Awakening America Summit Inspires National Leaders
The Awakening America Alliance recently hosted their bi-annual Leadership Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. The summits emphasize:
• Strategic Planning and Development of Preach2Engage Initiatives
• Relational Connecting and Encouragement for National Leaders and Spouses
• United Ministry Engagement around a Contemporary Spiritual Awakening
General Sessions introduced fresh ideas and inspired the group of key leaders with speakers from the arenas of denominational leadership, next-generation evangelism, faith-based media, and prayer ministry. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, producers of A.D. The Bible Continues, and Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention joined the group via video conferencing.
Awakening Indicators Emphasized
Dr. David Ferguson, co-chair of the Alliance, opened the event with a brief celebration and drew attention to the Twenty Indicators of Awakening, identified by the Awakening Alliance in 2008 and still a major focal point for the ministry. Indicator #10 in the church, “Heightened expressions of love and unity among all believers, as demonstrated by the unity of pastors and leaders,” was evident in the summit as a clear answer to prayer. In addition, “Christ’s influence in the arts, media, and communications” (indicator #3 in the culture) has also been greatly increasing, and a moment of praise and thanksgiving ensued.
A Prayer for RESET in the Nation
The summit theme, “RESET America,” focused on restoring biblical foundations and godly values in the nation. An invitation to RESET was given by Nick Hall, founder and chief communicator of PULSE Movement. Nick explained that RESET is simply a prayer for Jesus to reset our lives, our families, our churches, and ultimately the nation. To reset something literally means to restore something to its original design, so the Alliance’s prayer is that Jesus would “RESET America.”
One underlying theme emphasized prayer as the key to transformation. Presenters such as Doug Small of Project Pray, Joe Battaglia of Renaissance Communications, Dion Elmore of National Day of Prayer, and Michael Obi of African Strategic Leadership Prayer Network stressed the importance of extraordinary, united prayer in any great awakening and each one led the summit in prayers for God to RESET our generation.
Strategic Planning Sessions
Breakout sessions convened for strategic planning and united prayer, targeting the Awakening indicators. Georgia ministry leaders, led by David Franklin, gathered to plan and pray for the May 7 National Day of Prayer efforts.
Denominational and prayer leaders, led by Ferguson, joined in a Solemn Assembly as a pre-curser to calling their constituency to Solemn Assemblies across the nation on Pentecost Sunday, May 16, 2016. Kay Horner, executive director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal, facilitated a session with Awakening Imperative leaders, who were encouraged as the group shared a powerful time of prayer for their respective ministries and celebrated the flash points of revival God is sending.
Convergence Conference
That evening the Alliance joined forces with the Convergence Conference, a three-day event centered on fanning the flames of revival and evangelism on local college campuses and throughout the Atlanta region. This high-energy event spanned the generations, and a deep sense of unity was experienced across cultural and racial divides. Musical artists included Trip Lee, Kutless, and Lacey Sturm leading worship while Nick Hall, Corey Lee, Byron Paulus, and Alex Kendrick (producer of War Room, to be released August 28) joined with numerous other leaders ministering in the general sessions.
The Alliance recognizes that spiritual awakenings are sovereign moves of God’s Spirit that are often marked by united prayer, courageous preaching, and pastors who are spiritually whole and personally renewed. With this in mind, they are providing:
• Prayer guides focused on the Twenty Indicators of Awakening
• Sermon outlines with media elements
• Bulletin inserts and social media graphics/posts
• Mobile apps for spiritual renewal and marriage enrichment
• Other free resources to engage Jesus followers in a prayer-care-share lifestyle throughout 2015 and beyond
The Alliance’s ultimate goal is serving kingdom initiatives for spiritual awakening and missional living. The Reset Summit is a part of their pursuit of a fresh Christ-Awakening across the nation—in every state, every county, every church, and every heart. Gathering leaders from these various spheres of influence not only builds relationships, but reflects one of their foundational principles—“history is transformed among friends.”
(Source: Awakening America Alliance)
