| Why connect? |
| “Connect” is one of our biblically-based
(Acts 2:42-47) purposes here at North Terrace. Why? Because
connecting with others is God’s expectation
for you. We are not to live out our lives
and ministries separate from one another. We
are to encourage one another and work together
as a family, a unit, and as one body! If
we don’t really know one another, how
can we possibly help one another? |
| Connect with what? |
| Connect with others
and with God. Small
groups are designed to be a nurturing environment
where you can grow spiritually and can connect
with others. |
| “Small Group”…what
does that mean? |
Two things: Life Groups – Life
Groups are small groups of people (7-15)
who are encouraged to meet no less than twice
a month at the church or in someone’s
home. Life Groups are relaxed and informal
and often involve food, fellowship, time
in God’s Word, and prayer. Some
groups choose to do service projects together. Our
goal is for folks to be committed to these
groups on a long-term basis once they find
the group that is right for them. Every
group is unique. We’ll help you
find the group that is right for you.
Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs) – Sunday
School, Wednesday, and Sunday evening studies,
etc. – short-term small groups that
are regularly offered here at the church
through our Adult Education Ministry. Classes
are offered quarterly and typically last
anywhere from 8 to 13 weeks. |
| What
would be my first step in getting “connected”? |
Life
Groups – Fill out a “Life Group
Placement Form”, and give it to Danny
Harp. Danny will work with you to find
a group that is best for you!
Adult Bible Fellowship (ABFs) – Watch
the bulletin, listen to announcements, and
check out the Adult Ministry Bulletin Board
to find out what classes are available. |
| Will
someone make me feel stupid or pressure
me to share my innermost self with a group? |
| No. Our
small group ministry leaders are trained
to make everyone feel comfortable, relaxed,
and welcomed! Again, these groups are
made up of people just like you…people
who are real, people who are flawed, and
people who are striving to be more of who
Christ needs them to be. No one is
above or beyond anyone else. Life Groups
discover God’s truths for their lives
together. |
| What’s
in it for me? |
| Well,
ideally, a safety net of sorts. We
want our small groups to help their members
in times of need (the death of a loved one,
loneliness, illness, etc.). In a church
our size everyone needs to be connected with
something other than our Sunday worship service. A
healthy relationship with a small group is
your way to find the support that you need
and to afford you the opportunity to help
others. Therefore finding yourself
in line with God’s very will for your
life. |
| Can
I start or lead a group of my own? |
| Yes! We
have training available for anyone or any
group who would like to start or to lead
a small group. Training is required
for all new small group ministry leaders. |
| Are
groups organized by age? |
| No. Our
goal is to have a diverse range of groups
from which to choose. Some are age-specific
and some are not. Some are geared toward
single adults and some are geared toward
adults with young children. Some are
merely based on the interest the group has
in a particular study or their geographic
location. Some groups are a mix of
ages and interests. |
| Can
I get in an existing group or does it have
to be a new group? |
| We
want our groups to be small enough where
they can maintain a level of closeness among
its members. Many of our groups must
maintain a size that will allow them to meet
comfortably in someone’s home. So,
if there is room, you are certainly welcomed
to accept someone’s invitation to join
an existing group! |
