Manuscript Monday: Popping the Christian Bubble

Every Monday I try and post a portion of my manuscript for Tuesday night so that you can provide feedback - maybe you can make into the manuscript!

... Let's be honest with ourselves, Christians tend to flock together in weird ways.  In Fact, we've built industries on this "Christian Only" model!  There's a Christian music industry that puts more assurance in the "Christian's will buy it" revenue than the actual quality of their music.  Clothing lines have been developed with obnoxious says like, "Hold- Him: Jesus went 'all-in' for you!"   And somehow it's even cooler when the message is somehow hidden, like in secret images or a verse secretly placed around the inside collar as if a wearer may  be tricked into salvation by buying a cool looking Jesus shirt, without even knowing it. 

If we are not careful we can end up turning God's community into something about us, and not about Him.  Something about our comforts, not about His mission to redeem the world from sin.

This is the last message in a series we are doing on Community.  We began by recognizing that community begins with the Image of God and because we are created in that image, we crave it.  I challenged you to make it a priority to participate in the Full community that comes together on Sunday mornings.  And last week I challenged you to invest into a Constant Community - those who know most about you and can be a part of the major transitions in your life.

Today, I want to challenge this community of Young Adults, each one of you, to participate in the mission of God.  For the brevity of this message you'll have to understand two things, First - God is on Mission.  Second, that mission is to bring people into community with Himself.  He is Redeeming  his people.  So you will hear me often refer to God's "Redemptive Mission."  And guess what, God has equipped you to participate in his Redemptive Mission as well.

...

That is what excites me! Let's pray that God would clearly show us who we are sent to, who he is sending to us, and even more, how we can participate in His redemptive mission. 

-Phil

Facilitating Discussion

“The story of individualism and self-determination that our culture tells us cannot be reconciled with the biblical story of community and interconnected relationships.”
- Adam McHugh

The Awakening seeks to lead young adults in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through authentic social community.  Growing in relationship with Jesus and people takes more than a time of worship and one person teaching from the front.  That’s why everyone at The Awakening also gathers into Connection Groups of 5-10 people.  The idea is that the conversation (from up front) should lead to conversations with each other.  It gives people at The Awakening an opportunity to wrestle with what they just heard.


I’m Jeff Harrison, and I’m married to the amazing Stephanie!  We create the discussion guides that help the leaders of our Connection Groups facilitate conversations around the biblical topic taught from the front.  As the conversations take place, there is the opportunity for real transformation.


The discussion guides are designed to help us connect to each other and use our giftings and experiences to help each other grow together spiritually.  These conversations are where we can learn more about the Bible and be encouraged to apply it to everyday life.  We talk about how to live out the life of Jesus at school, at work, in relationships, and through all the transitions of young adulthood that we are journeying through together. This is the community at work!


Have you been to The Awakening yet?  We hope you’ll come soon because we could sure use your voice in the conversation.  Check us out on Tuesday Night's at 7pm.

Community: On Tap

If you have been coming to the Awakening, you should by now be catching a sense of what we are trying to do.  We want to help young adults join community and in so do, be disciples. (Plug In. Wake UP.)  We have had several new faces that aren’t even church members showing up and I had to share this story with you. One of our CORE Team members, Michael DeGroat shared this story with me from our last gathering of The Awakening:

Last night I met (we’ll call him John on the blog). He had never been to The Awakening before, but I thought he might be the guest of someone else because they seemed to be friends and had spent lots of timing talking. When I asked John how he heard about The Awakening I heard an amazing story of God making a divine appointment!

John told me that just two hours earlier he had been sitting at home alone overwhelmed with a sense of loneliness. There was a craving deep inside him to be around or with other people. He was craving community. Anything would do.
"I was headed out to find a bar or something… people. I stopped by the church because I thought I might find my friend here. I didn't know anything about The Awakening. But it’s crazy, just like the guy (Phil) said, I didn't like being alone and was just going in search of people. I needed to be here tonight." 

"So you just stumbled into The Awakening without knowing about it?" I asked a bit confused.

"Yeah. I was just tired of being alone, and I ended up here."
I was still confused. The dots didn't seem to line up. It felt like some information was missing. How does someone just randomly stumble into The Awakening without having a clue what it is, where it meets, or when. And how does that person find exactly what their soul has been searching for even though they didn't know it? 

Then it struck me. I have been saying this prayer for months: "Lord, orchestrate the events of people's lives to develop a strong awareness of their craving for community. God begin, even now, drawing them to this ministry and to your heart. Amen"

The Awakening has Begun!

