If you’ve heard about Awake the Lake around Grace Church and wondered what it’s all about, or maybe you don’t fully understand what it is, you’re in the right place. Awake the Lake is a long-term vision Grace Church is pursuing to help every follower of Jesus move from weekend faith into everyday, everywhere mission. This vision helps us carry forward our mission to follow Jesus as we live out God’s calling every day, everywhere. It represents a shift from only measuring success by numbers inside the building on Sundays to measuring impact as disciples go out into our region and world with Gospel influence.
Below, we answer the most common questions people ask about our new initiative and mission.
What’s the whole point of Awake the Lake?
At its core, Awake the Lake is about resourcing and training Dream Disciples who understand their God-given calling and influence their workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, families, and communities with the love and truth of Jesus.
This vision is built on the belief that each follower of Christ is meant to be an active participant in God’s mission right where they live, work, learn, and play. Not just a weekend attendee.
It is a big dream meant to expand how we, as individuals and a movement, impact the Lake Erie region.
What does “30 by 35″ (30,000 by 2035) actually mean?
You might have seen the logo or heard the phrase “30 by 35.” Or sometimes “30,000 by 2035.” This is the big dream for our Awake the Lake vision. It imagines a future where 30,000 people have been mobilized to step into their kingdom calling and bring gospel influence into the everyday places of life, starting in Erie and stretching out between Cleveland and Buffalo.
What exactly is a “Dream Disciple?”
A “Dream Disciple” is someone who is intentionally growing as a disciple of Jesus, focusing on four distinct roles that are based on the specific needs of our lakeshore communities. We believe there is a general call to discipleship in scripture, but we also believe that God has placed each of us in a certain place for a specific reason. The Dream Disciple framework focuses on four key roles:
Compassionate Storyteller
I know God’s story, my place in it, and am motivated to tell the people in my life.
Savvy Follower
I discern God’s voice and follow His lead at the right time and in the right way.
Intentional Friend
I partner with God to build strong relationships and restore broken ones.
Embedded Influencer
I understand how God has purposefully gifted and positioned me to multiply His work in the world.
These roles provide a roadmap for personal growth and community impact as a follower of Jesus. From belief and learning spiritual truths, Dream Disciples take intentional steps to live like Jesus every day, everywhere.
What are the Dream Disciple Roles Based On? Are They Biblical?
All four Dream Disciple roles come directly from examples of Jesus’ teachings, actions, and character as seen within the gospels. Reading through the “red letters” in the four gospels, we discovered the kind of disciples Jesus calls us to be. As we reflected on the challenges and history of our region, we also discerned what kind of disciples are needed to bring the gospel to the people where we live, work, learn, and play, right here and right now.
For our time and the Lake Erie region between Cleveland and Buffalo, we believe God calls us to live as Embedded Influencers, Savvy Followers, Compassionate Storytellers, and Intentional Friends.
Does Awake the Lake apply to me?
Yes. Awake the Lake is meant for everyone at Grace and throughout the Lake Erie region between Cleveland and Buffalo.
Whether you are brand new to Grace, just beginning to explore faith, growing in your walk with Jesus, or have been following Him for years, this vision is for you.
The heart of the vision is activating people right where God has placed them. Your workplace, your classroom, your neighborhood, and your family are all spaces where God calls you to participate in what He is doing. Awake the Lake will help you see that more clearly and give you tools to step into it with confidence.
How do I get involved?
There are many ways to step into this vision and begin living it out along our discipleship pathway (BE, BELONG, BUILD, and BLESS).
1. BE Together in Worship
Prioritize joining our Sunday services, special services, and events to worship our great God together as beloved members of God’s Kingdom. This helps remind us that we are all part of God’s greater story and creates space for us to connect with God together on a deeper level and stay aligned with the Awake the Lake vision.
2. BELONG to a LifeGroup or ServeTeam
The discipleship journey isn’t meant to be done alone. Join a LifeGroup to learn and grow alongside others, no matter where you’re at on your faith journey. Some LifeGroups even focus on growing as a Dream Disciple of Jesus. LifeGroups are a great way to find accountability and mentorship on your discipleship journey.
You can also join a ServeTeam to serve God’s kingdom and help make an impact alongside others who share similar spiritual gifts and passions.
3. BUILD Your Calling
Discover and develop your unique Kingdom calling as you grow as a Dream Disciple. Here are some of the main resources and offerings to equip you for success within the Awake the Lake vision:
• Dream Disciple Tools – Learn more about the Dream Disciple roles and download free tools.
• LAUNCH – If you’re ready to start learning how to take your faith to the next level beyond the church walls and start living as a Dream Disciple, this 6-week journey is a great place to start.
• Handcrafted Calling – This training will help you discover and name your unique 2-word calling in God’s Kingdom, one of the key elements of the Awake the Lake initiative and “30 by 35” goal.
• Dream Disciple Sessions, Samplers, and Training Labs – These programs are designed to help you dive deeper into a specific Dream Disciple role and learn how to start living it out practically every day, everywhere.
View these and all other upcoming offerings and resources for Awake the Lake here.
4. BLESS Your World
Live out your faith daily by putting your God-given calling into action where you live, work, learn, and play. We are building a supportive framework to help you activate and sustain your two-word calling over time. Future cohorts will gather like-minded people for encouragement, prayer, and accountability as they practice living on mission together. We also have local and global mission partnerships that provide opportunities for you to actively live out your calling in tangible ways.
Final Thoughts
Awake the Lake is more than a campaign or initiative. It is a movement of disciples who are committed to living out their faith in everyday life.
The vision is simple and powerful. By 2035, Grace Church hopes to see 30,000 people living out their Kingdom callings and bringing the gospel into every space they inhabit.
If you want to learn more or take your next step, visit whoisgrace.com/awakethelake and explore the resources available to help you get involved.