the Awakenings Prayer Institute

training in reflective prayer, spiritual formation, and spiritual direction

The 8th Day Community is dedicated to living compassion in the city. This means we are purposeful in attending to the brokenness of society and reaching people with a witness of community found in Jesus that is unique and valued. One of the primary ways we "live" this out is training leaders for the current and future generations of Christian witness. We are convinced that leaders today and leaders of tomorrow have to be people of integrity and service, willing to "soil" their gloves in the brokenness of humankind, while at the same time deeply involved in helping champion and nurture the gifts and creative potential of all people. 

The 8th Day Institue of Spiritual Formation is partnering with Dr. Wes Johnson's Awakenings Prayer Ministry to help form the new Awakenings Prayer Institute. Through a relationship between the 8th Day Community and Bethel Baptist Church in Everett, WA., this new Institute will concentrate in the areas listed below:

  • Spiritual Reading
  • Praying the scriptures
  • The prayer of examen
  • Breath Prayer and the character of God
  • Praying God's creation
  • Receiving and giving spiritual direction
  • Christian retreating
  • Soul shaping through sorrow and suffering
  • The balance of contemplation, intercession, and action
  • The value of vulnerable community
  • Models of spiritual community
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    The Awakneings Prayer Institute engages particpants in a one or two year learning community centered in reflective prayer, spiritual formation, and training in spiritual direction. The first year focuses upon deepening our awareness of God's presence in the low points and igh points of life. The second year focuses upon training in the role of spiritual director, leading and guiding prayer retreats, and cultivating a life of devotion in the context of local church and community life. Dr. Wes Johnson (pastor of Bethel Baptist Church), director of the Institute, along with Dr. Dale Pollard (director of the 8th Day community), a teacher and consultant for Awakenings, are both looking forward to the Awakenings Prayer Institute's launch date of October, 2012.

     

     
    For those interested in this journey together an application needs to be completed before acceptance into the Institute. This training is a free offering of the Awakenings Prayer Institute, available to all who desire to enter in. Donations will be asked periodically to help defray expenses. An application can be found at the 8th Day Community website under the Awakenings Prayer Institute tab or found at Bethel Baptist's website. 


    Sola Dei Gloria!

     

    For more information concerning the The Awakenings Institute, please contact Dr. Dale Pollard at dale@8thdaycommunity.org, or by cell at 360-201-3957.