Because Relationships Matter

Adjust as Needed

When people have a desire to meet others, our group ministry is Starting Point. It works well as a helpful next step for many.

When we launched the Elkhart campus a few weeks ago, we wanted to capitalize on the only point in time when people might say, "I'm new. Oh, so is everyone else! I'm not the only one who doesn't know anyone - most of us don't know anyone. I'm not different. I'm like everyone else!" If people are going to follow Jesus and love one another, they need space to enter relationships with people.  

While we will offer group opportunities in Elkhart in 2009, there were a variety of reasons why it wasn't helpful to offer a Starting Point launch at this time. We needed something different - just one time - to provide a vehicle for people to meet each other in the midst of the energy of the campus launch. 

We launched Elkhart Express groups as a 4 meeting experience to get us out of the gate. It isn't a new ministry or a new strategy. Our purpose is the same. Relationships are the place where people discover that they matter to God. Our job is to provide a pathway.   

New adventures call us to act - and so we did! The inherent challenges of going outside existing processes are validated by seeing what God will do in the midst of all these people getting to know one another. I'm grateful our methods allow us to adjust as needed to do the next right thing. 

Vacation blues?

My idea of vacation is lots of quiet. Because I love sunrise, I tend to still get up early - I crave the sunrise solitude experience. Crave means that I'm seriously wacky about it.

We were on vacation last week in Ft. Lauderdale, I woke at 7:10 on the first day, knocked a bunch of stuff around trying to get to the beach. "I gotta go! I don't want to miss the sunrise!" My poor husband (who really enjoys sleep) is a saint. After that, I didn't use an alarm, but I managed to get out by 6:00 on most days to enjoy the pre-dawn moon and stars....perfectly wonderful! 

At sunrise or sunset, I connect with the reality that the earth is spinning completely around in this 24 hour period of one day. I start connecting with the truth that life is short. Time goes quickly. We have a very limited number of days given to us by God.

That's when it happens - feelings of melancholy - not depression, just a slight low. Life is just weird, God. It's very weird. We're given these days - just these days.

When I reconnect to serving, it goes away. Yes, I'm mildly concerned that it's an addiction to adrenaline, but I'm still sorting through it. I know that God created us for purpose - to live on purpose and for purpose. Really, God? Love God. Love others. Really, God? That's it. Your plan to save the world is us? 

It's a hard concept to get my brain around, and when I'm on vacation, I experience that tension more fully. It's good for me, but it's uncomfortable.  

You promise?

I think I would like to do this, but you promise you won't leave me hanging?

This was the question from one of our newest volunteers asked to facilitate in our group ministry. People want to serve well. They want to succeed.

We need to give them the tools, and help them understand the vision of the group atmosphere we're hoping to create. 

While it is a fair question, it's also a great indicator that we asked the right person. When I see the signs of a hesitant but willing leader, I get really excited!

Is confidence bad? No...but there's something about humility. When we go into new experiences, we'll need to depend on God in ways we never have.

Mark 10:27 (The Message) Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it."

Behind the question

Hello, I'm new here can you give more information on the Starting Point group ? is this a christian singles group ? how often do they meet ? are there any costs ? thank you

This is a written inquiry that was submitted through the "contact us" buttons on our website. I called and started answering his questions. There was something wrong. He was anxious. I asked, "Do you attend GCC?"

I was thinking of joining. I went to church as a kid. I've had some stuff going on in my life and was thinking maybe I should.

Ok. So, I kept talking. Something was still off. "Have you ever attended one of our services?"

No, I've driven by a few times, and I was thinking about it.

It now made sense! I shifted to help him understand who we are, his options and encourage him. 

How will I know what to do when I get there? Will it be kind of obvious for me to know where to go?

I'm a little blown away when people find the courage to ask questions at this level. People are scared. Will I fit in? Will I look stupid? Although we don't often get the opportunity to hear questions at this level, the fear is there.

If we want people to take a next step toward Jesus, let's keep making the first steps very safe. 