What a fantastic beginning to a new young adult community!  After a summer long preparation by an excellent CORE team, it was so exciting to finally see The Awakening begin. I met so many new people - people who were thirsty for community. I met people that are new to Dallas and even new to the church!  It was an exciting time clearly influenced by God. I couldn't have hoped for a better launch.  Here's a quick play by play:

We began at 7:00pm and already we were pulling out more chairs and by the end of worship we had about 100 people joining us.  Cody Kimmel, our worship leader (Cody is also at Fellowship White Rock Sunday mornings at 11am) with his team of musicians lead us to the throne through some great worship.

I got up next for our teaching portion of the evening.  I taught for about 25 minutes sharing the story of how The Awakening began and about the void in community this ministry is addressing. Then I shared some vision of what we want this ministry to look like and what someone can expect to happen on Tuesday nights.  I also asked people to come for the next 4 weeks because we will be sharing more about who we want to be, our values and the culture we are trying to create.  Finally I called people to not just commit to coming, but if led, to participate in the progress - to join us in building this ministry.   

After a quick break to grab some refreshments, we broke up into Connection Groups where young adults were able to discuss the message as well as get to know several other people in their group.  It was so cool to see 13 groups of 7-10 people gather together and talk about life, how they have experienced community or the absence of it and sharing their excitement for this new ministry.

After about 45 min - a lot longer than I expected, groups began to disperse and hang out in a larger group again.  We had pool tables going, some ping pong and of course plenty of refreshments.  It was just cool to see people getting connected with others and developing new friendships while sitting in the cafe area, the lounge below or standing around in smaller groups.  

The room was full of conversation which created a contagious buzz and excitement.  People didn't really leave until well after 9:00.

There were about 25 of us that continued our conversation across the street at Gordon Biersch until  I don't know when.  I left at 10:30 and people were still hanging out.  Again, another chance to get to know people and become part of this community.

The Awakening seeks to lead young adults in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through authentic social community.  From what I saw last night, God is up to some pretty cool stuff here at Fellowship Dallas.  Authentic community is being built and time will tell just what exactly this will become.  From my vantage point, God has some pretty big plans.

Where you there last night?  What did you see?  What was your experience?  I'd love to hear your story.

Connection Group Leaders

Some of the most influential leaders in The Awakening are the men and women who facilitate discussion in our Connection Groups.  I want to share a quick post about our heart for our Connection Group Leaders (CGL).

First, we are looking for leaders who will love people well.  In the 20-30 minutes that connection groups gather after the teaching, we want each person to be cared for, appreciated, and heard. Second, a CGL will facilitate discussion. Each week CGLs are equipped with a list of questions to help guide and direct the conversation.  This means that individuals in the group will have an opportunity to be heard and hear the prospective of others.  The role of a CGL is to help his or her group members share their thoughts on what was taught that evening.  Third, a CGL will help foster connections.  Getting people connected is one of the CGL's primary roles. Our heart for this ministry is to lead young adults in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through authentic social community, and CGLs are the lifeblood of creating this atmosphere.  Meeting and introducing young adults of like minded interests and life stages as well as getting to know the people in this community are some of the primary roles that a CGL aims to fulfill.

Connection Group Leaders are part of this community and have been confirmed by their peers and this church to participate in this role.  If you would like to be a Connection Group Leader, please let us know by contacting our team leader, Justin Ehle at justinehle@gmail.com.

What are Connection Groups?

If you come to The Awakening on Tuesday nights you will recognize that one of our values is authentic community.  It has been said here on this blog that we want young adults to walk into The Awakening, meet 20 new people and develop five new friends.  One of the ways we foster this kind of culture is through our connection groups.


Each week after our time of worship and teaching, we will break up into groups of 5-10 people in order to discuss the topic shared in the teaching time.  This is a great opportunity for two things to happen.  By discussing the topic, each person has an opportunity to be heard and hear from others allowing for greater discipleship within a community.  Second, this gives each person an opportunity to learn about each other, clearing the way for more personal friendships to arise.  Some connection groups will consist of married people, some single, some just for women or men, but we will expect these connections to form organically.  No one is expected to stay in the same group each week, in fact, our hope is that young adults will move from group to group in order to meet more people and develop more relationships within this social community.
               
Each connection group will have its own Connection Group Leader who will be identified by a special name tag.  This person will be equipped with prepared questions to help facilitate and guide discussion on the topic of the evening.  Get to know these people, they are the real influencers in this ministry and they can help you as we all grow together in community.  If you’d like to be a Community Group Leader please let our team leader, Justin Ehle, know by emailing him at justinehle@gmail.com.

