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