In 1999 Nanette Hilliard had a vision of a ministry model that would be built upon service and worship.  The first part of the vision included a faith based non-profit entity (the service sector) designed to address the needs of at-risk communities and individuals.  Programs of the non-profit were to be supported by grants and private donations.  

 

The second part of the vision included worship.  The vehicle for worship would be a church that would be open to all people.  It’s focus; it would be radically inclusive facilitating the spiritual birth, growth, of any person who desired to know God.    

 

​​In November 2001, 14 individuals met at the home of John Mark Byrd (Virginia Beach, VA.) to discuss the possibility of a place to worship whose center is God (a safe place, a holy place).

 

On the 1st Sunday in December 2001 (7) of those (14) individuals met in the lobby of the office of Family First.  We met there to pray for God’s direction.  Our music was a portable CD player, and only part of the building had heat.  

 

Initially we met only for prayer on Sunday afternoons.  Shortly we were including homilies, and then communion.  One problem existed, Nanette had completed seminary, but had not been ordained. 

 

Nanette had begun dialogue with Rev. Walter Snore in the United Church of Christ and went to him to find the appropriate way to become affiliated while not dissolving the small group that had come together to worship.  It appeared the process would take approximately a year, and people were continuing to come each Sunday to worship.  

 

Although Nanette had not planned to officially start a church plant until 2004, the church began formation late November 2001.  Through God’s power, the model for ministry worked just as she envisioned; the non-profit was a support for the formation of the church. We began to grow.  Support for the ministry came in from non-members and random strangers.    

 

We met in a little cinderblock building on Broad St, in Chesapeake, VA.  There we fed the people of the community through a food pantry, helped seniors with food and medication and assisted uninsured individuals obtain medication from drug companies.

 

The building needed repairs.  During the summer we survived there, but when the winter came the heating was inadequate.  If we were warm in the front, we were cold in the back, but God met us there.  We met there until a season of heavy rains came.  It rained for weeks.  It rained outside and it rained inside.  It rained in the bathroom; it rained in the storage room and finally it started raining in the lobby.  We had to leave our little building.

 

We were like wandering nomads.  We met in the Public Library (playing our CD ever so quietly in their conference room).  We then moved to the Carver Elementary School and stayed there until Rev. Walter Snore referred us to Rev. Jim Luck and Christian Church Uniting.  Rev. Luck and Christian Church Uniting invited us on a trial basis starting April 2003.  

 

In July 2003 Rev. Dr. Samuel Varner took us by the hand and lovingly walked us through the process of becoming a part of the United Church of Christ.  We were accepted in the United Church of Christ in October 2003, but due to the illness of Pastor Nanette’s mother, we postponed our Service of Installation until April 25, 2004.

 

During our time there we (The Great Awakening, United Church of Christ), worked in the community going door to door delivering more than 2000 door hangers, inviting our neighbors, feeding and sheltering the homeless and partnering with the Civic League to improve our community.  We grew from 14 members to over a hundred.

 

Through the power of God, we have opened doors of worship to all people, including the gay and lesbian community.  When we say whosoever will let them come.  We really mean whosoever will.  

 

 

From our inception we have been open worship to all people.  We practice radical inclusiveness and intentionally strive to reach the least, the last and the lost. Because of the discrimination experienced by many LGBTQ individuals in churches, we made it a priority of our outreach to be present in the LGBTQ community.  

 

 

Our church is present in Pride Events and University Sponsored events.  We accept Jesus Christ as our risen Savior, and through the Holy Spirit we have become a people of great hospitality reaching society’s marginalized and ostracized, embracing them with the awesome love of God.

 

Today our congregation has grown to more a membership of more than 200.  Our people come from as far as Moyock, North Carolina, Fredericksburg, Winston Salem and Hampton VA.  We come to worship in an atmosphere of wholeness, unity, positive practices and Holiness.

 

In 2011, we recognized that our members desired to have a place that would be their home. We were faced with 3 options (merge, rent a different building or purchase a building).   Christian Church Uniting opened a discussion for merging but was unable to agree to commitment to terms that would bring us together as one body.  In addition, it was becoming increasingly difficult to gain broader use of their building.  We considered renting a different building and discovered that renting cost twice the amount that it would cost to purchase. 

 

 In 2012 our congregation formally began a search for a building to purchase.  Our members and friends came together raising money for our down payment.  We raised over $85,000 in addition to maintaining our regular expenses.  We prayed together and worked together until through God we accomplished our financial goal.

 

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​​​​​​In 2013 we entered the contract to purchase 1520 High Street, Portsmouth, VA.  We closed on the purchase in January 2014.  The building required moderate renovations.  Our General Contractor defaulted and in June 2014, we terminated our agreement with him, and our members completed the building renovations. Deacon Sam Armstead guided us through the process.  Terry Hill and her co-worker David also worked day and night to renovate the building.

 

The 3rd Sunday of September 2014 we moved into our new location (1520 High St., Portsmouth, VA).  We continue to reach the least, the last and the lost.  Our faith in God is stronger and we open our hearts and arms to all whom God sends our way.  We are blessed with babies, children and youth. 

 

In 2015 Dr. Joy Carrington (who previously assisted us as a supply preacher) joined our congregation and was ordained by the United Church of Christ on a “Privilege of Call”.  Dr. Carrington was ordained originally by the AME Zion Church, bringing 20 years of preaching and service to congregations throughout the state of Virginia.  She was called initially as “Pastor of Development and Outreach” to The Great Awakening 

 

In November 2016 under the direction of our Board of Directors (Denise Adams, Jana Sauerbrunn, Robyn Spencer, Mother Jeanette Parham and Benita Diggs and a non- BOD person Kelly Bryan) the church purchased 2 adjacent lots.  The assessment value was 30k, our purchase price was $7,500.  We paid cash for the property.

 

In addition, with our move to High St. we also began to recognize the need for an online presence.  We have made investments in technology that assist us in reaching individuals who are unable to physically attend worship service and Bible Study.  Our online presence reaches hundreds of people, and we are striving to reach many more individuals and families through our online presence. 

 

We are committed to facilitating the spiritual growth of all people. As Christ loved us, so shall we love one another.  

 

During the crisis of the Covid 19 pandemic, Dr. Carrington served The Great Awakening as acting Co-Pastor.  She labored alongside our Senior Pastor, Dr. Nanette Hilliard to open every available option for our congregation and community to continue worship and service without interruption.  In 2022 she was officially assigned as Co-Pastor. The pandemic unveiled for us the need for broader attention to virtual worship and live streaming of our services.  We continue working to establish an online ministry campus for those who worship with us continually but are not in the area. 

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Pastor Hilliard retired in 2023 and Pastor Carrington was installed as Senior Pastor and Teacher on the third Sunday in September. Dr. Hilliard was intentional in grooming her successor and focused on what she coined a sanctified succession.

 

The Great Awakening continues to grow and develop each member as a Disciple for Christ. Recently, the church voted to bestow upon Pastor Hilliard the distinction of Pastor Emerita. The Southern Conference along with the members of the Eastern Virginia Association and friends and members of TGA came to support.