by Awaken Global is part of CCDA’s Flourishing Congregations Initiative, a comprehensive 4-year program designed to empower church leaders to help their congregations deepen their community engagement, enhance their ministries, and contribute to the flourishing of their neighborhoods. We hope you are encouraged and inspired by Dr. Spivey’s reflections on how Awaken Global is loving their neighbors in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
At Awaken Global in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, we are a church that gathers to scatter. We don’t gather to simply sit. We gather to be sent. Every Sunday, we come together to be equipped, encouraged, and empowered—then we scatter with intentionality, carrying the presence of God into every space we’re called to influence.
We’re not focused on filling seats. We’re focused on filling the community with Word-driven disciples who carry out the mission of the Gospel. For us, ministry doesn’t end with a benediction. It begins there!
The Move of God in Our Midst
Week after week, as we gather and scatter throughout the community, we’re witnessing His Spirit move in our schools, on our streets, and through the hands and hearts of everyday people who have said, “Yes.”
It’s the grandmother raising her grandkids who finds strength in our prayer gatherings. It’s the young adult discovering identity and purpose through discipleship. It’s the formerly incarcerated woman who has overcome addiction and now serves as a mentor to others. These are the stories that remind us that God is not done with our city—He’s just getting started.
What Flourishing Looks Like in Rocky Mount
At Awaken Global, we believe flourishing happens when families are stable, when people are discipled, and when the Church shows up—not just for events, but for lives. We don’t define success by size or pedigree; we define it by transformation.
When the opportunity to be part of the Flourishing Congregations Initiative was presented, it aligned so deeply with what we were already praying for and pressing toward. We did not want to be a church that focused on buildings that impressed, bucks coming in, or butts in a seat—we wanted to break chains and build bridges for people to meet our Redeemer, regardless of their past. Our commitment was to connect a lost and dying world with a loving Savior.
CCDA provided us with the tools to assess, align, and advance—spiritually, relationally, and structurally. The Flourishing Congregations Initiative has provided us with a mirror and a map, helping us see where we are and where we are called to go.
Being Proximate
One of the greatest truths we have embraced is that proximity breeds compassion. You cannot love a neighborhood from a distance. You can’t change a system you don’t understand. You cannot impact people who do not know your heart. The more we lean into our community, the more clearly we see how God wants to use us. Awaken Global is not the solution to our community’s issues, but we are surrendered vessels with willing hearts, who have given God our yes.
If there is one thing I would want people to know about Awaken Global, it’s this: We don’t claim perfection, but we pursue presence. We are not fancy or flashy, but we are faithful. We are not chasing crowds—we are chasing after Jesus and inviting others to come with us. We believe in equipping people to be the Church, not just attend one.
Being Good Neighbors
‘Being the church’ means being a good neighbor. The process of becoming a good neighbor starts with being present and neighborly. It’s asking, “Who around me needs to be seen, heard, and loved right now?” It’s picking up the phone to do wellness checks, showing up to the meeting when it’s not comfortable or convenient, crossing the street when you would rather go home, or staying a little longer after a gathering because someone needs to be heard. Good neighboring looks like presence without an agenda. Service without spotlight. Love without limits. This is the heartbeat of Awaken Global.
An Outsized Impact
According to many church metrics, we would be considered a small church, but we are part of a big Kingdom with a big God who does big things through surrendered people. When we put all of those attributes together, we give God the glory and the praise because we are having a big impact in the lives of the people He has called us to serve. We gather at Awaken Global because we need each other; we scatter because the world needs Jesus.
If you are looking for a place that’s authentic, on mission, and rooted in love, you will find us in the streets of Rocky Mount, loving our city one person at a time.
We’re not waiting for revival. We believe we are living in it.
About Dr. Keisha B. Spivey
Dr. Keisha B. Spivey is a wife, mother, and pastor who is a committed change agent who educates, equips, and empowers individuals to live their life on MAX… in Jesus!
A graduate of Liberty University Rawlings School of Divinity, Keisha holds a Doctor of Ministry, Master of Divinity, and a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership. Keisha’s additional roles include author, certified life coach, and chaplain. She and her husband, Eric, are the founders of Awaken Global and Ripple Effects Group with offices in Rocky Mount, NC, and Kenya.