Serve others

It's not about you -- Chapter 1 of Purpose Driven Life. It is the only book that I remember the title of a chapter! It hit me when I first read it nearly 10 years ago. It still does.

"I just want to move forward with my life" is a statement I hear often. After people discover where they are, how they got to the place they're at, they want to know how to change. Getting closer to Jesus is the answer, but there are many methods.

I get excited to hear people say in the midst of their pain, "I want to get involved." Perfect! One of the most effective ways to heal is to help somebody else. Serve them. Volunteer.  

Serving is not about staying so busy so that we can avoid our problems (which only makes them worse). Serving is about slowing down to intentionally understand our significance. Our purpose.

Jesus knows us. He knows we're self-obsessed little boogers who need to get over ourselves. Jesus said, "Love one another." Serving brings us closer to Him. When we get close to Jesus, we change.

People are asking...

What if the people are weird? What if I don't like them? How will I get away from them?

People really do ask these questions about groups at church. One of our members sent me this article about mystery shopper's for small groups. While the website is mostly satire, there is truth in it.     

"People want to avoid messy social entanglements," says Howard who works a three-state area serving group-shy Christians...."It was worth it to avoid the whole ‘I’m rejecting your group’ thing," says one single woman who has been with her Howard-selected small group for three years. "After a while you get tired of explaining why you’re not coming back."

This provides an explanation for two of our group practices. 1) We don't connect new people to existing groups. 2) We spend considerable time at our group launch and wrap-up sessions helping people learn how to say, "No."

At the Groups workshop I'll lead on November 14 in Granger, we'll talk about ramps to group life, including exit ramps. People want to know how to get into groups, but perhaps a larger concern: how to get out! 

Conveniently excluded truth

From a conversation I had at Innovate '08:

I'm really impressed with your model to launch groups here at GCC. The stuff you do is obvious, I don't know why we haven't thought of it. 

It's hard to see some of the stuff that is right in front of us. I'm glad it was helpful. Our model isn't perfect, but it works for us.

Credibility is important. There's no point to sugar coat something only to have people discover later that it's not quite the whole picture.

It's the stuff that makes me cynical about politics (and used car shopping). This article has a few of the misleading comments both candidates made in the debate. It doesn't appear to be slanted toward either party. Here's an example from both sides:

BIDEN: Said McCain supports tax breaks for oil companies, and "wants to give them another $4 billion tax cut."

THE FACTS: Biden is repeating a favorite saw of the Obama campaign, and it's misleading. McCain supports a cut in income taxes for all corporations, and doesn't single out any one industry for that benefit.

PALIN: Said of Democratic presidential candidate Obama: "94 times he voted to increase taxes or not support a tax reduction."

THE FACTS: The dubious count includes repetitive votes as well as votes to cut taxes for the middle class while raising them on the rich. An analysis by factcheck.org found that 23 of the votes were for measures that would have produced no tax increase at all, seven were in favor of measures that would have lowered taxes for many, 11 would have increased taxes on only those making more than $1 million a year.

Whether in politics or in church, help people know what the real story is. (It's our standard at Wired Churches). They're gonna find out eventually. Credibility is much easier to lose than it is to gain 

Elkhart Express Groups

Can you hear this in the head of a first-time guest at church? 

I'm new. I don't know anyone. These people all know each other. If I go to one of these groups to meet people, a bunch of them will probably already know each other. They'll be talking and stuff, and I'll walk in and I'll know absolutely no one. I don't know if I want to put myself through that. Will it be worth it?

If you're launching a new campus like we are this Sunday in Elkhart, can you hear this in the head of a first time guest who will be there?

I'm new. I don't know anyone. None of us know each other. If I go to one of these groups to meet people, everyone will be like me - new to this place. We'll be at the same place. I'm going - it might be worth it! 

For the past 22 years, this is the first time we've had a service where EVERYONE IS NEW! We thought we should create a way to seize the opportunity.

Elkhart Express Groups - check it out!