Prayer Needed

Awaken has grown by over 50% in Worship Gatherings over the past year and has also seen our Community Groups grow by over 50%.  One thing I've come to learn is that before a season of growth there is usually a season of attack from the enemy and pruning from the Lord.  We are in one of those seasons right now.  We are seeing the enemy attack different families with sickness, tiredness, doubt, and busyness.  With that said we need to mobilize you to pray as we see God lead us through.  Here are some quick things to pray for.  Thanks!

1.  Pray for families who are getting pretty sick with the season change.  Some of these are leaders that are deeply depended on and are taken out of action and rightfully so in order to rest and recover.

2.  Pray for families that are being faced with their own past mistakes, personal pains and hurts that God wants to grow them through, marriages that are struggling, etc...  Please pray that these individuals and families are able to find joy in their weakness and allow God to lead them and change them. 

3.  Pray for families who are going through tough financial times.  Some due to the government shut down and some aren't.  This also affects our current giving at Awaken in the month of October where we only met half of our budget for the month.  Pray that we as a church can become financially supported fully within the church in the next 2 years.

4.  Pray for our new leadership team (I mentioned in a previous blog) that they will step in the gap and help lead people through difficult times.  Pray for their capacities as leaders to grow (as I pray for myself) and for discernment to know who and how and when to help.  Pray for their own protection and families protection.

5.  Pray for a new and fresh vision for our people to see how God wants to use us to impact this city for Christ.  Please pray for me to continue to communicate a vision to reach people and see more churches impacted and see people come to freedom in Christ. 

6.  Pray for our Community Groups to grow and our leaders of those groups to grow.  This is where we believe the health of the church rests.  Pray for our leaders to develop and foster a healthy family within those groups where care, shepherding, spiritual growth, and missional living can happen.  Pray for more leaders and hosts to raise up.  Pray for encouragement of our leaders. 

7.  Pray for the maturity of Awaken as we have seen 11 decisions for Christ in the last year. 

8.  Pray for the strength of Connie and I as we continue to push forward and lead this amazing work of God here in Virginia Beach.  Things can sometimes become tiresome.  Pray for protection of our family.  Also pray for health insurance that we need to find as a family.  We have been without the past two years because of the rising cost of health care.

Thank you for your prayers!  Please let us know you will be praying for dropping a quick comment.  It will be greatly encouraging as it is the prayers of God's people that mobilize the angels to help and serve God's people.  (Hebrews 1:14)  You can also see my previous blog for more of an update on the work here.