How Great is Our God!

by Evan Davis

summer intern to The Awakening

How great is our God? This is the question I found myself asking on the last morning service of Euroquest. How great is the God who brought eight nations together under one roof to praise his name? As I stood in awe while each nation sang that song in their own tongue I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 12:4-7. "There are a varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are a varieties of service, but the same Lord: and there are a varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." In this moment I realized what it really means to be a part of an international body of believers.

The theme of Euroquest 2014 was "Rebuilding the Altar in Europe". In Joshua when God commands the people to build an altar he specifies that they must use only uncut stone. How much easier would it have been to build an altar with uniform stones that fit together perfectly? Building with fresh stone is painstaking because each rock has a distinct shape. Similarly the church body is comprised of individuals who are all different. Do you ever find yourself thinking how much easier it would be to "do" church if a few members were a little less "different"?

Building with uniform stones may be easier but how much more beautiful is an altar of uncut stone? The delicate balance of these distinct stones fitting together is what makes it beautiful. Being the body can be difficult because it's comprised of broken people, but just like an altar of uncut stone a church body of broken people brings glory to God. There are a variety of people in the body, but we all serve the same God. That is what is so beautiful about both the altar in Joshua and the church today. 

Thank God for giving me this realization and allowing me to meet people from our church in Europe!

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Panama - A beautiful country with beautiful people

by Stephanie Poole
summer intern to The Awakening

Panama is so beautiful. The people there love and serve so willingly without holding back. They served us just as much as we served them. The pastors that we worked with love God and they want to see their community come to know Christ. Panama isn’t a poor country. They don’t need us to help them rebuild or give them things; all they needed from us was to go into the community and draw attention to what God was doing in their churches. 

So that's what we did.

We went to several schools and one park where we did skits for the kids. We shared the gospel with them through our skits and our love. This was a stretch for me - physical labor and working hard are my strengths. I can persevere through sweat and hard work, but talking to people, making personal connections with kids, and putting myself out there for them to see was hard for me. I learned so much about how to evangelize. I learned that it's not about me or what the kids will think of me; instead, its about letting God use me to show them that He loves them. I had to learn to put myself aside and let God speak through me.

I loved playing with the kids at each school, trying my best to understand and be understood. We laughed at each other's failed attempts and normally ended up recruiting WesleeAnn to translate. I even met a girl at one of the schools named Stephanie! I got a picture and talked with her as much as I could, even though my spanish was limited. She freaked out when she saw the gauges in my ear; she pointed and said “Grande.” It was so cute! 

 

My favorite moment from the whole week was on Monday when we went up a mountain to visit a school in the Indian village Ngäbe-Buglé. We did our skits and played with the kids there. Afterward, the pastor of the church in the village invited us to see his church. He said a few words and told us he had some Indian dresses that his wife had made. Then he said he wanted to give them to us. I later found out from Jorshua, one of our translators, that was a huge honor. It just doesn't happen. The Indians don’t let people who aren’t in their tribe wear their clothes. I was so honored to know that he was so thankful for what we did that he would allow us to have these dresses. We prayed after that. I was holding hands with the pastor and I could feel him shaking and crying. He was so grateful for us. I looked up as we were praying and took it all in. From where I stood, looking out over Panama’s mountains and holding hands with the pastor wearing this Indian dress.. I can’t put it into words but I’ve never felt so much love before. It was truly the most beautiful moment I’ve ever experienced. My words do not give justice to that moment or what it meant to me. I could see God all around me - in the scenery, in the pastor, in my team. Never has God been so real to me than in that moment. 

God taught me so much this week about patience, responsibility, removing myself and my thoughts and letting God use me the way he wants. He also showed me how to empathize with my team and be there for them in every situation. I thank God for all that I’ve learned and experienced this week.

I can truly say that Panama and its people have captured my heart.

