Invest in the Future — Build for the Next Generation

As a young boy, I truly dreamt of building cities. That dream wasn’t born from thin air—it came from strong belief and the atmosphere of faith I was raised in. 

And now I ask you: 

How can we have a vision for a generation we may never see?

Can we truly call it legacy if it ends with us? 

What kind of faith dares to dream beyond its own lifetime?

These aren’t just questions—they’re a call to action. In Acts 2:17–18, God says:

“In the last days, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams…”

Church, we are living in those days. And right now, we’ve been given a holy opportunity—to build a Kids Center that isn’t about walls and classrooms.
It’s about encounters.
It’s about shaping identity before the world confuses it.
It’s about building a house where our children learn to hear God, walk with Jesus, and know who they are.

Why does this matter?

Because the world is discipling children every single day—through screens, systems, and culture. And if we don’t rise up, we’re surrendering our sons and daughters to the loudest voices in society. Over 57% of teens say they struggle with identity confusion. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a spiritual crisis.

This isn’t about “Sunday-school and childcare.” It’s about calling out world-changers while they’re still young enough to believe it. It’s about putting faith in motion and legacy in concrete.

I’m charging you :
Come with faith.
Come with vision.
Come ready to invest in the future and dream again.

Let’s build something we may never fully see—but that heaven will recognize as legacy.

For His Glory,
Pastor Adam

Live Awake Projects

Over the year, we took several opportunities as a church to put what we explored during the “Live the Language” series into practice. Below are some of the Live Awake Projects that were designed to share hope, support, and the love of the Father with those in our community.

---

SAMARITAN’S PURSE | 200 FILLED BOXES

The mission of Operation Christmas Child, an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse, is to spread the love of God in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Individuals pack shoeboxes with simple gifts, which are then distributed to millions of children worldwide through Samaritan’s Purse’s network of volunteers, missionaries, and pastors. While sharing love through the giving of gifts is powerful on its own, the work doesn’t stop there. Every child who receives a box is invited to participate in a discipleship program called The Greatest Journey. To date, over 26.5 million children have participated in The Greatest Journey, and 12.5 million boys and girls have made the decision to follow Christ. 

This year we partnered with Operation Christmas Child, and gave those who call Awaken Church home the opportunity to help rewrite the destinies of children across the world. We were able to put together over 200 boxes that were shared with children all over the world!

CAMP HOPE CHRISTMAS PARTY W/NAMPA FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER | $3,000 TOWARDS CHRISTMAS EVENT

Nampa Family Justice Center is a partnership of agencies that provides holistic services to victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, stalking, and sex trafficking. In their 16+ years of service to the Nampa community, they have provided resources to over 36,400 adults and 14,800 children.

This year, Awaken Church partnered with NFJC to fund their Camp Hope Christmas event. This yearly event is for participants in Camp Hope, Nampa Family Justice Center’s program dedicated to supporting children who have been victims of abuse. We were able to provide dinner as well as Christmas gifts for the children. Part of the Live Awake offering received on November 7th was allocated towards this project.

THANKSGIVING BASKETS | $7,500/100 BASKETS

Each Thanksgiving season, we have the wonderful opportunity to bless families in our community with a Thanksgiving basket filled with all of the “fixings.” Families who could use help purchasing Thanksgiving dinner for their families sign up or are nominated by a friend or family member. Then, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we gather as a church to assemble and deliver the baskets, taking the opportunity to pray with and over each family. 

This year, we were able to provide 100 Thanksgiving baskets to families in our community. These baskets don’t just offer a meal to these families, but also serve as a tangible reminder that there are those that love, support, and are believing the best for them. The offering we received on November 7th was used in part to fund the purchasing of the basket items. 

Live Awake - Backpack Giveaway

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our goals has been to find the best way to respond that would help our community, and give our church family an outlet to serve during a season that still seems so uncertain. The Live Awake team was created to plan and execute projects designed to tangibly display love and inspire hope to those in our area that need it most.

Here is the next installment of our series detailing the projects undertaken by the Live Awake team with support and involvement from our larger Awaken Church family.

