Awakening Church February Update

Posted on March 2, 2022 by @jonaheasley

“The gospel is only good news for someone if it gets to them in time.”
Carl Henry

The life of a Jesus follower is living out the 4Ds (Depend, Display, Declare, Deploy) in our everyday lives. As Jesus is to us, we are called to be to others.If Jesus sacrificed himself to save us, it makes sense that we ought to offer ourselves to bring salvation to others. A living sacrifice!

On the first Saturday of every month, we deploy on mission in our community by serving the often overlooked people in need. In partnership with Reach Ministries, we have organized an outreach effort that consists of different ways to engage the homeless community.

Some of our AC Kid’s packed and prayed over 54 Blessing Bags this week to bless the homeless. Each bag had a handwritten note, chocolate, a Bible, and socks. Please pray for us as we intentionally engage the brokenness of our city every day.

A big part of our ministry engaging the adult entertainment industry involves building relationships and deepening connections as we display Jesus and declare the gospel. We have learned that one of the best ways is to open a relational door involves bringing a small gift of blessing. The favorite thing by far seems to be homemade baked goods.

We love to see the smiles and opening hearts as we engage in this ministry every week. As the baked goods are being prepared, we are saturating the entire process in prayer. As the oven is preheated, ingredients mixed, and the baking process completed and delivered, we ask God to open the hearts of these ladies who feel trapped in their situations and that they will experience living hope.

We anticipate great reports and stories to share about the impact of baked goods. Please pray for a Kingdom impact as we engage the adult entertainment industry each week.

Since the pandemic began to take its toll, our engagement in the Chinese community has become more complex. The tension between fear and precaution has paralyzed so many people. However, we are pleased to begin a new Chinese Bible study this month. Each Wednesday, we will gather for encouragement, prayer, fellowship, and growth in God’s Word. Pray for the leaders and our Chinese community to engage in gospel relationships again.

This month, Pastor Jonah had the privilege to lead a breakout session at the North American Mission Board Send Network gathering in Anaheim, California. The idea for the breakout was thinking through the challenges that COVID brought, how to maximize, restructure, pivot, etc. He talked through 11 challenges and priorities to help navigate difficult times. Some included taking care of yourself, healthy neediness, prioritizing your relationship with God and prayer, being watchful as our enemy prowls around, identifying essentials, and reevaluating success metrics.

Since our planning began last September, we have had many changes and obstacles to overcome. We need your prayer for our team, the villages where we are going, and the decreasing spread of Covid-19 that could impact our ability to go.

Our passion for engaging unreached people with the gospel and planting churches drives us to risk much. We need your support and prayers as an army lifting us and pushing us forward to the front lines.

Thank you for joining us for the journey as we strive to reach Seattle, The West, and The World. We desperately need God’s redeeming grace with every step of faith, and He is deepening our love and passion for His Kingdom.Please continue to pray, give, and encourage us on the battlefield! We need you and are grateful to God for you.

Pray for us as we intentionally engage the brokenness of our city.
Pray for a Kingdom impact as we engage the adult entertainment industry.
Pray for the leaders and our Chinese community to engage in gospel relationships again.
Pray for our India mission team, the villages where we are going, and the decreasing spread of Covid-19.

January Update

Posted on February 1, 2022 by @jonaheasley

This month we celebrated the life change of Kyle and Noah. These two friends attend the University of Washington and are on Fire for Jesus, and we pray that they will be lights on Washington’s most extensive University campus. Our value of Kingdom expansion means that we aren’t committed to JUST making converts; we are called to make disciples that make disciples. We believe what Robert Coleman said is true: “A barren Christian is a contradiction.”

Disciple multiplication is God’s plan for reaching the world. We believe that the Kingdom of God expands farther and faster by ordinary, Spirit-filled Christians, making disciples than in big, entertaining worship gatherings.

Please pray with us as we prioritize the equipping of the church for gospel advancement in Seattle and beyond.

