Awakening- The Music

The music at this conference was unique and awesome.  The very first night we had the gospel band of Bobby Perry (who also spoke this year). The second day we had our own P Marco & The Czar do a rap set, and This Beautiful Republic and Aaron Gillespie tore the place apart with huge Rock- and a Real message. Friday we had one of the most sweet times of worship ive taken part of- seriously i didnt want to preach.  The awakening band (groundZero’s youth band) were incredible this conference.  They worked soo soo hard leading up to the conference and never complained. 

 

I feel like we targeted walls that need to be broken in New England.  I heard one kid say during TBR’s concert “Dude, i cant believe this is at a church man”. I couldnt believe it either.  Our church has come a looong way. Passion was infused in the rock that night.  

The Czar killed it! He has this song “After the Pain” that brings me to tears almost every time he does it.  Its so real and you can see his brokeness before God.  I remember commenting to my friend “huh. its like he has actually gone through actual pain” It was so relatable, and as a youth- i appreciate that. 

God really showed up in every genre, in every session.  It was awesome to see the gospel, worship, rap, and rock all blend together to show a picture of Christianity. No one judged the music, no one was legalistic (if they were they missed out- and missed the point).  No, these teenagers didn’t judge merely by looks or sound- they judged by content, and there was some incredible content (life changing really) to the music at Awakening 08.  

Interjection

Never read “Blue Like Jazz” immediately following a conference.  It is just too much to handle. By the way- that book made my head spin, and i loved every minute of it. 

Awakening- The Youth.

My God! Well, it seems i have been a bit late to the blogosphere about awakening. Pastor Mike, and Steve Patton beat me 2 it (awesome reads). Honestly, i cannot believe the amazing things God did during awakening. I know God has given us a unique vision for a conference that centers around diversity. God himself took our plans and turned them into a reality. God wove a gorgeous tapestry of Christianity though the speakers, worship, and message. This year, was incredibly different than last. Last year it seemed everyone was there to check the event out. This year it was different. We were starving. The youth. The youth leaders. We were desperate for change. Everyone sucked in worship, teaching, community not because it was the cool thing, but because it was needed to survive- at least thats how i felt.

The youth that attended this conference were incredible. It was awesome having more time in between sessions (we only did 1 morning session), because so many youth from all different churches were able to chill together. The atmosphere was incredible. Before every night session- people were lined up in the lobby chanting, yelling, and jockeying for position before the flood. Once inside- people were leading cheers as Muse was blaring overhead (one youth group even began a wave). The youth were incredibly engaged- sucking up every word a speaker had to offer. They pressed in hardcore to the worship led by their peers.

The very first night the youth FLOODED the alter after Chris Hill preached (an amazing word). You could feel the hunger in the atmosphere immediately from night one. The night w. Aaron Gillespie was AMAZING (more on that later)- where the youth were literally able to gather around him as he sang his version of Amazing Grace. Earlier that day The Czar (Steve Patton) absolutely BROUGHT IT w. his amazing ability to engage people with his Rap (he was so rea- he rapped about pain like he has actually experience lol)- i liked it and im a rockhead.

There were youth from all styles, ages, and races hanging out- walking to 7/11, worshipping on the grass. It was amazing. I could not be more proud of all the youth that attended. I’ll be blogging more about different aspects (The Music, & Speakers)

Re-Perspectivising

I havnt done anything incredible.  I have only helped where i could, and whether that means preaching, cleaning, organizing, planning, whatever.  I have just wanted to help other teenagers be awakened to Christ like I have been.  Recently i came into my office (cubicle) like every normal day and became buried in work for awakening.  After being there a couple of hours i looked over and saw a letter sitting on my desk.  This is what it said:

“When I started coming to groundZero, I was living off my parents faith.  I thought I was perfectly fine just because I went to Church, knew Bible stories,  and prayed a little bit.  Jordan Boyce preached a message that turned my life around.  He spoke about apathy and how church kids can easily be apethetic and lazy when it comes to Christiainity.  I went home than night and thought about the message.  I rededicated my life to the Lord and have been coming to groundZero ever since”

Signed, Anonymous

God has a way about bringing things into perspective.  Reminding us who all the work is actually for, right at the exact time a reminder is needed.  Notes like that reaffirm just why I do what I do, and brings the sacrifice Jesus did for me in to a bit closer in perspective.

JB

300

So today (April 2nd) we have gotton our 300th Registration for Awakening Conference! God is opening some HUGE doors down here for the unchurched to attend the one night event with Aaron Gillespie, and it is my prayer that 100 souls are added to the kingdom because of that night alone.

I am praying that the registrations continue to come in and that youth pastors and teenagers continue to promote this conference to their youth so that absolutely no one will miss out! i am semi-relieved accounting to the fact that at this time last year we had 68 registrations, I pray God continues to inspire people to spread the word, and that many youth are impacted.

Continuing to dream Big,
Jordan B