Live Awake Project - IACS Back to School Backpack Giveaway

At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, we partnered with Idaho Arts Charter School to supply backpacks filled with supplies to families who needed them. Though the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year looked quite a bit different, Pastor Brandon and Ciara Nitchals with support from the Live Awake team worked to make that partnership happen again. Working with the staff at IACS, supply lists for each grade level were compiled. Then, the counseling staff at the school sent out a form for parents to sign their children up to receive a backpack. 

 Last year, Awaken Church had the opportunity to provide 70 IACS students with backpacks. This year, within two hours of the form being available to families, 165 students had signed up to receive a backpack and supplies. Thanks to the generosity of our Awaken family, we were able to provide 174 backpacks filled with all of the supplies students would need for their school year. With all of the added stresses, financial and otherwise, that COVID has introduced this year, it was an honor to give a small amount of relief to those who needed it. 

Volunteers from the church purchased school supplies and assembled the backpacks, including a note letting each student know that we believe in them. Then, in an effort to protect volunteers and families in a socially distanced way, families were able to drive through to pick up the backpack, as well as a treat to celebrate the beginning of the school year. In the two years that this event has been held, it has become an incredible way of building community with the students and families who attend IACS, and we look forward to a continued partnership in the years to come.

Check out photos of the event below.

Live Awake - The Whitten Project

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our goals has been to find the best way to respond that would help our community, and give our church family an outlet to serve during a season that still seems so uncertain. The Live Awake team was created to plan and execute projects designed to tangibly display love and inspire hope to those in our area that need it most.

Here is the next installment of our series detailing the projects undertaken by the Live Awake team with support and involvement from our larger Awaken Church family.

Live Awake Project - The Whitten Home Makeover

Marion and Betty Whitten are long-time attendees of Awaken Church, setting a foundation with their faithfulness that we are still building on today. In an effort to bless them and their family, a team of 12 spent three days updating the exterior of their home. Partnering with Seamless Gutters of Idaho and Creative Landscaping Tree and Service, the team removed the couple’s old roof and replaced it with a new one. They also secured a wheelchair ramp and repaired handrails necessary for their mobility, hung new gutters and added sprinklers to their landscaping. 

We are humbled and grateful for not only the partnerships with such amazing local businesses, but the team from Awaken who worked three ten-hour days to complete the project. Special thanks to Seamless Gutters of Idaho, Creative Landscaping Tree and Service, Joe Walker, Daniel Hall, Jon Carter, Scott Reynolds, Asher Hatley, and Pam and Craig Carlson for all they gave of themselves. We would also like to thank you, our Awaken Church family, for your generosity. You are continually sowing into a dream of this house to see the love of the Father flood this valley and create a lasting culture of hope.

See the team in action here. 

Live Awake - Idaho Arts Teachers

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our goals has been to find the best way to respond that would help our community, and give our church family an outlet to serve during a season that still seems so uncertain. The Live Awake team was created to plan and execute projects designed to tangibly display love and inspire hope to those in our area that need it most.

Here is the next installment of our series detailing the projects undertaken by the Live Awake team with support and involvement from our larger Awaken Church family.

Live Awake Project - Lunch for Teachers at Idaho Arts Charter

Anyone with school-aged children can attest to the fact that COVID has completely changed the educational landscape for schools and families alike. There is, of course, the additional stress on students and their parents, who are facing challenges that no one was prepared for. On the other end of virtual learning are teachers, who in one year have had to completely upend years of techniques and best practices to adapt to administration expectations and students’ needs. 

If you’ve attended Awaken in-person, you’ve probably noticed that we’re situated next to a school, Idaho Arts Charter. Over the past few years, we’ve partnered with them in many ways. We sold them land to expand their parking lot, and until that parking lot was completed, parents used our own parking when dropping off children. For the last two years, we’ve also provided backpacks for IACS families who needed them. Our own lead pastor, Brooke Cooke, taught kindergarten there and still maintains a relationship with teachers and administrators. For those reasons, and more, the Live Awake team planned to surprise the teachers at Idaho Arts with lunch at the beginning of a harried 2020 school year. 

Partnering again with Chick-fil-A of Nampa, who donated half of the meals, we were able to supply 50 meals to the teaching staff at IACS. The Live Awake Team along with volunteers picked up the meals at the restaurant and dropped them in the teaching lounge for a safe, contactless delivery. 

