06/16/2020
Good morning, ladies of Awaken! We hope this message finds you all well and able to appreciate the little things we often take for granted--until a change occurs! While the situations we are faced with locally, as well as globally, are new and unexpected for most of us, we need to remember that none of this surprises our God--he's been ready and is now preparing each of us in new and unexpected ways!
While we were able to take full advantage of technology to finish this past year of Awaken, virtual ladies' brunches make it more difficult to accomplish the vision of this ministry. After prayerfully and thoughtfully considering the changes taking place around us, we believe that the time has come to make changes to Awaken Ladies' Brunch.
As a core team, we make plans for each year's Awaken during the early summer, and this year we're dealing with so many unknowns that we can't plan effectively. Only God knows what the future holds, and we want to be faithful to follow his leading. We welcome this opportunity to seek God's will for the future of Awaken and how he wants to adapt and adjust his ministry. The intimate nature of Awaken Ladies' Brunch makes it impossible to socially distance, especially when we want to love on all our friends (we miss your hugs)! After prayerful consideration and discussion with BCC leadership, we will not be meeting in person during the 2020-2021 school year.
We would, however, like to continue to be a source of support for women. The Awaken Ladies' Brunch page and group on Facebook will still be utilized as a source for online community through occasional short teachings, testimonies, encouragement, and helping women get plugged in to smaller support sources. We believe that God has been preparing us for such a time as this.
We already have the resources in place to expand Awaken beyond a monthly gathering. As a ministry, Awaken has presented a wonderful opportunity to introduce women to the idea of discipleship. In Matthew 28, Jesus encourages us to go and make disciples. This is something that does not require corporate meetings but capitalizes on small, intimate settings--opportunities to build relationships and grow in Christ. Awaken already has a tool in place--the One-to-One Discipleship program--that makes this possible. While the book is not required in order to disciple someone, it is a tool that can be used if you're not sure where to start. We would like to encourage all the ladies of Awaken to reach out to someone who needs more Jesus (and don't we all?) during this time of uncertainty. If you know Jesus, it's time to share life, and make a difference. If you're a believer, this is the perfect opportunity to take what God's been showing you and share that with someone else. Or several women--why not spread the love?
Awaken Ladies' Brunch has been such an amazing ministry! Over the past six years, we have had nearly a thousand women participate from all over the state (and beyond), and it has been glorious! We've eaten, praised, laughed, cried, shared, learned, prayed, and grown together. You have all blessed one another in ways that you may never even realize! Now it's time to share what we've had with others. To reach out to a friend who needs to hear what you've learned. To walk with a coworker through a trial you've already endured. To pray with women who don't know what to say. The world needs Jesus, and we have the opportunity to share him!
With love and blessings,
The Awaken Core Team
