Jennifer and I are excited to announce that we are headed to Columbia, SC to live as missionaries to that city. We have been called by God to partner with him in making disciples that change Columbia and the world. We are going to be planting a church with Jay and Lara Beth Hardwick. I will be acting as the community development pastor. I will be commissioned with the tasks of discipleship and leadership development. The name of the church is Awaken Church. We believe God wants to awaken the people of Columbia to see their identity, purpose and destiny in Christ. We are experimenting with implementing a different model of church, one that focuses on being the church not simply attending one. We want to be a network of community churches all working together to reach those in the Columbia metro area and the world that no one else is reaching. We desire to be a church that would be missed by the community not just attenders if we were not there.
Awaken Church will seek to strategically and tangibly express the love of Christ to hurting people via missional communities. The focus of these groups will be to come together monthly and serve the community as a way to express the love of Christ to their neighbors. A missional community is comprised of approximately four to six life groups that are geographically close to each other. Life groups are made up of eight to twelve people that gather to grow spiritually and encourage one another in their walk with God.
We will be using this blog to update people who are interested in what we are doing and also those who would like to partner with us through prayer support or financial support. Jennifer and I will finish out 2008 here in Georgia and move to Columbia in January to begin preparing to launch the church in March.
Super SUPER cool. Can’t wait to watch what the Lord does. Booyah to both of you. 🙂
Awesome bro! Can’t wait to hear what happens for you guys.
Wow, Jamie. That’s just awesome! I can’t wait to hear all the Lord is going to do through you and Awaken Church. I’ll miss seeing you at BBCC. God bless your adventure!
Exciting stuff…this whole missional world has been large on my radar for the past year. I would love to chat sometime about what y’all are doing and what it will look like. Congrats on the life change…it will be fun….most of the time;-)
Steve
Anyone that knows you very well at all has probably already seen that you are a very special person! You were God’s choice from day the day that you were created! You came into this world as a gift from God and you are truly his child! He has and always will make his light to shine upon your path and guide you step by step! He says that it only takes the faith the size of a mustard seed … but you have faith enough for the world! No matter what others think or say you always find the strength to carry you through. God has plans for you to do really big things in his name … in Columbia, SC and everywhere you go!
You make a difference in every life that you touch =)
I am so very proud of you and thankful to be able to call you my son!
I pray for God’s blessings over you and to be with you, Jennifer, Bella and Emery through the days ahead and always! Amen
What a great journey you’re about to embark on! I’m excited for you, Awaken, and the city of Columbia.
Congrats!
Hey Jamie…Excited about what God is up to! You havn’t met me yet, but I worked with Jay this summer with Awaken and excited to meet and work with you both in the near future. I’m praying for you and your family as you begin this new journey in life, this new step. Let me know if I can do anything! Excited that God desires and wants to use us to enhance His kingdom. Praying!
to say that we are excited would be the understatement of the century! we are praying for your transition, thankful for your courage, and can’t wait for you to get to columbia!
grace and peace!
the hardwicks
Jamie, My wife (Sheri) and I are 100% behind you and will be in our prayers. You WILL be miss at BBCC.
It’s ALL about JESUS
Jamie,
We are so excited about y’all joining this crazy Awaken family!! Can’t wait for you to get here! Hate we missed you & Jennifer a couple of weeks ago when your family was here. We’re praying for y’all!! 🙂
Brooke & Justin Turner