LG Interview

Life Group Q & A

David Dewes is the Life Group ministry leader. As a leader, his role is to serve the Life Group leaders byproviding them with direction and support. David also recruits and trains new Life Group leaders and hosts. He works with the leadership ofthe Stone Church in determining the strategic direction of the Life Group ministry.David answered several questions concerning Life Groups.

Q: What is changing this year from last year?

A: This year we are allowing Life Groups to meet any day or time of the week except for Sunday mornings and to meet as many times each month as the group desires (weonly ask that they meet a minimum of two times).

Q: What are the new life groups?

A: We will have Life Groups in all of the same geographic areas as last year but some will have new leaders and hosts this year. Many of last year’s groups are multiplyinginto new groups. Last year’s groups were based primarily on geography and some of this year’s groups are based on special interests. For example, Shirley Sorenson is leadinga group that meets each Wednesday evening for women only. The Muchowicz’s are leading a group that is for families with small children.

Q: Are life groups going to be more focused in their discussions/format?

A: Each life group has the opportunity to decide its own format and focus. The basic curriculum focus needs to be approved by the church, but each group has an opportunityto follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Q: What is the purpose/goal/vision of life groups?

A: Although God wants each of us to have a personal relationship with Him, He does not want us to live the Christian life alone. In Acts 2:42-47, we see the biblical modelfor the way the Christian life should be lived. Life groups are a vehicle in the church which provides an opportunity for people to meet each other and begin to formfriendships and grow in fellowship.The intermediate goals for Life Groups at Stone Church are

• To provide an opportunity for people to meet and form relationships that can grow into daily friendships where they can experience true Christian fellowship together.
• To encourage and teach people to minister to and receive ministry from each other (Ephesians 4:11-13)
• To help manage church growth by welcoming and nurturing new converts into the church family and providing guidance and encouragement in their new Christian life.

• To provide church growth by offering a non-threatening opportunity for people to meet Christians, learn about and meet Jesus, and become involved in Stone Church.

Q: Why would I want to go to a life group and how should I choose one?

A: Life Groups change lives! If you join a Life Group and open your heart to the Lord and other believers, your life will certainly change in a positive way! You will see theLord move through your life to minister to others and see how He will use them to minister to you. A greater excitement and joy will be recognized in your life as yougrow together as a group. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a group. If you don’t sense a specific leading, then choose a group that is close to where you live ormeets at a time convenient for you.

Q: What does the slogan “Live life together” mean?

A: Experiencing Christian fellowship is so much more than coming to church on Sundays. The Holy Spirits wants us to haveweekly and hopefully daily relationships with other believers with whom we can share our hearts and lives together.

A perfectexample is my life: I work with several other Christians and we talk on a daily basis and see each other outside of work. Asissues come up in our lives we pray for each other and encourage each other. We are traveling through our journey of lifetogether and the bond that unites us is our life in Jesus.

Q: Where can I find more information about life groups?

A: There are several ways: speaking with someone in a Life Group, especially a Life Group leader or host, reading the LifeGroup brochure found in the church foyer, or calling the Church Office. By far the best way to find out more about LifeGroups is to visit one. I am confident that if you come with an open heart and get connected, you will be glad you came!

Q: Have life groups been successful?

A: Absolutely! Lives have changed! From the surface it is easy to see the growth that has occurred because we have many newgroups this year. But the most significant growth has taken place within the groups themselves and the people in the groups.Through the group that met in our home last year, I have been introduced and, to different degrees, began a relationship withmore than twenty people, who in the past were just faces in the church. I have experienced growth in my relationship with theLord, felt encouraged to grow even more, grown in my personal ministry toward others, and have been ministered to by them.I have been told and have witnessed the same in many other lives. All of this is a direct result of participating in a Life Group.

Q: How is the success rated/judged?

A: The true results of success are in lives changed. It would be very difficult to put on paper how many lives have been changedand to what degree, but it is easy to see the visible results of the success as you see the increase in involvement and excitementsurrounding the Life Group ministry.

Q: How do life groups bring unity to the church body?

A: Let me speak for myself. My family and I have faithfully attended Stone Church since July of 2006 and had met many people in the church as we attended services and events. But we didn’t feel “partof the family” until we became involved with Life Groups. Life Groups are the doorway to the true fellowship that the Holy Spirit desires because they provide an opportunity not only to meet and getto know people on a personal level, but also to be involved in the “Body (of Christ)” ministry the new testament describes.