Melanie Tucker, an Awaken staff member and parents of two IACS students shared about the experience:

As a parent of students who attend there I get to see on a daily basis the effort their teachers are putting into the material which has to be completely changed. When it’s done remotely you have to be so much more creative as a teacher to do each and every lesson. 

Also, these teachers are being judged, criticized and blamed by many parents during this. Parents are under so much pressure that the teachers are who get a lot of the push back. So it was important to me to show that we do SEE these teachers and appreciate what they are doing. We see their sacrifice. 

I actually just paused the other day and wrote Shiloh’s teacher an email of appreciation before we started full remote learning again. Just to let her know that she is amazing and I see all of her effort and patience for my child.

The remote learning process hasn’t been smooth for the majority of those involved, and the struggle continues to find solutions for a unique set of challenges. But as light-bearers and as people charged with creating culture rather than bowing to it, honoring teachers and showing gratitude in difficult situations is a vital and world-changing practice. Whether it be working from home, online schooling, or encountering different regulations at stores or restaurants, what are some practical ways you can combat difficult situations with gratitude and honor?

Over the next few weeks, look out for information on other Live Awake projects that have been completed so far this year. And check out a video of this project here. 

Live Awake - Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our goals has been to find the best way to respond that would help our community, and give our church family an outlet to serve during a season that still seems so uncertain. The Live Awake team was created to plan and execute projects designed to tangibly display love and inspire hope to those in our area that need it most.

Here is the next installment of our series detailing the projects undertaken by the Live Awake team with support and involvement from our larger Awaken Church family. 

Live Awake Project - Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center

Pregnancy and preparing for parenthood can be a difficult time for many, but with the additional obstacles that COVID has created--job insecurity, hospital restrictions, lack of support and connection--it’s become even more stressful for many expectant mothers. With that in mind, we asked our Awaken family to help us celebrate Mother’s Day a little differently this year. 

In years past, we’ve honored the women in our church community with gifts on Mother’s Day. This year, we focused outward in a partnership with Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center in Nampa. Lifeline provides a vital service to women who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. They offer free pregnancy testing, in-house ultrasounds and confidential support and answers to questions for women who need them. They also provide parenting education classes and access to supplies to care for mothers and infants. 

In order to serve Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center and the mothers that they work with, we asked them for a list of items that they need most on a regular basis. We then distributed that list to members of Awaken Church, inviting them to purchase items from the list and then drop them off at the church the week of Mother’s Day. After all donations were made, we were able to bring two truckloads full of diapers, new clothes, diaper bags and other new baby items to the center, ready to be distributed to mothers in our community who need them. 

In addition to our donation in honor of Mother’s Day, we formed a great connection with the center and it’s administrators. In fact, a volunteer who helped with the baby item drive and drop-off met with the coordinator to begin volunteering at the center. If you are interested in learning more about the Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center or would like to find more ways to serve them and their mission, visit their website at lifelinepcc.org.  

Over the next few weeks, look out for information on other Live Awake projects that have been completed so far this year. And check out a video of this project here.

YOU'RE NOT THAT SPECIAL

(TPT) Philippians 4:12–13 I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.

• You can overcome your unforgiveness; you can, through the power of Christ.

• You can overcome your weight problem; you can, through the power of Christ.

• You can overcome your addiction; you can, through the power of Christ.

• You can overcome the betrayal and have a good marriage again; you can, through the power of Christ.

• You can overcome your victim mentality; you can, through the power of Christ

• You can overcome your moral mistake and have a faithful ministry again.

  It’s time to be an overcomer. It is time to identify with overcoming—overcoming the insecurity that holds many of us back from walking in our truest selves.
  ...
  DECLARE: I AM AN OVERCOMER!
  ...
  It is not a nebulas word that only motivational speakers; pastors; or special religious people carry. No one is that special!

Love you Church,

Adam

Live Awake - Encouraging Healthcare Workers

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our goals has been to find the best way to respond that would help our community, and give our church family an outlet to serve during a season that still seems so uncertain. The Live Awake team was created to plan and execute projects designed to tangibly display love and inspire hope to those in our area that need it most.

