“The atmosphere around you my friend…
Who has your ear?

How are your conversations?

Who says I’ll pray and really does?

Who tells you the truth,

even when they know it will be tough or you won’t hear it?
Who encourages you to merge from small territory?

Who tells you to pray when a knee jerk react is imminent?

Who can be trusted?

Who points you to Jesus?

That circle is of utmost importance, my friend—

Just as the air you breathe.
No small thing” (Kathy Troccoli).

After my last small group broke up, I didn’t think I’d ever find another one like it. To be accurate, we didn’t break up, some of the people in the group decided to start seeing other groups. We just sorta stopped meeting. Plus, our fearless group leader was blessed to become a campus pastor at our Woodbine location. So no complaints at all there.

Still, I missed being in a community of believers. So three weeks ago I broke down and signed up to be in a new small group. It was billed as a Co-ed Intergenerational group. I wasn’t sure if that meant they were of all ages or that they all just really liked Star Trek a lot. It didn’t matter. I was in and I was committed.

I haven’t regretted it one bit. I felt welcomed and at home from day one. I found a place I belonged. I had found my people. So many of the group are walking through some dark valleys, but we lift each up in prayer and encouragement. Sometimes, when you’re struggling, the best words you can hear are “you’re not alone” and “me too.”

I can’t wait to see where God takes us. I may even start bringing my jokes to the group, although I don’t want to scare the newbies off with my lame dad jokes. At least not yet.

God’s command is for us to be present and engaged in a local body of believers called a local church. But I really do believe God wants us to go deeper into community groups, Bible reading groups, and/or mentor relationships. After all Jesus had His followers, but He also had His 12 disciples and His 3 (Peter, James and John).

We are truly better together and there’s an empowering of the Holy Spirit that happens when believers meet to celebrate Jesus that doesn’t happen to us individually.