went to Bear Valley again and spoke with the college group!!
AWAKEN on Rooftops
Saturday we went downtown and met on a rooftop garden. It was beautiful and the building security was praising God for our presence there. We discussed the vision/mission of AWAKEN to get on the same page and shared a subway lunch. Later that day we split into groups and prayed about what we would share at our individual churches. We went to Arvada Vineyard, Lookout, DFC, and Bear Valley. I took my group to REI and we had starbucks and shared testimonies as well as seeking God in prayer, we found out we are all middle children :) We scoped out REI and then walked the Platte river and down 16th street mall. After getting free candy bars at a candle store and scoping out Ross we headed back, through the park. That's when I caught a glimpse of my favorite ice cream place, Little Man, and took the crew to get some ice cream!!! Later we found out one of the middle children ditched our group :(
AWAKEN Burning!!
The next few days were filled with A LOT of airport runs and as soon as we gathered our people we met at Confluence ministries to hear from Burn 24/7. Later that evening after we were settled in at Open Door Ministries we drove down to the Burn in Littleton. We let the worship and intercession for 2 hours and I can't imagine a better way to start than to give God the worth he is due and to pray for the upcoming and days and for the city. My heart was torn and put right before God and I know other were similarly touched. One little hiccup was that ODM couldn't allow us to use the living room very often and so we began to plot on where we could meet.
AWAKEN Party at the YORKS!!!
We kicked the gathering off with a night at the Yorks... there is no better way!! As always Bonnie was the hostess with the mostess, and so much more!!! We had pizza and candy and hung out all night, playing guitar hero and catching up. The house was packed and there were plenty of air mattresses to go around. I got a frantic call at 4 in the morning saying Matt's flight didn't exist and he was stuck in the airport. Thus began my week and a half of sleeplessness!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
Thursday, September 04, 2008
The Burn!! 24/7 prayer & worship for Denver
So were gonna do a intercessory prayer and worship time on the friday and saturday we arrive in Denver. The group is called Burn 24/7 and is much like 24/7 prayer. It starts friday night the 19th and goes through saturday night the 20th and it's gonna be an awesome way to start what we are doing in Denver. What better way than with prayer for the city and worship to God!!! We'll be leading the 7-9 o'clock session and then participating as we feel led after that!!
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