Shakayla's Story
Let me just say finding City Awakening was a miracle! My sister and I moved down here last year in July from NYC. Our reasons were different. I didn't like the pandemic response and she's always wanted to move. My sister is the type of person that is always determined to make things happen. I'm a super passive, go with the flow kind of person. So when I spoke to her about it, she moved to make it happen. And I firmly believe it was God working through her! We have no family down here, but it was her friends aunt we connected with that gave us advice as to applying for apartments, etc. She was like family to us so we refer to her as our aunt. She helped us out a lot. It seemed as if every roadblock we'd face that had me wanting to give up was easily overcome. For example, the first apartment we applied to and was accepted for we had a move in date in August. We applied to it in either March or April, but they had a condition that if the move in date was 45 days or more from the date of the application, we'd have to provide updated proof if income. It's something that I wouldn't have had because I quit my job with Nautica in April. We would've had to get something with a move in date a lot sooner in order to use my last paystub. So we decided to apply to 3 more apartments and the last apartment my sister chose (which is the one we live in now) was the one we were approved for. The move in date was in May, but we both weren't ready to permanently make the move to Florida then so we paid rent on it while in NYC. The apartment we got and it's location was perfect. And familiar too because our first visit to Orlando we stayed in an Air BnB just south in Ventura. We were familiar with Semoran Blvd and we heard good things about Winter Park. This is just one instance in where God was giving us the green light on our move and showing us he was with us in this. The reason I bring this up is because the location is important to what led me to City Awakening. We did not, and still don't, have a car. So finding a church relatively close was priority. I was not that enthusiastic finding a new church and I had very specific requirements: it had to be like my old church. And my old church, a small church in Queens called Queens Church, was a special place for me (and that church wasn't my first church. I went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle for 3 years before joining QC). They did not have their own space at the time. In fact, we were having service in a hot, high school auditorium. They had coffee and bagels in the morning, a good mix of young and old, and most importantly, they preached Jesus from the pulpit. I had an amazing time there and I grew so much in my faith, so I was NOT excited to start looking for a new church again. Two weeks before my permanent move I was researching churches. The only viable churches that would come up were not very impressive. I was going to settle on one close by if I really had no other choice but I just was not that excited. Then "something" told me to search again and I used my proper Google maps this time. More churches came up. So I looked through and saw City Awakening which was 2 miles away. I looked through the pictures, it wasn't too big, not too formal, modest social media presence, inside of a school's gym/auditorium (haha). Seemed familiar enough. Then I combed through City Awakening’s website, seeing that there were growth track classes held (I had my first growth track in my old church) and also looking through the sermons (the series was called Graceful Resistance) I told myself, I found my church. I was actually excited for the first time. And when I came that first Sunday, there was coffee hahaha (and donuts). Confirmation!! God heard me. I knew from the research and even visiting that first Sunday that I would learn so much scripturally, I'll grow, and I can rest assured knowing Jesus will be preached.
I kept going to City Awakening because of familiarity and knowing I would grow here spiritually. It was hard at the beginning because I felt isolated. I didn't know anyone too well. But I didn't want to leave. I told myself it's the beginning and to give it time. So I prayed, for friends, for belonging, and God has given me that within this church and I'm thankful.
My faith has grown since moving and attending City Awakening because God has shown me all last year he will provide for us. He give us what we need! He will not leave us homeless on the streets (this was a fear). But I'd say at the moment it's hard to see because of some things I'm going through both mentally and emotionally. Going to my MCGs has helped me in my faith as well. I love my group!
I'm currently in a period now where he's putting me through the fire and showing me where he needs to heal me and grow me. It's just hard. A big thing for me is learning to rely on others for something as small as giving me a ride home. I will never ask. I feel fear and I have an idea where it stems from too. It's something I must face every Sunday, haha.
I'm taking the photos and I serve on Guest Services team at City Awakening. I serve as the photographer because I love serving as a photographer. That's been my way of serving since getting saved in 2018 and joining my first church. I don't find my identity in that though. It's funny because when I first started to attend City Awakening, I didn't think a photographer was needed until Pastor Zack mentioned it in the last Growth Track class. I was fully prepared to either not serve or serve in another way. But something in me was DYING to take pictures. Prayer answered again. Guest services came later. "Something " in me led me to want to serve on that team as well. I enjoy speaking with others and helping out where I can.
I would encourage others to attend City Awakening because it's a place where they can experience family and true connection with other believers. It's a loving environment and they'd always feel welcomed!