Over the 34 years of being together, we have always been engaged in small groups within the church. We actually can’t imagine how it would feel if we had not done this. We are confident we would not be as close to Christ today or have experienced as much spiritual growth were it not for our different small groups. We have lived in five different states (away from our immediate family), and in each place the church has truly been our family because of these small group experiences.
When we came to Fellowship Church, Pastor Ken Eriks invited us to be a part of a concept called “cell groups.” We participated in the first cell group with the Eriks, Perez and Stewart families. This type of small group was a bit more intimate than other groups we had experienced, and God used it significantly to transform our lives!
We met weekly in homes and at each meeting there were the elements of prayer, worship, study of God’s Word, and the breaking of bread. Our whole family was involved. Our youngest son was in fourth grade. If you were to ask our three sons, they would tell you that small group was the most meaningful part of being in the church. The interaction with other adult believers, who took a genuine interest in them, helped our sons to experience Christ in a tangible way. Before being in a cell group, I (Kathy) never shared my story of growing up in an abusive home. Because our cell group provided a safe place where I didn’t have to worry about being judged (the community of grace Pastor Brian talked about this past Sunday), I felt comfortable to share it freely, and to see how God has redeemed my story in His Story! All praise to God, who was at work in a mighty way!
Sixteen years later, our cell group is still meeting almost every week. It has become a time we set aside where we look forward to experiencing the in-breaking of God’s kingdom – eating together, praying, worshiping, and being shaped by God’s Word. We have been privileged to have been a part of so many families over the years as people have come and gone. In all the changes, however, there is always one constant—Jesus Christ!
In our fast paced society, time seems to be the reason many people give for not being involved in a small group. We have found that once you put Christ in your life in this way, he will multiply your time and send you out to others in a more powerful way! Small groups are a great way to invite others to come and learn about the gospel, and one of the best ways to grow in your own faith! This has certainly been true for us!