One of the most effective ways to get connected to Grace is through a Small Group. Small Groups are, as the name describes, a small group of people coming together to share their lives. Here, God’s word is studied, mutual burdens are carried, and each others’ needs are brought to the Lord in prayer. Deep and lasting friendships are established, many of which long outlive the life of a particular group and reach across the distance of time and space.
Our Small Group Ministry has had its ebbs and flows and over the last year or so it has been ebbing. So, over the past months a plan for revitalizing our small group ministry has been prayerfully and carefully evolving. I’ve been meeting with three Elders here at Grace, Kirk Ball, Kevin Gallagher & Kevin Natrin and together we’ve worked on a plan to revitalize this ministry. There are, of course, a good number of existing, vibrant small groups that will continue, structured as they have in the past. Some of these groups are a part of previous small group systems, and some are spontaneous groups that are quietly and effectively touching the lives of many. Our desire is to come alongside existing groups with a structured approach that will expand the number of small groups available to shepherd our congregation. Existing groups may or may not become a part this newly structured ministry (you know the adage, “if it aint broke don’t fix it!). In this new system the three elders I mentioned before will be coaches who will provide support and encouragement to small group leaders. In our new system, each coach will shepherd the leaders of up to five small groups. So, at the moment, we’re prepared to care for up to fifteen small groups. Our hope and prayer is that the Lord will raise up new coaches as the number of small groups grows. A key and central feature of our small group ministry will be developing new leadership and thus each small group leader in the new system will have an “apprentice” whom he is mentoring and bringing into leadership. In this way we will have a constant supply of new leadership and thus the ability to multiply the number of small groups. This growth will not happen overnight but we are confident that, by God’s grace, in the years to come, we will have a more vital small group ministry than ever before.
Please be in prayer for this new facet of our Small Group Ministry. Pray for leaders. Pray for apprentices. Pray for the lives of many to be touched by our Lord as He uses this part of the ministry of Grace.
Jonathan Seda