The Awakening Church is sorry
What are they sorry for? Corporate fraud? The bad economy? Subway fare hikes? High tuition costs?
These placard-toting do-gooders in Washington Square Park are continually asked, “What are you sorry for?” In response, passers-by are quietly handed a card that reads, “Have you ever felt pushed away or like you didn’t fit in at church? As Christians, we are sorry. That was people, not Jesus.”
It’s an effective message that has touched many. About once a month, members of the The Awakening Church (www.theawakeningnyc.com) appear in the park to tell members of the community — atheists, agnostics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, old, young, every race, every class, those with tattoos and those without, essentially EVERYONE — that they are sorry if anyone has ever felt pushed away from the church.
And the members of the church do not claim to be morally superior or have all of the answers. “The Awakening Church is in the heart of The Village brining spiritual Truth through cultural relevance,” the card reads. “Jesus never candy-coated life and neither do we. We are spiritually messy people following a perfect Savior.”
No hidden messages — just a simple “We are sorry.”
I love that this happened
I love it too.
Not sure if you’ve read Blue Like Jazz. But Chapter 11, “Confession”, relates the story of this kind of Christian confessional at Reed College. The idea isn’t new, then. But I think there really isn’t a precedent for it in the Bible. Jesus never apologized. Peter and Paul didn’t apologize.
Apologetics, on the other hand, or apologetic evangelism may be what this generation really needs. Still, inasmuch as Awakening is out on the streets proclaiming Christ, whatever their method, I praise God for them!
Thank you guys so much for posting this! If you ever want to get involved and help please let us know, you dont have to be a member of our church to help with this.
Pastor Dennis Minner
The Awakening Church
I loved Blue Like Jazz! That part of the story really touched me. I think showing humility is an effective method of evangelism.
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