Because Relationships Matter

It's not about money.

If it was about teaching people some good financial coping skills, we'd give them a book or show them a video and walk away. 

It's not about money. It's about people. People matter to God. People matter to us.

Our volunteer team told me, "We want the people who attend the Financial Peace University launch to understand that this is about much more than creating a budget." We did our best to help 244 people, representing 160 househoulds, get it through this model.  

I heard from a single mom who's lived on public assistance most of her life - she's trying to break the cyle of poverty with her children - "If I can figure out a way to save the $500 emergency fund, I think this is gonna work for me."

A couple who had been at the brink of divorce only months ago stopped to tell me (while holding hands), "We're gonna make it. We're glad we came tonight. This is gonna help."

A woman still in the midst of a divorce (that she doesn't want) said, "This is gonna help me gain some dignity as I learn that I am competent and able to manage my finances."

Yeah...financial peace is about way more than money.  

Sunday School, Small Groups, what's next?

There are some blogs that I keep on my monthly radar to see what they're saying, and I found this at  Willow Creek Association Group Life. I was connected to this article from the Washington Times talking about the aging of the small group movement. I thought the article had validity.

The concept of small groups, as we've known it and developed it, is old. Small groups have replaced Sunday School, so what will replace small groups?

Church leaders are asking the same questions they've been asking for sometime: How do we attract people to join a small group? How do we find leaders? How do we maintain leaders? How do we measure growth? How do we help people be real? There've been enough books written and conferences attended that I think we can conclude there are no solutions that fit all churches or people.

Church people are now familiar with what to expect at a small group. While it may be a positive experience, it is equally as probable that it may not. We can do our best to make it a safe and helpful experience, but as long as we have hurting people and people who exercise free will, we will be challenged. 

People who haven't chosen to follow Jesus (or don't know what that means or are afraid of what that means) don't know what a small group is and have very llittle interest to find out. The only organizations that use small group, life group, home group, growth group, etc., are churches.

I mean no disrespect to all those who are strongly convinced that small groups are the way. I do think that small groups as we've known them are dying and will continue to do so.

What many people seems to be looking for: significant relationships. If we focus on ways for people to enter into relationship with one another rather than focusing on getting people into groups, we're saying, "people matter" rather than "groups matter". I think we all know that, but it's so easy to stray!

We've been intentional over the last couple years to change our language. We welcome people to group environments at GCC where they can meet some people in a short-term way based on what they're personally looking for. That may be friendship, personal change, Bible Study, or financial responsibility. (We already tried neighborhood, life stage, and interest based groups.)

All of them are short term, (6 - 10 weeks in most cases.) We don't measure sucess on whether a group is formed. We measure success on the basis that relationships are formed; they now have met a few more people that will help them better connect to the church and hopefully the message of Jesus.

WiredChurches.com 2009

Brand New this year for worksops at GCC - one price of $99 per person, per day, when you register online.

Also brand new this year - we'll offer 2 consecutive days of one-day workshops. Granger is not "on the way" to anywhere - we get that! You gotta want to come to Granger, and we want to help you spend your limited travel and training $ wisely!

Information about our Groups ministry will be included in the Lasting Impressions workshop led by Mark Waltz. I've cleared my calendar for both days so I can be available to talk with leaders from other churches.

If you bring a team to Granger - we'll know you were intentional to get here, and we'll do whatever we can - intentionally - to make it worth your trip! Hope to see you on Thursday and Friday, March 5 - 6.

Money: What people are saying

"Please pray for my finances. My unemployment is getting ready to run out. I'm not sure what I'll do."

"I wanted to go to Financial Peace University last year, but I didn't have the $95. I felt stupid. I have a good job, but I am just like my dad - I've always bought what I want when I wanted it. I have not shown any self-control. I want to give, but I can't. I want to be able to give 10%, and it's not that much, but I haven't been able to. I'm going this time."

"I don't want to live how I've been living. I have had no worth for most of my life. I was baptized here last summer. God is doing something. I can feel God's presence. My husband went to Financial Peace University last March. We're almost debt free! We've paid off $14,000 in the past year! We've been working the debt snowball! It is incredible!"

Financial Peace University launches at the GCC Granger Campus on Monday, February 23, 6:30 - 8:30. From the data of 29 households during the last session, 87 credit cards were cut up, $181,765 was paid off in non-mortgage debt, and $45,789 was added to emergency savings accounts! Seriously- 29 households!!!

Happy Birthday Amy!

Our daughter, Amy, was born 24 years ago!

Because she was our first child, because I was then 24 years old, and because there was a horrible blizzard, I was terrified that I wouldn't get to the hospital. I could say that I was in labor for 23 hours or I could admit that I went to the hospital about 18 hours earlier than I needed to! 

Amy is fun! We can count on her to always have a camera for a "take a picture" moment - glad I had this one of her and Dad! We really love her and are really proud of her. She is quite sassy (self-described - and accurate!)

She called this morning to tell us about some questions she's asked to a guy that she has recently met and really likes.

"Ok, sir, I have a few questions for you. What are your thoughts on God and Jesus? Who did you vote for? What are your thoughts on strip clubs? What are your thoughts on capital punishment?"

We laughed, approved of the answers he gave her (not that she asked for our approval!), and told her it sounded like an interview! 

"Yeah - I drilled him with questions. I need to know who I'm dealing with."

Whoever she marries will be a very fortunate man! We love you! Happy Birthday!

Here I am. I will go.

We traveled through the Atlanta airport last week. It is not unusual to see  a lot of military personnel. However, I had never seen an entire gate area filled in this way. It stopped me.

1 Samuel 3:10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."  

...didn't feel connected.

I talked with a good friend recently. As we talked about how good it was to spend time together, she said, "We haven't been to church in almost a year. I don't really know what happened. We just stopped coming."

I told her that I wasn't trying to grill her or anything; I know it happens with lots of people. Since it's not my own personal experience, I want to understand hers. I asked if she had any understanding of what changed for her. 

"I just didn't feel connected. It wasn't anything specific. I wasn't angry or upset by anything. I just didn't feel connected. I still go once a month to serve with my volunteer team. I love those people; they're just fun. No, I don't really know what happened inside of me, but I know it's my fault we don't go as a couple. I was the one who always intiated going to church, so I just need to get us back to it. It just feels like everything is so busy, and things are slowing down."

I thanked her. We talked about some of the changes that have taken place in the weekend experience since they've been gone. I asked her to let me know her thoughts after they start attending again. I'll be anxious to hear her observations.

Over the 5+ years they've attended, they've taken Core Classes, joined the church, been in a group for a couple years, volunteers regularly - ...and that wasn't enough to sustain the feeling of connection. 

Man! I don't get that! I know it's people - I get that. What does it take to maintain the feeling of connected? It's just one of those things that make you go Hmmmmm...

View Point is just cool!

We are in the 3rd week of our first View Point launch! 

This 6 week study on the Gospel of Mark is helping people get a new view of how they can study the Bible and meet other people interested in the same thing. 

We maintained the foundations of a safe group experience: 1) won't be asked to read the Bible out loud, 2) won't be asked to pray out loud, and 3) won't be asked to give answers to difficult Bible questions. With that tension out of the way, they can relax and have a great time! 

It's just fun to see people getting to know one another, and study the Bible together. Mark Allen, our lead facilitator, is providing great teaching with fresh perspective. It's a catalyst for great conversation in the groups! We have separate tables for singles, married, and college-aged adults.

This works! View Point launches again in April...just around the corner!