A Christian group formed around a portrait of Christ, intending to prepare for a new age as prophesied in the Bible.
The Awakened, A Fellowship in Christ, was a Christian group founded by Melvin L. Severy in Los Angeles, California, in 1932. This small religious sect emerged during the Great Depression, a time of significant economic and social upheaval in the United States. Severy, a former Methodist minister born in 1885 in Massachusetts, moved to California in the late 1920s and established the fellowship based on his personal spiritual experiences and interpretations of Christian doctrine.
The group’s unique origin traces back to Severy’s profound experience with a painting of Christ by Charles Sindelar. This artwork deeply inspired Severy, who believed that the painting could unite people in a Christ-centered fellowship and prepare for a new era as prophesied in the Bible. With Sindelar’s assistance, Severy established the group with the aim of preparing the world for this new spiritual age.
Severy claimed to have received divine revelations that inspired him to form a new Christian community focused on spiritual awakening and personal transformation. The group’s name, “The Awakened,” reflected Severy’s belief that true followers of Christ needed to be spiritually awakened to fully understand and live out their faith. The fellowship’s future and direction were to be determined by ongoing revelation.
Initially attracting a small but dedicated group of followers in the Los Angeles area, members of The Awakened met regularly for worship services, Bible study, and prayer meetings. Severy emphasized the importance of personal spiritual experiences and encouraged his followers to seek direct communication with God through meditation and contemplative practices.
One of the distinguishing features of The Awakened was its focus on what Severy called “Christ consciousness.” He taught that individuals could attain a state of heightened spiritual awareness that would allow them to embody the teachings and character of Jesus Christ more fully in their daily lives. This concept drew some parallels to mystical traditions within Christianity, although Severy maintained that his teachings were firmly rooted in biblical principles.
The Awakened remained a relatively small and localized group throughout its existence, never gaining widespread recognition or influence beyond its immediate community in Los Angeles. The fellowship’s teachings and practices were primarily disseminated through Severy’s sermons, personal counseling sessions, and a small number of pamphlets and newsletters published by the group.
Several years after its establishment, the group’s trajectory changed dramatically when Guy Ballard, the founder of the “I Am” Religious Activity, visited Sindelar’s studios. Ballard, having been in communication with what he claimed was the Master Jesus, identified Sindelar’s portrait with this figure. Impressed by Ballard’s assertions, Sindelar decided to merge the resources of The Awakened with the “I Am” Activity.
As a result of this merger, Sindelar’s studio, which had initially served as the headquarters of The Awakened, became the West Coast headquarters for the “I Am” movement. Consequently, most of The Awakened’s resources were absorbed into this newer movement, leading to the group’s eventual dissolution.
The Awakened, A Fellowship in Christ, did not persist for long as an independent entity, primarily due to the incorporation of its resources and mission into the “I Am” Activity. This absorption reflected the fluid nature of many early 20th-century religious movements, which often intertwined and evolved through interactions with other contemporary religious leaders and groups.
As with many small religious movements, detailed records of The Awakened’s activities and membership are limited. The group appears to have remained active throughout the 1930s and 1940s, but its influence began to wane in the post-World War II era. Severy continued to lead the fellowship until his death in the early 1950s, after which the group gradually disbanded.
image via 120 Years
