I love my Small Group...

At Christ's Church, there is a strong push to have all our members get into a small group. This is where "real life change happens." In a church our size, it can be very easy to just sit in the pew and leave each Sunday, feeling like you can now check that box off your list. Being actively involved in a small group changes that and allows you to make connections to people you might otherwise never meet.
Without sounding like a "yes man," everything these small groups are advertised to be is true. When we came to Christ's Church (known as Mandarin Christian Church then), Senior Pastor Dennis Bratton told us to give it a try and don't stop if it's not the right match the first time. Well, that rang true and our second group was MUCH more successful and those relationships we built are some of our very close friends to this day. Janet, Dell, Clay, Donna, etc....people who God put in my at just the right time.

Mark Tyre and the rest of the Small Group ministry tell us that being in a home study group helps you make connections which makes this large church not seem so large and intimidating. As someone who grew up in a Church of Christ (non-instrumental) with about 200 people, coming to Mandarin Christian was a shock of sorts. I can't tell you how nice it was to see those faces of my small group friends each and every week.

And over the years as we have joined different small groups, the relationships and friendships have grown. I probably have 20 dear friends that I have as a direct result of being in a small group with them. Connections like that don't come from an ABF class. Or a basketball team. And it sure doesn't happen from just coming and sitting in a pew every Sunday.

Now my current Small Group seems to fit like a glove. My wife and I were just thrilled that each of the 13 people in our group seemed to mesh. What's so awesome is we have singles, married with young kids and married with adult kids. Some in our group are in their early 20's and some in their 60's. Some are in their first small group and some in their 5th. Some are brand new to CC and some are pushing 20 years of attendance.

Now this assortment of folks will offer variety and perspectives that will make this group flourish.