Leadership Teams

I have been thinking about my leadership style lately. I recognize that I am not like all other leaders - not necessarily good or bad, but just different. In several different points this past week, it seems that God is showing me a little bit more of those differences, and one of them I want to share with any new/potential attender of The Awakening.

I am a Team Player. Not sure if it's because of my  history in the athletic arena, or simply because it seems that I have seen so much value with teams in past initiatives I have led, but a leadership team is of up most importance to me.  We have a leadership team for the Awakening called the CORE Team. This is actually an acronym for Community, Ownership, Relationship, and Evaluation. You can check out a greater explanation here. This CORE Team is seriously the most high functioning volunteer team I have ever worked with. God has brought together a group of young adults that desire to be His agents, using their gifts and passions to serve Him. They are selfless, giving of their time and resources to see this ministry succeed. They are totally cool, and we are having a blast!

But that's not the only team I have envisioned for The Awakening.  The CORE Team is currently looking for individuals to be a part of our "Connection's Team"  This team, led by Justin Ehle, will be tasked to lead the discussion groups that meet after the teaching segment of Tuesday nights. Another team, led by our Logo creator and artistic genius Gabe Macias, is our Communications team. This is a team of people who communicate our values and mission through the Web, Social Media and Video. Our hospitality team is led by Shannon Ogilvie. She is so gifted to lead this team, believe me, I know - I've been blessed by her gift of hospitality for over six years now. She is the most self-less person I've ever met. 

The point that I am making, is that when you are working with volunteers, the team model of leadership is key. It spreads out the responsibility, keeps more people engaged in the ministry and "in the know," and it provides opportunities for God to show off his amazing ability as he created every person to uniquely participate in His plans. If you are a part of the Awakening community, there is room for you on one of these teams and others. We will need help in a lot of areas and I trust God to provide the teams and their members to accomplish His work.

Question: Do you want to use your gifts and passions in the Awakening Community?...We have a team for that.

-Phil

Hanging with my Community

Well, hello there fellow quarter-centenarians (and other various ages). Are you enjoying life these days? Well, you should be.

If you are anything like me, as the blistering summer heat dwindles to a close, you may find yourself asking, “Self, what is there to do in Dallas? Is there anything fun I can do in the evenings? And is there anyone to do it with?” You bet your sweet collection of signed Dallas Cowboys memorabilia there is! Friend, turn that frown upside down and leave those “but I’m single” blues behind. The Dallas social scene is just waiting for you to join in on the fun, and it all starts with joining a Community Group.

My Community Group has become like a second family to me over the last 10 months. I know these girls, and I love spending time with them every week. Here at Fellowship Dallas, we like to say that we do life together, and truer words could not be spoken. Every Thursday, we get together to dive into the Word. We pray for a deeper, truer understanding of God’s heart and his desire and purpose for our lives. We encourage each other and we laugh together. And we do A LOT of stuff together. This summer, a few of us went through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace class together on Wednesday nights. On Monday nights, we head to Uptown and hang out at the Dream Café, where they show movies made before 1960 on an outdoor TV while you enjoy a cool beverage and a salad. Ok, a sandwich. Fine, a brownie… and I don’t regret it!

On the weekends, a few of us volunteer at different local organizations. Some of the girls go roller-skating. I’ve even taken weekend road trips with some of the girls before. Whatever we do, we’re having a great time, and the main point? We have someone to do it with! 

So if you’re looking for a place to wake up, plug in and find a group of people you can belong to, check out The Awakening on Tuesday nights. We would love for you to bring your unique personality into our mix, regardless of where you are in life. Single, married, young, not-as-young, male, female – you’re wanted here. You’ll find friendship, like-minded believers who enjoy engaging in Biblical study, and even a few events to put down on that Fall 2010 social calendar.

Plug in. Wake up.

-Lindsey

 A few of my Community Group girls enjoying “Top Hat” at the Dream Café in Uptown.

VALUES: Community

I have had a blast sharing our vision with so many Young Adults. This past Sunday did not disappoint as I got to not only share the details of the Awakening with so many, but I also got to hear a response from people excited to participate in this ministry.  

So many of the responses are the same. I have heard from countless young adults that The Awakening is "what they are looking for," "something they have been wanting," and even "an answer to prayer!"

Clearly, this new ministry is filling a void. There has been an absence and a vacuum has been trying to fill a social need with no avail. This ministry will "lead young adults in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, through authentic social community." These last words describe one of our main values that so many young adults are thirsty for.

