Church Family,
I have some exciting news to share with you – this year’s Community Group reset has been a huge success! Last year, we had roughly 120 members and regular attendees involved in co-ed Community Groups. After the co-ed Community Group reset,
we now have over 210 people plugged into our co-ed groups!
(And that number does not even include our men's and women's groups.)
A couple days ago, some co-ed Community Group leaders and I met to work through the new groups that will launch this the new ministry year. You might be wondering, “what’s next?” So here’s what you can expect over the next several weeks for co-ed groups:
- Expect an Email. You’ll be receiving an email from your new group leaders introducing themselves and informing everyone about when your group will be meeting.
- Expect a BBQ. Each group leader has been encouraged to have a kickoff BBQ in August. This is a great way to begin building new friendships with some of the folks you don’t know. When your leader reaches out, make the BBQ a priority for your schedule. Jesus spent lots of time in the New Testament sharing meals with others. Real ministry and real relationships happen in the ordinary, mundane things of life.
- Expect to Know Some People. Most every group have folks in it with people they already know. We hope that this is encouraging to you as you begin a new community group.
- Expect to Meet Other People. Each group will likely have people in it who do not know each other. This is an opportunity to expand your community at MCC. When you know more people it helps make a larger church feel smaller.
- Expect to Grow. This year, expect to grow in your relationship with God and in your friendships with others at MCC. Expect and pray that God uses these newly formed community groups to help form us into the image of Christ.
One last little reminder: as you step into your new community groups, make a decision to invest in the people there. You can do this in three, practical ways:
- Show Up. Yep. Just being present matters.
- Ask Questions. Get to know about those in your group. Ask questions about their families, follow up on prayer concerns. Be inquisitive.
- Pray. Pray for those in your group outside of your normal group time. This is a simple, powerful way of caring for one another.
As the Pastor of Discipleship and Enfolding, I couldn’t be more excited about the year ahead!
Cheers!
Pastor Don