Awakening Church is partnering with Reach Ministry to join forces in engaging the homeless community in our city. We are committed to living the life of a Jesus follower: Depending on Jesus, displaying His love, declaring the gospel, and deploying on mission to make disciples. As Jesus is to us, we are called to be to others. Theologian Carl Henry said, “The gospel is only good news for someone if it gets to them in time.”

As we meet the physical needs of this hurting population, doors open to build relationships with others. Whether it’s coffee, food, or supplies, consistency builds friendships, and friendships create opportunities to speak the life-changing gospel to those without Jesus. On the first Saturday of every month, we corporately deploy on mission in our community by serving the often overlooked people in need. Please pray for our outreach teams as we engage people with the gospel.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Almost every day, we battle against an enemy who has owned our streets for far too long. We need your prayer as we fight in the power of the Holy Spirit against the stronghold of Satan. We are growing in desperation for God’s presence, power, and provision in our lives, moving from independence to dependence. Each week we gather together, surrendering ourselves to pursue God’s agendas. We continue to learn that prayer is more about being in proper relation to God than getting through some list of needs that God already knows.

We believe that our Tuesday prayer meeting is the engine room producing the power for what God is doing in our church. Please pray that we stay dependent.

The last time we were in India was January 2020, right before the world shut down. We are excited to be taking a team of 10 to India in early May. Once again, we will be working with a dear ministry partner outside of Mumbai. We will host pastor training, evangelistic rallies, and Kids Camps in rural tribal villages on this trip. Our partner operates a non-profit called the Immanuel Foundation that engages unengaged/unreached people groups through starting schools, primary medical clinics, and planting churches.

Since our planning began last September, we have had many changes and obstacles to overcome. We need your prayer for our team, the villages where we are going, and the decreasing spread of Covid-19 that could impact our ability to go.

Our passion for engaging unreached people with the gospel and planting churches drives us to risk much. We need your support and prayers as an army lifting us and pushing us forward to the front lines.

Thank you for joining us for the journey as we strive to reach Seattle, The West, and The World. With every step of faith, we are in desperate need of God’s redeeming grace, and he is deepening our love and passion for His Kingdom.Please continue to pray, give and encourage us on the battlefield! We need you and are grateful to God for you. Please pray for:

–Equipping of the church for gospel advancement in Seattle and beyond.
–Our outreach teams as we engage people with the gospel.
–That we stay dependent.
–Our India mission team, the villages where we are going, and the decreasing spread of Covid-19 that could impact our ability to go.

Celebrate With Us: 2021 WMO

Posted on January 4, 2022 by @jonaheasley

I’m so proud of the people of Awakening Church. We were challenged once again last December to give joyfully and sacrificially to our World Mission Offering. There’s no better picture than to see our collective hearts being renewed as we risk and sacrifice to advance God’s Kingdom! Every year through our World Mission Offering, we have the opportunity to bring help and hope to a hurting world. This past December, your generosity will transform lives with the gospel. 100% of these gifts to the WMO directly support ministries and missionaries in Seattle, The West, and The World.

SEATTLE – 20% supports our local ministry partners (Jubilee REACH, Liberty Road Foundation & Light of Love)

THE WEST – 15% supports church planting in the western part of the United States. (Remedy City Church, Portland, OR & Bread of Life International Fellowship, Kent, WA)

THE WORLD – 65% supports international mission efforts through individual partnerships and the International Mission Board.

We believe the Bible is true, and Jesus is Lord! Because of that, our lives have significant implications for living open-handed, realizing that all we have belongs to God. Jesus and our intimacy with Him is now the center and driving force of our lives as we bring Jesus to the world. As a living sacrifice, we are driven to obey God and leave the consequences to Him.

I believe the most significant limitation of the conquering march of Jesus today is not secularism, materialism, commercialism, or Atheism. I think it’s comfortable Christians that play it safe because they don’t want to take the radical claims of Jesus Christ upon our lives seriously.