We find people needing several types of community depending on their stage of life, spiritual growth and personality (among other variables). The Public space of community is what we often see in a large gathering on Sunday mornings. A lot of people gathering for the same purpose. We reveal little about ourselves, but recognize we are hear for a common purpose. The Social space of community is a mid-sized group of people where more is revealed by individuals. People being to know names and gather similar information about each other in the hopes of fostering more connections. The Personal space of community is more revealing still. Personal information about 'life at home" is shared. Struggles and pains are known by members of the group and when it's time to celebrate a 2 year old's birthday, they are the ones to show up. Finally the intimate sphere of community is reserved for very close relationships such as a spouse or very close friend. At this level, there is very little that goes unshared. Almost all is known about the other individual.

So where does The Awakening fit in? The Awakening is an Authentic Social community. We want young adults to come on Tuesday nights, meet 20 people and walk away with 5 new connections. I find myself often telling others, "We are a social community that filters the personal sphere of community and encourages both the public and intimate spheres of community as well."

As I have shared this idea of social community, I am met with enthusiasm and thirst for such a place to connect and hang out. I look forward to building up this community and doing all we can to foster an atmosphere where everyone can plug in, so that they can participate in the spiritual growth at The Awakening.

Check out tomorrow's blog to read more about our value of "Missional Life"

-Phil
www.twitter.com/pgogilvie
www.twitter.com/awakeningdallas

An 8 Week Awakening

Today I spent some time considering what to say on September 14^th, the very first message for The Awakening.  Really, what can you say?  It reminds me of opening my Twitter account.  What should that first tweet say?  Because you don’t want it to be the boring, “uh…So, I’m on twitter now.”  The reality is, you spend so much time thinking about what that first tweet will say, but no one sees it!  No one is even following you!  Well, at the Awakening, we will have a bunch of people there asking, “Why should I come?”  They will be wondering, what this community is about and why should I follow.  So, how do you share all the information, vision and culture of a new community of young adults in 20 minutes?  You don’t!  I’ve decided to give some of the big points, but I am asking people to commit to attending for the next 8 weeks to hear the full vision of who and what this community will be.  The first four weeks will solidify what type of community we are, and the next four weeks will describe the culture and values we hold.  Will you join us in experiencing this 8 week awakening?

-Phil

Introducing The Awakening

That awkward first post...What do you write?!  Well, I think the best thing to do is let you in on what we've already been doing.  Especially over the next few weeks, My goal is to share the work that is going in to starting this ministry.  I am excited and I know many of you are too. Below is the email that I sent out to all our staff and elders to introduce The Awakening. Give us your feedback and share this post with others and I look forward to seeing you September 14th at 7pm.

To all staff and elders of Fellowship Dallas:

With the closing of Fellowship Metro and the Fellowship White Rock Campus starting up, we have recognized an increased need for a community here at Fellowship Dallas serving both campuses that focuses on Young Adults.  In June, I invited some of the most influential Young Adults of Fellowship Dallas to my house and we talked about a new community.  I asked one simple question: If you could be  apart of a new initiative to reach Young Adults in Dallas, would you give your time and resources to it?  The answer was a resounding YES.  Today we have a 14 member CORE team passionate about reaching their peers and the foundation of a new community called The Awakening. 

This CORE Team has been meeting weekly as architects of this new community and I want you all to know the results of our effort thus far so that you are in the know and can share this information with others.  Beginning September 14th, The Awakening will gather weekly in the Student Center at 7pm on Tuesday Nights [here at Fellowship Dallas].  Our mission is to lead young adults in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through authentic social community.  Our plan is to provide a social environment where young adults can meet many people and walk away with significant connections.  At TheAwakening young adults can Plug In to Christ-centered community and be inspired to Wake Up from their day to day slumber to a true faith full of life.

As to our format on Tuesday nights, we will begin with 20 minutes of worship led by Cody Kimmel.  Then we will have a 20 minute message from the teaching team led by myself.  A bulk of our scheduled time will be in the form of smaller gatherings around the student center.  Whether around a table or couches and chairs, smaller groups will gather to discuss prepared questions facilitated by a group leader, regarding the topic that was taught.  As these groups disperse after about 30 min, a social hang out will be encouraged either on or off campus.

As staff and elders, I ask for your support of this new ministry.  As The Awakening supports both campuses of Fellowship, we are excited to provide another element of community and discipleship for young adults who attend Fellowship Dallas and all those God brings us in contact with.

Please forward this email [read: blog post :)] to people who need to see it and guide any response back to me at PhilO@fellowshipdallas.org

...The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber,

because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:11-12

-Phil