Awakening Reunion 2022
We hosted our annual Awakening reunion 2022 on the Saturday of Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful and joyous gathering with 5 college interns and 38 high school students! Some wrote out what they were thankful for and put it on our paper “Turkey!” Many caught up with our lives in random small and large groups, not to mention our amazing games of “Name that Tune” which some got in just 1-2 chords!
After eating together, we had a time of sharing led by Josh Banner, Awakening’s Director of Discipleship. Josh challenged us to talk to pair off and share why Awakening has been meaningful in our lives. This was so helpful, as many students returned back to the large group to share feelings such as:
“I thought I had friends before Awakening. After Awakening, I know what a TRUE friend(s) really is!”
“I am thankful for all I have learned in Awakening about worship and developing my worship arts gifts. But the true gift of Awakening is growing my relationship with Jesus Christ and learning what it looks like to have solitude and journal my prayers. This was the true gift of Awakening.”
Conversation w/ Kenda Creasy Dean (Unedited)
Unedited audio of Josh’s conversation with Kenda Creasy Dean, the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Seminary. This content was created to support and deepen the Awakening, a summer week-long experience in the worship arts at Hope College that Josh serves as Director of Discipleship.
Awakening Series #5 A Family Conversation w/ Kenda Creasy Dean
In this episode Josh Banner continues the Awakening’s collaboration with the Invitation Podcast as we further explore our focus question: what does a 16-year-old have to teach the church? Here, Josh borrows from a conversation he recently had with Kenda Creasy Dean, the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Seminary, to encourage parents and teens to share their true stories of faith with each other. We hope and pray especially in the midst of Covid-19 this episode #5 will help you to slow down, to be more intentionally present to your family, and to learn with and from each other.
The full unedited, un-produced conversation with Kenda is available for you to listen to.
Awakening Series #4 Covid-19 Check-in w/ Audio from June 2019!
In this conversation Josh Banner and Jim DeBoer have a conversation via zoom to update Awakening students on what may be happening this summer for the Awakening in the midst of our current health crisis. Josh offers some audio clips of students sharing and singing on the beach at last year’s Awakening in June of 2019. Most importantly Josh and Jim want to encourage students to connect with each other as they are able by phone or over the internet, and Josh and Jim offer a challenge to students to speak honestly with God, to pray and worship during this difficult time. Peace of Christ to each and every one of you!
Awakening Series #3 Bre Harris and Jordan Clegg Part II
In this podcast episode, Bre Harris and Jordan Clegg continue their conversation about worship sharing some of their favorite scriptures that help them understand worship. They have good, important insight. But more importantly, you can hear them enjoy sharing God with each other. This is what we do at the Awakening. The Awakening is at its best a week for students, interns, and staff to be together in fellowship, prayer, and worship.
We are only a few days away from our 2019 experience!
See you soon!
Awakening Series #2 Bre Harris and Jordan Clegg
In this podcast local worship leaders and Awakening teachers, Bre Harris and Jordan Clegg have a conversation about misconceptions they used to have about worship and the things they have learned in their journies since.
Awakening IV is almost upon us, just a few weeks away. Bre and Jordan offer some of their learning curve about worship in a humble and inspiring way. This is a fantastic way for you to prepare to join us for the Awakening this year.
Awakening Series #1: What Can a Sixteen-Year-Old Teach Us?
This is the introductory episode in a new collaboration with The Awakening, a week-long, summer worship and arts experience for high school students. In this episode Josh engages a group of the Awakening students to consider the unique gift of a teenager’s spiritual journey. In the posture of spiritual direction, we don’t bring Jesus to the high school student. Instead, we join the student to discover Jesus in and through vulnerability. More info about the Awakening: https://tinyurl.com/y9uk7q23 Be sure to subscribe to the Invitation at www.invitationpodcast.org Peace Peace & Big Love!
