welcome home

     The Awakening Church is a Spirit-filled and empowered evangelical non-denominational family of churches that meet in various homes. We are “one church, many homes.” Each local house church is self-governing, self-supporting, and autonomous, but they unite together and function as part of a larger fellowship and family of believers centered around the Gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom, spiritual awakening, mission, vision, doctrine, and common values. 

     The Awakening Church exists for the purpose of training, teaching, and equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and missions, and to help her mature in Christlikeness. It offers support, accountability, pastoral care, oversight, and shared vision and doctrine for the local house churches. Our heart is to see a spiritual awakening in the hearts and lives of Christians.

     We are a family of churches for the spiritually hungry and thirsty. We are designed for the remnant who longs to go deeper in God and is not satisfied with dead and dry religion and powerless Christianity. We seek to empower both men and women to fulfill God’s calling on their lives in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We long to see disciples made through hearts spiritually awakened to Jesus. Making disciples sold out to Jesus is our DNA.

     We are a Spirit and Word church in that we merge both the Spirit of God and the Holy Scriptures together. We are passionate about both! We do not believe these are meant to be in competition with one another but rather to complement one another. We have a passion for both practicing all the spiritual gifts and moving in the miracle-working power of the Holy Spirit, while at the same time having a robust biblical theology.      

     We gather together in homes centered around a minimum of four practices as outlined in Acts 2:42 – 1) the apostle’s teaching (Scripture), 2) fellowship, 3) food, and 4) prayer. These are the minimum practices, but some house churches will additionally sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and whatever else the Holy Spirit might lead them to do. There is a lot of freedom in the house church structure!

     The Awakening Church meets in homes for several reasons. We believe the home is ideal for authenticity. There is no religious feel to a living room and dining room. It has a more comfortable and casual feel for people, so guards can be let down more easily.

     The home is also ideal for connection because it is small. It is great for developing strong and intimate relationships because people get to really know one another. Having a meal together is a great way to connect in fellowship!

     Homes are also ideal for church discipline. When a local church is small, people can’t live a hidden life of sin for long. Sin will eventually be exposed, and it can be dealt with and repented of quickly, so the church is not polluted and compromised. Accountability flourishes in a small church.

     Homes are also ideal for participation. Our house church services allow everyone to participate in their spiritual gifts to edify one another. Everyone can participate instead of just a few people. Everyone gets to play!

     Homes are also ideal because the money collected doesn’t go toward a building, its utilities, or its upkeep. The money can go directly to the people (who are the church) to help meet needs and to missions.

     The church meeting in homes is also biblical. The church regularly met in homes throughout the New Testament (buildings weren’t used for local churches until the third century AD). The Bible does not command us to meet in homes, but that’s what the early church practiced (it’s descriptive and not prescriptive in the Scriptures).

     We believe the house church model is effective in reaching the lost. House churches multiply fast because they are easy to start without overhead costs and simple in their structure. Homes become missionary hubs, making Gospel declaration and discipleship part of daily neighborhood life.

     House churches are also a great blessing for elders. Normally, churches that meet in buildings are led by senior pastors who shepherd large numbers of people (sometimes hundreds or even thousands). It’s a great challenge to shepherd a large church! House churches, on the other hand, typically range from 5 to 20 people. Therefore, it’s much easier for elders to know the sheep and minister to, serve, and shepherd them.

     Meeting in homes is also ideal for Bible teaching. When you have a small church, you can discuss the Scriptures together and ask questions for understanding and application. Instead of a monologue with only one person doing all the speaking, you get a dialogue where everyone can participate and discuss the Scriptures together. Even though there is typically one teacher leading the Bible teaching, everyone can contribute by asking questions and making comments about the texts of Scripture.

     Finally, meeting in homes is ideal in a persecuted environment. When churches are persecuted, house churches typically still flourish.

     These are some of the main reasons we meet in homes rather than in buildings although we are not legalistic about it and do not judge any other churches that meet in buildings and that have traditional church structures. The house church structure is just what we sense God has called us to do personally, and we seek to unite with all other Bible believing Gospel centered local churches who seek to know God and make God known. As Christians, we are the one universal church of Jesus at the end of the day.

     “So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.” – Acts 2:46