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Short-term Groups
Short-term commitment
Long-term benefits
Sign up here!
Short-term Groups are ... well ... short-term, in-home, community groups that will give you the chance to get acquainted with a few others and an opportunity to dig a bit deeper into the sermon. You might call it: “try community before you buy.” For six weeks, you can join a group that meets in someone’s home, and see what they’re like. At the end of this term, your commitment is done.
Eternal Dividends
by Larry Hausch
Our Short-term Group experience was more than my wife and I ever imagined. Our leaders were gracious and set the tone for our study of God's Word together. The friendships generated and the bonds formed gave us the encouragement to continue with a community group in our home. Right now, there are only ten of us, but we are ten people with the common goal of growing in and growing closer to Christ. It's a time together we all look forward to, and I would encourage everyone not in a group to try one. The dividends are everlasting.
Cindy's Story
In January, The Chapel successfully launched Galatians Groups--six-week groups focusing on the sermon series. Here's a great story about one of these group experiences. In September, you have a chance to get involved with a Short-term Group. Same concept, same link to community.
I began attending The Chapel in May ‘06, almost a year after I lost my husband to cancer. I’ve been in and out of church my whole life, more out than in. I’ve walked with God and without God, more without than with. So many people, such a big church. After several months I got connected to the Ladies ABF. They took me in, they loved me unconditionally. I really needed that. Oh, and 14 months before I lost my husband, I lost my Mom to cancer. These women were and are extraordinary to me, week after week.
I have always wondered about a HABF, curious as to how it really works in a home setting during the week; but didn’t know which one to join, not comfortable going to one already established. Can you hear the excuses? Then the ads for Galatians Groups started. OK, here’s my chance I said, they are ALL new groups. I was ready to meet even more new people, felt a tug at my heart, and signed up online. You know, after you click “send," there’s not a lot of wiggle room for turning back; for me there wasn’t.
I’m so glad I joined. It’s interesting to hear what other people walked away from the sermon with, and also people in my group attend both campuses, so we hear the analogies that all the pastors use, that’s neat. It’s really a continuation of the sermon, in a small group rather than the million people you see in the sanctuary. Our leader has a list of questions that we try to answer, usually thought provoking questions about certain verses. We start with prayer, and we end with a time of prayer, praying for each other and the current needs in our lives. The people in your group know your name :). I’m the oldest person in my group, and they haven’t kicked me out, yet!!! Seriously, the first couple of weeks we did some icebreaker exercises to get to know each other. Fun. It’s not all serious all the time. Freedom.
It’s a nice break during the work week, brings my focus back to freedom, back to Christ. I’m getting to know these new people in my group, in my life, people who have freedom like I do, people who struggle like I do.
Galatians Groups has helped my walk with God. It is sweet. It is freedom.
Important Dates
- September 7 (Akron Campus) Training Workshop for Short-term group leaders. Pastor Paul Sartarelli will be joining us.
- September 14 (Green Campus) Pastor Mike Castelli helps launch the groups for our first meeting together.
Want to learn more about leading a short-term group?
Leader's blog, click here.
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