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Costa Rican Realizations

by Janene Wooten
summer intern to The Awakening

While sitting under a tree in Costa Rica and watching the sun sneak through the branches, I began to think about all that went into making that perfect scene happen. The design of the tree, the exact length and position of the leaves and branches, the sun being precisely placed to come through at the angle it did - it was incredible. The thought that all of that was meant for me to witness could not be real. Then my mind drifted to the people I had encountered during my time in Costa Rica...

 I thought of all the children I held and played with, their stories, what brought them to the place where I met them, and I could not understand it all. I also thought about all the women that God allowed me to pray with, their needs and hurts, the words we shared, and the immense impact they had on me. How did all of that come to pass?

Before going to Costa Rica I had been studying in Acts 17:24-27 which reads, “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way towards him and find him”.

Thinking, as I always do, that I knew exactly what that meant and needed no elaboration from anyone else, I left that at a very basic level. But sitting under that tree, I was moved to study it further. I read a commentary by David Guzik on the chapter and found a quote that said, “He not only gave us our life and breath, when he brought us into being, but he is continually giving them to us; his providence is a continued creation; he holds our souls in life; every moment our breath goes forth, but he graciously gives it us again the next moment; it is not only his air that we breath in, but it is in his hand that our breath is”.

"He is continually giving them to us”, as in, our life is not just happening when we see fit and how we decide to make it happen. These words really became evident to me while in Costa Rica. God did not just give us life and send us on our way, He is continually working in our lives to bring out His will for us. I think a lot of times, at least for me, we get into the habit of assuming that our encounters are of our own creation, but we are so wrong. The situations and circumstances that we are blessed to experience are because of God’s design.

One of the days we were in Costa Rica we went to a daycare/orphanage in an impoverished suburb of San Jose. At first, seeing all the dilapidated homes and dirty streets was overwhelming, and it was hard to see anything past that. We took the children up to a park on a hill above the city to play some games with them and do our planned program. Before we started our skits and songs, I was playing with these beautiful little girls. As we ran around, racing each other to an undisclosed location, they all turned on me and ran at me. I had become the "end" of the race. 

As all four of them jumped on me, nearly knocking me to the ground, I turned and was taken aback by the sight before me. God had laid out this beautiful picture of the slum where I had been so blind before; all the different shapes and colors of the homes, the people moving through the streets in what seemed like a planned dance, all of it being framed by luscious green mountains, it nearly brought me to tears. I had been so focused on what I could see, so God used these little girls that I had come to help to open my eyes to what He wanted me to see. I realized that what I take from every encounter is only limited by me.

God desires and has planned things for me, for all of us to experience every day and we have to allow ourselves to take part in those plans. The whole time in Costa Rica was one experience after the other of God showing off His magnificence and me trying not to miss what He was giving me. God showed himself off through our whole team as well as the amazing people we encountered. Through every skit, every song, every laugh, every kick of a soccer ball, God was there giving us our next breath of His purpose.

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Haiti - the land of possibilities

by Jenna Aycock

summer intern to The Awakening

Lost. Impoverished. Hopeless.  This is the image that many people envision of Haiti. When I decided to go to Haiti, people told me to prepare for the dirty streets lined by the rubble of houses demolished by natural disasters. They prepared me for heartbreaking sights and devastation, but from the front of Mr. Roger’s truck I saw smiling women carrying fruits and goods to sell on market day. I saw Tap-Taps (Haitian cabs) filled to overflowing with people on the way to work. At first glance the streets may be dirty, but they are full of potential.

One of the greatest blessings of my trip to Haiti was the opportunity to create potential in one of our IPHC schools in Cabaret. Our team was given the great privilege of painting classrooms in the school. Just by painting these rooms we were able to give natural lighting so the students could have a better learning environment. As we finished, the children stampeded us and latched onto our paint-covered arms and legs. The children were overjoyed by the small improvements made to their school. They sought our attention like the Living Water and they were shocked when we actually wanted to touch them. 

