My friend Janine and I were recently talking about the topic of community in a healthy church. There is something about a healthy and growing community of faith that encourages deep relationships. It doesn't matter if you are a new attendee or a long standing member, relationships begin to develop.
She introduced me to a quote from Thomas Kelly in his book A Testament of Devotion:
When we are drowned in the overwhelming seas of the love of God, we find ourselves in a new and particular relation to a few of our fellows. The relationship is so surprising and rich that we despair of finding a word glorious enough and weighty enough to name it. The word Fellowship is discovered, but the word is pale in comparison with the rich volume and luminous bulk and warmth of the experience which it would designate. For a new kind of life-sharing and love has arisen of which we had only dim hints before. Are these the bonds of love which knit together the early Christians, the very warp and woof of the Kingdom of God? In glad amazement and wonder we enter upon a relationship which we had not known the world could contain for the sons of men. Why should such bounty be given to unworthy men like ourselves?
Often times churches start small group ministries to aid in the discipleship process. However, as pastors and ministry leaders we have to expand how we view the role of small group ministry in our congregations.
A couple of weeks ago I met a couple that visited our church as a result of one of our summer outreach events. This year was the first time we did three different events, one for children, one for pre-teens, and one for high school. As a result, they decided to visit the church on Sunday and came back a second time!
This past Sunday was their third visit and I ran into them at our guest central tent outside. I was so thrilled to see them again. What was interesting to me was the how our conversation began. Of course they thanked me for organizing our teen summer outreach for their family but immediately after that they were thrilled to tell me how they found our Motorcycle Group on our website. They went on their first ride over the weekend and had a blast.
This particular couple wasn't browsing our website digging for a place to grow and deepen spiritually. They were visitors looking for a connection and trying to figure out if our church was the place for their family. We have had numerous types of social groups at CCV. Here are a few I can think of quick that we have tried or currently have: Volleyball Scrapbooking Softball Motorcycle Riding Bike Riding Tennis Playgroup Knitting Bowling
What kind of social groups have you tried at your church?
Dave Treat, from Willow Creek, recently posted that he is interested in reading your stories and making them a part of the Group Life Conference this year. Here is what Dave posted:
What's the funniest, most embarrassing, or (in retrospect) dumbest thing you've done in Group Life? From the small group that wanted to study the "Dead Sea Squirrels" or the toddler in the laundry chute, to the most ill-conceived icebreaker of all time ("Tell the group the worst sin you ever committed"), these true (we think) stories will have you in stitches.
Call for entries. We need your story on video to add to our library. We know you've got a great one... we can hear the wheels turning from here. Watch this true story... mine... for an idea of what we're looking for:
You'll be able to review these videos and vote for your favorite online in the "GLTV" section of this blog, and on the big screen in the Group Life Conference 2008Film Festival. Finalists will be played during Main Session Five: Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time. Ready to submit your own Best, Worst story? Read the Submission Rules to learn how.
Often times churches start small group ministries to aid in the discipleship process. However, as pastors and ministry leaders we have to expand how we view the role of small group ministry in our congregations.