awaken 50

Q: Who should be in my Awaken 50 group? 

A: Awaken 50 is best done in single-sex groups. Pray and think about who would benefit from structured community and discipleship. Who would you enjoy going on this journey with? Who is God calling you into deeper relationship with? 

Awaken 50 groups work best within groups of 2-6 people who have some relational context and are willing to go deeper together. It’s likely that you’ll build lasting friendship with those in your group.

Awaken 50 can work well in cross-generational groups, as well as being effective when done in a group experiencing similar stages of life. 

Q: How should I start an Awaken 50 group? 

A: Reach out individually and invite them to be a part of an Awaken 50 group with you. Then, present them with the information in the Field Guide and ask if this is something they would be interested in. Finally, be available to answer any of their questions with clarity. 

If they are interested, let them know more practical details, like who else would be in the group and when you would aim to start. 

Q: I have been invited to be a part of an Awaken 50 group, is this for me? 

A: If you want to grow further into living an Awakened Life in your everyday life, and are willing to take on new and exciting rhythms, then this is for you! Awaken 50 aims to introduce and sustain good rhythms of discipleship in a Christian’s spiritual practices and accountability.  

There is plenty of flexibility that can be arranged regarding the practices that can cater for any physical or spiritual needs. These can be discussed with your group to make sure that you can still take part in Awaken 50. 

Q: What if I can’t find a group?

A: Awaken 50 can be done in a pair, so you can start it with just one other friend. We will also be running a central call for those who want to jump in but haven’t got a group, so keep an eye out for details about this!

Q: I have a group, now what? 

A: Firstly, centralise communication, create a group chat and discuss a start date! It is a great idea to begin with a dinner to all gather as a group before you begin and mark the start of Awaken 50.  

Vision is also key for building a group with a high level of ‘buy in’. Ask your group to begin to draft individual 'Hope Statements' and to be praying for vision as to what God wants to do in and through you in the next 50 days. 

Q: What should I expect from the next 50 days? 

A: Expect to be stretched and grow! God can do immeasurably more than you could imagine in this period as you dedicate time, resources and effort into you and your A50 group’s discipleship.  

You will experience new levels of accountability, faith, awareness to the work of the Holy Spirit and conviction as you go on this journey.  

A bit like an adventure, you might have no idea where Awaken 50 will take you, or you might have a specific area you desire breakthrough in. Either way, the Holy Spirit is inviting you deeper into a dynamic relationship with him.  

Q: This feels like too much! What now? 

A: Sometimes as we begin new things, they feel unusual and even abrasive. Practices like fasting and chosen abstinences can stretch us into the unknown. We would advise bringing these thoughts and feelings openly to your anchor and your group. You will not be the only one experiencing these feelings. As you continue Awaken 50, things like fasting and extended time with God will feel more normal and your capacity will grow. In these spaces ask God for strength and discernment as to what continuing Awaken 50 looks like.  

If the Awaken 50 commitments feel too much, begin talking to your group about cutting down on some of the practices and making the process more tailored to your requirements. And remember this; succeeding at all of the A50 practices is not the point, they are all there to help encourage and provoke a closer walk with God. The practices may stretch you, challenge you and even make you face a bit of failure along the way. Don’t fear that, it’s all good and will season your Awaken 50 group discussions with honest and helpful reflection.

Q: How can I get the most out of Awaken 50? 

A: There are several important dynamics to Awaken 50 running smoothly:

Firstly, one of the biggest gifts in this process is your anchor. Keeping you connected and building a sense of security. Daily contact through a call, voice messages or even meeting up with will allow you to grow and process your experience of Awaken 50 in a deeper and more engaged way. Finding a sustainable rhythm of checking in with your anchor will transform your experience of Awaken 50. 

Secondly, keep asking God questions when things ‘pop up.’ The practices are not just about discipline and determination, they are about understanding our need for God. When you find yourself feeling prideful about your competency or disappointed with your inability, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Share these moments with your anchor and wider group. These moments will not only create a deeper intimacy with Jesus but a greater understanding of yourself. 

Finally, journal your process. Having thoughts written down can be extremely helpful in understanding the journey God has you on through Awaken 50. We would recommend annotating your Awaken 50 book. Having your 'Hope Statement' written down can help re-call why you are doing Awaken 50 and what you want to get out of it. Writing down where you have seen growth or breakthrough will also encourage you later if the journey gets harder.  

Q: Can I switch my Anchor? 

A: The purpose of being paired with an Anchor is to bring structured vulnerability, accountability and celebration with someone who you might never otherwise been able to build relationship with. These relationships can stretch you and challenge you. However, if logistically things are not working it is good to address problems with your Anchor. Expressing a desire for more connection or rethinking how you communicate may be necessary. 

Lots of Awaken 50 groups plan to change Anchors half way through the process on day 25.

If for any reason the relationship with your Anchor feels difficult, it’s good to ask ‘how can I play my part in strengthening this relationship?’. It may also be appropriate to seek wisdom from someone else in your Awaken 50 group. If it feel important to make a change, then as hard as it may feel, it’s important to communicate well about that.

Q: What’s next? 

A: After Awaken 50 we hope that you won’t go back to life as it was before. Instead commit to some of the practices that you found the most challenging or rewarding for the long term. Plan a celebration as group together where you have space to celebrate and pray for each other. What would it look like to go deeper into an Awakened life? Awaken 50 is just the beginning of a lifetime of discipleship.

Q: Can I lead another Awaken 50 group?

A: Leading an Awaken 50 group doesn’t just mean you are overseeing a group, but you get to take part again! Leading a group looks like facilitating space for the 50 days, organising practical steps and curating a strong group dynamic.

We would love everyone who has completed Awaken 50 to lead a group within a year of completing it. This will serve to develop and embed the teaching and practices, as well as support others in their discipleship. Your experience of Awaken 50 the first time around will be central in creating an environment of excitement, expectation and accountability. Bring all that you have learnt, but be ready to re-learn, grow and be stretched even more the second time. 

People who have repeated Awaken 50 have reported new learning and a deepened walk with God every time.

Q: Who should I do a group with?

A:We would love our teens to jump into an Awaken 50 group too! We recommend forming a group with other under 18’s, or being joined by one or two of our trained and recognised youth team.

⁠Q: 50 minutes a day seems a lot! Do I have to do that?

A: No, but we recommend our teens to do 30 minutes a day. This will give you time to follow the daily prayers, readings and activations.

Q: What about the other disciplines? Should I do them all?

A: YES! Go for it. It feels demanding, but we think you’ll grow so much by engaging with the various practices. The day of fasting is the main one to properly review. Have a chat with your parent or carer about what feels appropriate. It may be that only fasting for one meal a week, or leaving this practice out altogether is a better choice for you.

Click here to download our field guide.