This life is short, and the eternity of people in our homes, schools, businesses, city, and world need the transforming hope of Jesus. Let’s risk it all for the gospel!

Thank you for joining us for the journey as we strive to reach Seattle, The West, and The World. With every step of faith, we are in desperate need of God’s redeeming grace, and he is deepening our love and passion for His Kingdom.Please continue to pray, give and encourage us on the battlefield! We need you and are grateful to God for you.

Please pray for:
1. A permanent home for Awakening Church.
2. Boldness as we share the hope of Jesus with apathetic people.
3. Faithfulness and patience to make disciples, not just converts.
4. Deepening dependence on God to meet our needs and open the eyes of the blind.

Jesus Loves Sex Workers

Posted on December 14, 2021 by @jonaheasley

We aren’t just called to easy and convenient ministry; we are called to the marginalized, broken, and often neglected areas and sects of society with the message of Jesus Christ that has the power to redeem and transform lives. In 2021, we felt convicted and compelled to bring the gospel into the sex industry in Seattle. Through this weekly ministry, we were invited to have a booth at the annual Exxxotica Expo in Miami, D.C., and Chicago. This expo is a 3-day adult-themed event with vendors, performers, and consumers.

Each of these opportunities brings incredible spiritual warfare. Awakening Church and partners have committed to giving, going, and praying desperate, bold, and persistent prayers as we enter the battlefield. Read below a short testimony from this past expo.

“I spent the majority of this trip focusing on building relationships with the performers and other vendors at the convention. I did this by walking through the expo to visit each booth and see if there were any needs we could meet. I brought dinner to some performers, snacks, and hydration to others, and often I would bring a bag of candy with a note that said how loved they are by Jesus and by us. Most people were amazed when I told them what we were there and why we were serving them in this way. One vendor looked up after receiving the candy and the note with tears in his eyes and said, “Wow, we never get this. We never hear this from your people.” These words utterly broke my heart. This man was saying that the people in the sex industry never hear a message of love from the Church but rather a message of hate and condemnation. Needles to say, this opened the door for deeper conversation and broke down the wall of deception of what the gospel is and what it isn’t. The man continued to seek me out throughout the convention to ask questions about Jesus and His love for people. This is what it’s about. The root of everything we do has to be love, just as the Father sent the Son because of LOVE. If we aren’t starting from love, we are doing it wrong. He draws us in and accepts us right where we are. This is the seed that we plant at these shows because we know that His kindness draws us to repentance, and when people know they are loved, they want to learn more.”

Casey Flagg – Awakening Church, Light of Love

Quotes from Exxxotica staff:
“…if no one tells you often, you should know that you are doing a tremendous job for everyone you are coming in contact with. Being around sex workers for the years I’ve been around them, not all feel loved. It’s important to know we are all loved, and I’m a relatively religious person, and I know Jesus loves you, me, and all of us regardless of the lives we choose to lead. Letting a sex worker know that it’s crucial.”

“Thank you for all you and [your team] do for us. We love having you at all the shows, and it makes such a big difference when you’re around. Hope to see you at the Chicago show.”

Thank you for partnering with us as we strive to reach Seattle and beyond by living the life of a Jesus follower. With every step of faith, we are in desperate need of God’s redeeming grace, and he is deepening our love and passion for His Kingdom in Seattle, The West, and The World.

Would you please continue to pray, give and encourage us on the battlefield? We need you and are grateful to God for you.

Please take a moment to pray for:

Our endurance through daily spiritual warfare
New doors of opportunity during the Christmas season
Deepening community/personal relationships

Celebrating Gospel Engagement

Posted on August 31, 2021 by @jonaheasley

**Our Backyard Bible Clubs were a huge success!**
Thank you for *praying* for our 3 Backyard Bible Clubs! Each day, our mission team from Tennessee helped facilitate the clubs with Bible teaching, games, crafts, and of course…snacks! We were faithful to share the good news of Jesus each day with the 52 kids and families that participated. Please join us in praying for these families as we follow up with them. We are incredibly grateful for Louise and Gary and their hard work and faithfulness to Jesus. They are such a blessing to Awakening Church and this city!

