Awakening

My experiences with getting churches to work together has been limited but the experience that I have had has shown me that getting everyone on the same page for an event like Awakening is not an easy task. Almost impossible. With the rise of the denominational church, our generation has become a very ambitious, independent church causing us to become a body that doesn’t know its eye from its big toe but expects its foot to act like an arm.
    
Now to stand in a room with 400 other young adults and worship together is something we do week in week out but to stand in a room of 400 young adults comprised of Pentecostals, Baptists, Anglicans and Catholics from England, France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, etc and to see every hand lifted in unified worship brought me to tears.
    
There was this one moment in particular in London where the worship was just hanging on the presence of God and everyone started singing their own song to God and then in a moment everyone, without the aid of a worship leader, just united in one loud chorus of Worship.
    
Awaken my heart, awaken my soul, awaken this life to you oh God…
    
For a moment we were a church that felt so beautiful and pure that we could have been mistaken to be the bride of Christ.
    
It made me think that if we, the Christians, can all get on the same page and stay there then maybe the Muslims, and Jews, and Hindus, and Buddhists, and Atheists just might start thinking that these Christians are on to something…
    
My prayer is that this newfound unity and brotherhood in the faith between the different church’s and denominations doesn’t stop here at an event. I believe that this is the dawning of a new day and I pray that this continues to shine brighter and brighter and brighter….
    
I think we saw some light on the horizon.

Joel Corrigan
    
Awaken this Love.

Awakening New York was incredible, and not just because of a particular speaker or message.

I left with an overwhelming sense of encouragement to both know Jesus more and to be on mission for Jesus not just personally, but corporately- together. In fact the thought that has been running through my mind since, is that Christianity, or a persons faith in Christ is inseparable to being a part of the church. A Christian and or Christianity is defined by it's relationship with the world.

This is why monk-like "Christian" communities that separate themselves from the world has always confused me and not sat right with me as I interpret the bible either. To be a Christian means we love Jesus, and as a result (that which the bible calls fruit), we love others. Actually, Jesus says those two actions are also inseparable, you can't have one without the other. The first and greatest commandment is to love god, the second is equal to it, or the same as it- to love people. Thus to remove ourselves from the world, or even the church would mean for us to forsake our faith.

Let's learn what it is to "bear with one another in love", to corporately know and experience Jesus together and lastly but just as importantly, to evangelize to this world by our love for one another. Be on mission... Together.

Matt Straw

Something has definitely shifted since the Awakening '09 conference was held in New York City.  On January 23, 2009 over 650 young adults from 5+ nations and 3 different continents gathered together to worship our God!  It is increasingly clear that God is moving in entirely new ways and he is actively opening the eyes of those who seek Him to reshape the entire landscape.  
 
It was an absolute honor for over 100 young adults from Christian City Church Greensboro to make the 11 hour bus ride up the east coast of the United States to attend the Awakening conference.  There were plenty of reasons for us to go, but when it comes down to it, we were there because the God that we love is on the move.  We believe he has love and salvation for entire cities on his heart.  We believe he has empowered and appointed us, his people, to make our cities a praise in the earth.  And we believe that his will for our cities and our world will be realized through the unity, prayers, and action of his people.
 
In John 17 Jesus prays for future believers.  He says when we become one in heart and mind with each other and the Father, a godless world will have evidence of who he is.  Awakening '09 was a demonstration that this is taking place on a whole new scale.  We came together in agreement with the Father's heart and stood as a united generation.  As we all return to our cities having heard the same thing, believing the same thing and now acting on the things God is speaking, the world will have stronger evidence than ever before of who God is and how He loves them.  I have spoken with several of the young adults who went with us and we are all excited that the revelation God has given us back in Greensboro is not unique.  People from every city represented were hearing and sensing these same things in their respective cities.  Our God is speaking, and we are all hearing His voice loud and clear!  What better way to cultivate the unity God is calling us to than to come together for His glory!
 
As we step in unity like never before and support each other like never before our God will be glorified throughout our cities and the earth like never before!  God, awaken in us this ONE LOVE!
 
Sincerely,
 
Pastor Tripp Graziano
Christian City Church Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina  USA

such an amazing time this weekend - my heart got ripped out and replaced with a new one! really love what you said about how "It's already happened". the coolest thing about Awakening was that the transformation begun for us way before the conference. as we eagerly waited on him, he drew us in. your conference lived up to its name, and for that you should be VERY proud.

i am looking into bible college in sydney now - praying hard, of course. my life is completely His now. Now my mission is to cast out my net and bring more into his kingdom - it's already begun!!

"Come and follow me and I will make you fishers of men" -Matt. 4:19. how amazing is he??!!!

pleaseplease never stop doing what you do -- you are an inspiration to us.

♥mB

Good morning, from Greensboro, NC!!!

I wanted to say thank you sooo much for all that you guys did in NY!! You two are amazing, and I am incredibly thankful for our time together! Tripp & I have talked, nonstop, about what an honor it was to serve you guys & with your team! I can honestly say, I look forward to the future with you both. Not sure exactly what that looks like, but know there was a connection established in NY, and I am excited about what is to come!!

I'm believing for huge things in Sydney!! I know that lives are going to be impacted, and that your city will never be the same. We have been receiving lots of emails, texts, facebook messages, etc...about how lives were completely changed in NY. Ppl were truly open & receptive to all that God had/has for them, and now, we have over 105 more excited, full of passion individuals that are ready to see our city, Greensboro, awakened to the love of God!!!

I'm praying for refreshment for you both & your team!! Can't wait to hear about what is to come. Have a wonderful day! I love you!

Summer Harpold
c3greensboro