One girl named Jennifer came to me and I reached out to receive her hand. She hesitantly placed her hand on mine and at that moment I realized that we are all the same. We may have a different color skin, but we all have hands with unique qualities created by the same awesome God. We may not speak the same language but we are the all able to share the love of Jesus through a genuine smile and heartfelt embrace. In the short moments we spent with the children, God shined through each of us and allowed us to be a living representation of Jesus Christ.

There are many life-changing experiences that I could share but I believe that Jennifer can teach each of us one of the most precious lesson of all.  Be intentional about every moment and every relationship in your life.  When you are tempted to see Haiti as lost, impoverished, or hopeless, take a closer look into the joyful eyes of a man, woman, or child, like Jennifer and instead see --

Potential, Strength, & Hope.

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Max shares at MyChurch

On May 25th, Max had the opportunity to share about The Awakening at My Church in Mustang, OK. Pastor Steve Cowan has been preaching a series on missions called "Mission 3:16" and it was our privilege to be a part. Over the last couple of years, we have worked closely with Nexus Youth and Youth Pastor Keisha Gordon. On top of visiting their congregation, last year we took their youth group on a missions trip to Nashville, TN.

We are super excited to see what God is doing and through this church and we are looking forward to our next opportunity to serve them!

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SEND Conference @ Southwestern Christian University

On September 10-12th, WMM's Youth and College department (The Awakening) hosted the 8th annual edition of SEND conference on the campus of Southwestern Christian University. The students had the opportunity to hear the challenge to respond to the great commission from missionary Darah Tickle and The Awakening's Director Max Barroso. The Awakening Band led worship. 

We are thankful for the great response and level of engagement from the students. SCU's VP for Student Development, Brad Davis, already contacted our office interested in having SEND on campus every semester! We are thankful for the doors God is opening on our college campuses, and we look forward to continue opening doors for young adults as they fulfill their God-given destiny!

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What The awakening is all about

Check out our latest video released during YQ 2013

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Madeline's perspective - SEND @ SCU 2012

By Madeline Lafferty

Last month the Awakening team stepped onto Southwestern Christian University’s campus with the mission to minister to the student body and emphasize the importance of Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 28:19 where He said, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” The week started off on Tuesday morning during chapel with worship led by the Awakening followed with a powerful message by guest speaker and missionary, Joshua Ben King demonstrated the word and spread the gospel message while sculpting a clay pot. It was so amazing to see our lives from the perspective of the potter’s hands. Only the Potter (our Creator, God Almighty)knows the plans he has for the clay. We, the students, were encouraged to remain in His hands as he works to make us usable and complete.

Wednesday night’s service was a more intimate setting with fewer students. Matt Bennett, director of People to People Ministries, brought to our attention what Jesus meant by telling us to be a good “neighbor”. The service was great but what made the night so special for me was the conversations that occurred afterwards. While talking to a couple of my friends, freshmen here at SCU, I was very inspired because I could hear the passion in their voices as they talked about wanting to make a difference in the world- here and abroad.

Thursday morning’s worship set ended on the sweet sound of students singing, “I Surrender All” which are words so pleasing to God. The Awakening’s director, Max Barroso spoke from the passage in John 20 and his message concluded with the point that we are to be like Jesus-willing to sacrifice our lives for the sake of others. SEND (See Every Nation Discipled) Week has been a tradition here at Southwestern for many years and many of the events that take place during this special week have made huge impacts in the lives of many of Southwestern’s students-including my own. It was during a SEND week here at SCU that I surrendered ALL of my desires and dreams to him for the sake of seeing lost people come to know Christ. I am so thankful that this tradition has been continued and I hope that it carries on for many years to come!

The Awakening team interacting with the students

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The Awakening Band leading worship during LAMCAR Quest

Here is a small glimpse of The awakening Band leading worship during LAMCAR Quest. One of the Youth Pastors from Costa Rica got some footage with his cellphone and put it up on youtube. We are so thankful for the way God is using Madeline and Seth to lead our band and this generation into His presence!

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