Click here to watch the recap video

Partners are so much more than monthly support checks. They are fellow soldiers on the battlefront of expanding the kingdom of God around the world! I’m so grateful for this team that made sacrifices to serve with us this past week. For many people, Seattle is just a weird place in the Pacific Northwest. But for those that come and serve, it’s a place where God is on the move! In their coming, partners see, taste, smell and experience the city in ways that news articles and update emails never can. In addition, our hearts are mended together as we serve and experience God’s activity firsthand. If you haven’t come yet, you should! We would be honored to have you.

This is our third year to participate in Worship in the Park! This year, 14 churches closed their individual doors as we collectively worshiped together! There is ONE church in Bellevue and we thank God for the unity among our churches. We strive to partner and work together for the saturation of the gospel across our city that is less than 5% reached with the gospel.

We are on mission together! We may have a choice about the neighborhood or affinity group we serve, but we don’t typically get to choose the particular people we will encounter, which means we actually have to learn to love our neighbors. To love our neighbors, we have to trust the grace of God to empower us to do what we cannot do in our own strength and believe the truth that these people are image-bearers of God, loved by Him, and worthy of our time and attention.

We are the sent people of God! Ultimately, it is by His grace and not our works that brings about the Kingdom of God…and any good works we do are accomplished through the grace He showered on us before the foundation of the world.

Thank you for praying and partnering with us as we serve Jesus in the Seattle area and beyond!

Church Planting, Spiritual Apathy and Autism

Posted on July 29, 2021 by @jonaheasley

Show Notes

Jonah Easley was living as a missionary in China when he and his wife had their first child. They noticed developmental delays and brought him to America where he was diagnosed with autism. Amid having more children — each diagnosed with autism as well — they planted Awakening Church in Seattle, Washington. In this episode, Jonah vulnerably shares about how God has used his family to help him grow emotionally and spiritually, the church planting experience and the spiritual apathy of Washington state.

To find out more about church planting with Send Network, text “Send Network” to 888-123, or visit us online at SendNetwork.com.

Summer Expansion

Posted on July 28, 2021 by @jonaheasley

Since our launch in 2018, the focus of Awakening Church has been to engage the diverse people of the Seattle area with the love and hope of Jesus, make disciples, and plant churches. In many ways, it’s seemed like running an uphill marathon in knee-deep mud….while pushing a boulder. It’s slow, challenging, discouraging, and oftentimes lonely. In spite of the challenges, the seemingly small victories have not been overlooked and we continue to see God transform lives through genuine and authentic relationships.

The diversity of Bellevue, WA was one of the primary attractors that drew us to this area. In fact, over 50% of our population was born outside of the United States. With our ethnic diversity comes cultural and religious diversity that translates into this being one of the most unreached cities in our nation. On any given Sunday morning, less than 4% of our population will be in a church of any kind. Those numbers represent a similar percentage to what we experienced in China. But as a gospel presence in this city, we are faithfully bringing the greatest message in history to a people oftentimes unaware of their need of it.

As we have sought to build relational bridges to connect with different ethnicities in our city, the Lord has brought several people into our lives that share a similar passion for Kingdom work. Through these bridges, we begun to experience a gradual build of momentum. Most recently, God has brought a Chinese pastor named Levi to our area. As a NAMB (North American Mission Board) church planter, he has joined the Awakening Church family to take the lead on our Mandarin speaking population. I believe that under his leadership, the Mandarin speaking arm of Awakening Church will expand in unprecedented ways. He is currently working to raise financial support from individuals and churches. Please pray for his family and their needs as we launch into this next season.