So far, these projects have been largely behind the scene. But now we would like to share what we’ve been up to, not only to introduce some hope and positive news to today’s narrative, but also to encourage you to find your own ways to “live awake.” 

Live Awake Project - Encouraging Healthcare Workers

Since the beginning of the pandemic, healthcare workers have been hit especially hard with new challenges, protocols and stresses, and their contribution to keeping us healthy and safe has never been more clear. For these reasons, and many more, the first project planned by the Live Awake team, completed at the end of April, was geared toward bringing hope and joy to the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff that have been working tirelessly to support our community. Using contributions from our church family, we were able to deliver 240 lunches to over 10 different locations including the ER floors at both St. Lukes and St. Alphonsus, COVID testing tents and COVID clinics. In addition to the meal, members of the Awaken Church community wrote notes of encouragement in addition to small gift cards to bless the healthcare workers, and serve as demonstrable appreciation for all that they are sacrificing in this season. 

Our team was able to pick up, assemble and deliver the meals, and the project garnered support from local businesses. The local Dutch Bros franchise donated gift cards to include, and Chick-fil-A matched our efforts and donated half of the meals that we distributed. We’ve always known that Awaken Church is a generous house, full of people who love well. That generosity has become even more incredible over the past year. Awaken Church, you are sowing seeds of hope in a time where hopelessness and fear seem like the easier option. Thank you for partnering with us in creating culture. 

Over the next few weeks, look out for information on other Live Awake projects that have been completed so far this year.

ONLY BELIEVE

Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, they *came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” 36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” 37 And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. (Verses 36 has become one of my favorite verses in this interesting season we are currently walking through.) 

Listen, if you're going to walk in faith and do great things for God, you're going to have to learn Mark 5:36. Because there are going to be times when the people closest to you, and even the voice within you begins telling you that it's not possible; that you can't do it; that nobody has ever done it.

What will your response be?

Power statement: Every promise you embrace; the promise of a healthy marriage; promise of healing; will come with extraordinary opposition which makes for an extraordinary faith. 

Power statement: It is time to stop allowing others perception of the situation define God’s perception of the situation.

What does God say about your situation?

Once again, I was having a heart-to-heart conversation with Father God about hopeless situations. 

Me: Father, there has to be hopeless situations right. I mean, not everything works out; not everything is hopeful...is it? Father: I will make a deal with ya! You are allowed to be hopeless about the things I am hopeless about. How about that? “Cash-me-outside.” 

“Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”

Love you Church!

Pastor Adam

I Am Going To Get There

But you are called to something higher: “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (MSG)“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”“Be perfect as I am perfect (Be mature as I am mature).”  Matt 5:48

The invitation is clear. Father God desires to see you walking in your truest form; to grow up in the ways of kingdom living (maturity). Maturity isn’t someone who has obtained perfection or has “arrived.” It is someone who chooses to be processed; who places themselves on the anvil of life.

You’re going to get there! Let’s declare that today: I am going to get there. Say it again! 

But getting there from here requires multiple steps and if you skip them you won’t be the best you, you can be. We must remember that God is wanting to grow and mature us.

Here are 4 don’ts if you are in a process:
1. Don't wish you were in someone else's process. So many people get stuck in their process and want to quit (not realizing they will repeat it) because they constantly want to be somewhere or someone else. LISTEN: Stop comparing your start with someone else’s finish. That’s a word worth holding onto. All of us want the opportunity to be made mature when our hearts feel alive. We don’t get electives on when (what season) we are maturing in the Lord.

2. Don't resist the lessons. Father is trying to teach you in your process. Have you ever felt like God gave you an assignment that didn’t fit your life? “Why is this so hard? What am I suppose to be learning?” If we can’t do the small mundane things of Christianity, we won’t be given more to steward. Cultivate faithfulness even when “it” doesn’t feel right. When it is hard, don’t run, stay and plug-in.

3. Don’t rush the process. Rushing growth is a sign we really don’t understand the vision toward which we are growing. Remember who you are and your purpose. You are Sons and Daughters of a powerful kingdom learning to be free and reveal who He is.

4. Don’t skip any steps. 
Take one step at a time, one day at a time, week at a time, month, year at a time.

You are going to get there!

Filled with Hope,

PA