A Worthy Journey
by Laurie Leon, 2/1/04
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Community groups...what are they? How do they effect and impact a persons life and walk with Christ? How will I find the time to fit this into my already busy schedule? When Mike first asked me to write something about community groups I wasn’t sure I could fill a paragraph on the subject, let along a page. Then I began to think about how my life has really been impacted by community groups, fellowship groups, kinship groups, bible studies or what ever your church decided to call such a thing.
A community group is a place where like-minded people gather together to deepen their relationship with Christ and other Christians. I have found it to be a worthwhile effort that yielded life-changing results.
Mike and I began to become aware of our need for God in our early 20's. It seemed everywhere I went people would talk to me about Jesus. I began to run the other direction. Once, a friend asked Mike to come to his Home Group "where other college kids got together to talk and sing." I was not a Christian at the time and went to this group as a skeptic. I was overwhelmed by the love and care these people possessed. The worship songs they sang and their heart for the Lord moved me to tears. It was my real first encounter with real live Christians. They just loved me and let God work in me. I attended that group for several weeks and then moved on. It met a great need in my life at that time. God used a small group to show me his people up close and personal.
Mike and I came to know the Lord, got married and decided to start a college and career group. We found several people that wanted to do this and we just started. Our format was simple. We worshiped the Lord, had a small Bible study and prayed for one another. We certainly were not Bible scholars nor did we know what to do, but we liked the idea of being with other Christians. The Lord brought a wonderful College age Christian with a teachers heart and Mike learned how to play the guitar. In that group I learned how to pray "out loud" for other people and made some dear friends. We moved, and life took us in another direction.
We began our "married with young children" phase. During this time in our life we were involved in a group that worked out a way for young families with small children to attend.
All the kids were having fun in a back bedroom and different moms took turns watching the kids. The Lord showed us how to be leaders in that group. We had a chance to learn Godly perspectives on child rearing and had the support of others as we tried to raise up our children.
As our kids reached upper elementary school age we hired a trusted high-school student once a week to watch the kids as we went to our Community group. It was the first time that Mike and I had time to get away on a regular basis. This group was led by a very dynamic couple. There was lots of change going on in my life at the time and that group was my safety net. I learned how to trust people and open up in that group. I learned that I was accepted just how I was. These people really loved me, weirdness and all. It was the first time in my life that I felt the unconditional love of Christ played out in relationships with other Christians. This was the most life-changing group I have ever been involved with and I thank God that He provided me this opportunity to be closely involved with a small body of believers.
When we moved to Lake County we did not find a small group for quite a while. The kids were growing up and moving into the teenage years. It was then we talked with several other parents and formed a group that explored different ways of parenting and coping with teenagers. I really needed that group and it met a specific need. I learned that I had to change again in my personal life and that group was very supportive and encouraging.
When Edge started, we knew that community groups must be a big part of what we do. Mike and I are leading the building of community groups and we are really excited to see how God will use this to shape our church and individual people. There are several groups that meet at different times of the week and each has a unique characteristic. Try some out, find one that fits or talk to us about starting your own group. There are many opportunities. In all the groups we have been involved with I have never been disappointed. I have struggled and sometimes been discouraged, but what I have learned and how God has ministered to me was more than worth all the effort. I encourage you this week to find out how you can be plugged into the life changing wonderful world of community groups. God is real and alive and working in the body of Christ and He wants to work in you.
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