In early July, I was contacted by a Slavic pastor named Ivan. Ivan has been serving in student ministry for the past 18 years in Lynnwood, WA. Over the past few years, Ivan has sensed a call to plant a Slavic NAMB church in our area. He has been meeting in his home with more than 30 people each week and was exploring other options in our city. With limited availability and affordable spaces, we were able to help meet this need for their Russian speaking group. And through that, God has unified our hearts and expanded our vision of working together for God’s glory. We are currently praying about their assimilation into the Awakening Church family. This is another large population of people in our area that is largely unreached. Please pray for Pastor Ivan and his family as we explore how to best unify for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

One more… Earlier this year, I received a message from a young man named Ben Sparks. I’ve known Ben since he was 6 years old and have watched him grow into a man of God that has been wrestling with a call to ministry. In his message, Ben let me know that he was getting married and would be coming through Seattle on their honeymoon. He was excited to worship with Awakening Church while in town. Well, sure enough, they came. After the service, we spent a few minutes catching up, and Ben shared what God was doing in his life. He told me he had plans to begin seminary next semester and wanted to begin exploring God’s specific calling on his life. In the coming weeks, we had several conversations on the phone as I sought to encourage Ben, and pour as much into him as had been poured into me. In those conversations and prayers, Ben accepted my invitation to attend the M3 Church Planting Intensive in Las Vegas this coming September. In addition, I asked him to pray with his wife, Abby, and consider coming to Seattle to serve with us as an apprentice in ministry/church planting. After another weekend trip to Seattle, Ben and Abby feel led to join the Awakening Church family and are currently making preparations to do so. Please pray for Ben and Abby as they relocate from Utah within the next month. They will be looking for jobs, financial partners, and an apartment.

With all of these exciting and momentum-building additions come needs that we alone are incapable of meeting. But I’m a firm believer that with the call of God comes the provision, power, and promises of God. Please join us in praying for Pastor Levi, Pastor Ivan, and Ben and Abby as they join the Awakening Church family and partner with us to engage the greater Seattle area with the gospel. Your support and partnership is a great blessing. Thank you for your ongoing support. To God be the glory!

Strip Club Outreach – Reclaiming Hearts

Posted on June 1, 2021 by @jonaheasley

Awakening Church was planted in metro Seattle to enter into the dark places of our city with the hope of Jesus. A new dimension to this city engagement is to serve women who work in the adult entertainment industry. We are ministering to these women right where they are, in the strip club. Each Wednesday, our Outreach Team gives hope by going into strip clubs displaying the love of Jesus and declaring the gospel.

Through actions and words, we proclaim Jesus to strippers because He alone is their hope to be free from all bondage. Our ultimate goal is to demonstrate and introduce their Redeemer to them.

This ministry can make people feel uncomfortable. But as we model the life of Jesus, we desire to meet, eat with, love, give favor and extend grace to sinners of every kind. He spent time with those whom society overlooked and cast aside. Jesus didn’t leave anyone as worthless, but instead made them worthy with his very own blood.

May we always remember that it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4). That only the blood of Jesus makes us holy. Jesus was never afraid of walking towards those society had the least regard for (Jn 4:4-42).

Each week, relationships are being built and trust is being established. We pray these relationships lead to social interactions and deeper relationships to display and declare the good news of Jesus. We pray they will come to personally know the love of Jesus and the extent he went to bring them back. Jesus alone can bring heart transformation.

Please partner with us by praying for our outreach team, those they are engaging, and divine appointments. We need you, prayer warriors, to uplift our arms as we engage in this spiritual battle.

We have been called and equipped to *engage our city* so they will see that God is FOR them! We are branding our local GO TIME and city engagement “FOR BELLEVUE.”

**DONUTS IN THE PARK**: Each Saturday we gather at DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE PARK to engage people with a FREE DONUT. This is an *intentional missional opportunity* to show our city that we are FOR them.

This has been a valuable opportunity as we gather to connect with people in our city. Pray that this would continue to open doors for new relationships in the days and months to come.

**For 72+ weeks, we have partnered with other local churches to help meet the needs of people in our community.** The people of Awakening Church have faithfully continued to help supply much need food and hygiene items to over 700 families in our local area. We pray that these families physical and spiritual need will be met through this challenging time.

