live IN community

Several months ago our Community Group leaders began realizing we were out growing our {what was supposed to be smaller} group. Also, Community Group is another term for Bible study, Small Group, what have you. 
We had definitely passed up 25 in attendance and it seemed to be about time to start looking for how we should branch out and start new community groups in other places. Our home ended up being one of the locations for our area {yay!} and then two other community groups started in other cities/areas. 
Last night was our first group and we were stunned with how many people showed up. Lets just say, there's obviously more of a need for even more groups being started up, than just the 3 we started. But as these things take time, we're looking to see how we can make last night work, for at least a little while. 


As crowded as it was, I was shocked at how functional and calm everything was. I think there were 12+ kids {lots of adorable babies} and lots of singles, newlyweds, married several years and then much older more seasoned couples, with grown adult kids. I was super happy with the demographic. 

this was before everyone was here! it was so full later on, 
we had a hard time moving around the entry way. 

We're going to miss our old group. It was feeling more like family and the friendships that developed there are ones that won't be easily broken. I guess that's the hidden blessing - even when the group has to split up, move on and serve in other groups, we won't lose those precious friendships we have. 
Thanks to Facebook, we can also keep in contact on a daily {sometimes hourly} basis :) 
Not to mention, seeing each other at church every Sunday.

this is just the dining room/family room. 
Kitchen was full 
upstairs was full 
entry way was full. 


Anyway, last night was just one more evidence of God's grace and His incredible blessing to our church body. I had to share especially the shoe picture - couldn't get over how many pairs of shoes were in our entry way! We had a running joke all night about how we just moved from a big, wide open house to a smaller more "compact" square plan. Last night we kind of missed our old house ;-) 



During study time... 



Some of us had to sit on the stairs. 
Kara brought her blanket and sat with Jason and me :) 

Comments

Liz said…
Amazing! Thanks for your hospitality :) Our kids had a blast! I've been praying for wisdom for the leadership. I've never been to a group that large, much less on the first night! I kept telling Jeff, it looked more like the launch of a new campus than a community group. We could just watch Mark on your tv and have some worship time ;)
Stef said…
No kidding, Liz! The group last night IS bigger than the church Jason and I met each other at. Crazy.

Such an overwhelming sense of God's provision and grace.

I should've added to this post - my house was completely clean when everyone left and I didn't do any of the cleaning! Toys and everything. I'd say we've met some pretty cool people ;-)
Gina said…
Looks awesome! How wonderful to have a great home group. :-)
Stef said…
No kidding, Liz! The group last night IS bigger than the church Jason and I met each other at. Crazy.

Such an overwhelming sense of God's provision and grace.

I should've added to this post - my house was completely clean when everyone left and I didn't do any of the cleaning! Toys and everything. I'd say we've met some pretty cool people ;-)

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