**Many kids in our area live in extreme poverty**
Some schools in our community report 70% of students receive free lunch. And that number has increased over the past year. Many people work multiple jobs to provide for their families. In our area of continually rising cost of living, the $65 – $100 for a new backpack and school supplies is more than difficult, as many families have to spend increasing more than ever before on just housing and food. Receiving a backpack filled with school supplies makes a world of difference to each child and their parents. **Each filled backpack costs just $25**. As a church, we are sponsoring 50 backpacks.

Decisions For Christ as COVID Cases Rise

Posted on May 6, 2021 by @jonaheasley

The challenging and uncertain days remain consistently unpredictable. I am proud of the resiliency and faithfulness of the Awakening Church family as we navigate this season. The official announcement hasn’t been made yet, but based on the current increase in Covid-19 cases, we anticipate tighter restrictions in the near future. In spite of this lingering news, we remain encouraged about what God is doing in and through this church family. God’s grace and your ongoing support for our church and family are keeping us engaged on the front battlefield lines. Your prayer and financial support are helping us not only survive, but thrive in following Jesus and living out the calling of our lives.

This past month we had many gospel conversations and saw 3 people surrender their lives to Jesus. And this past Sunday, we celebrated one baptism! Praise God for drawing people to Himself! Your prayers are meaningful and impacting us each day. Thank you!

Pastor Jonah Easley

Over the past couple months, Sister 谢 (Xie), has been joining us for worship and engaging in deeper relationships with Awakening Church.

She said, ” From the first time I heard I believed, but I didn’t know how to come near to God. I couldn’t find a place where people could help me. Ryan has been in my life for a while and always told me to come to church. I just wanted to maybe read a little in my home and do good things. But, he continued to encourage me to go to church. Because we don’t speak the same language, I didn’t understand very well. But, I always felt like God was telling me to come to him. But, when Britton told me believing in God means I am a child of God. So, I confess Jesus with my mouth. I believe him in my heart. I believe him with everything. I don’t have any problem with this confession. I feel very happy and grateful. God has allowed me to return to him. This is His grace.”

We have been called and equipped to engage our city so they will see that God is FOR them! We are branding our local GO TIME and city engagement “FOR BELLEVUE.”

DONUTS IN THE PARK: Each Saturday we gather at DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE PARK to engage people with a FREE DONUT. This is an intentional missional opportunity to show our city that we are FOR them.

This has been a valuable opportunity as we gather to connect with people in our city. Pray that this would continue to open doors for new relationships in the days and months to come.

This past month, we have been using this card as a simple way to bless people in our city that we don’t yet know. We are reminded that we are the presence of God in this generation. He has called us right here…right now to live the life of a Jesus follower. This means selfless and relentless love, desperate for the souls of men, women, and children in our city and around the world.

Pray with us as we continue to engage people without the hope of Jesus, with the hopes of declaring the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

Donuts & Jesus

Posted on February 2, 2021 by @jonaheasley

Dear Partner,

This past month has been a continuation of the challenges surrounding the pandemic. Schools, restaurants, and other indoor gathering areas are still closed or extremely limited in their capacity. Awakening Church continues meeting online each week to encourage one another with the hope found only in Jesus. We thank you for your continued support and prayers as we face a steep uphill climb. Your partnership means more than we could ever possibly put into words.

In spite of our current realities, we see God’s hand at work in and through us. People often ask how we stay engaged during a time of shut-down and digital gatherings. My answer is always, “through intentionality.” We work hard to daily spend time with God, each other, and look for ways to engage our city in new ways. This season is hard, but it’s been good as we’ve been challenged to think outside the box and keep our urgency with the gospel burning HOT!

Please continue praying for our wisdom in making disciples, in our looking for a local venue large enough to accommodate a socially distanced Awakening Church gathering, and for our unity in prioritizing the gospel above all.

Pastor Jonah Easley