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From a Mustard Seed
ChristCare in Action
Sardis Presbyterian Church,
Charlotte, North Carolina
Every other Friday morning at 6:30 A.M., Bud Lohr has breakfast at the church. At the same time, he shares spiritual food with his brothers in Christ.
"I came to Sardis Presbyterian in November 2004, and I joined this group right away," Bud said. "I was going through a divorce and a family breakup at the time. I was looking for a place where I could discuss what was going on in my life.
"Because of my group's support, especially prayer support, I have been able to work through some of these difficult issues," Bud said. "I feel safe doing that with this group. When I share concerns, I know they will stay with the group. We put everything in God's hands and trust that God will work it out."
Groups to Meet Many Needs
From Bud's group, three other men's groups have been born. And during a typical week at Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, you'll find small groups, known as Mustard Seed Groups, for mothers of young children, mothers of school-age children, businesspeople who work downtown, couples--for anyone who wants to grow in Christ.
"We want to have a group that fits every schedule," said Rev. Christine Wright Herrin, associate pastor and Equipper.
As this congregation's small group ministry continues to grow, more and more individuals are experiencing the care and connections that are part of group life.
"Now those who are new to our congregation have a place to plug in, to get connected, to get to know others," Rev. Herrin said. "In a church this size, a person can easily come to worship and not talk to anyone. Our groups give them a place to get involved and to feel supported. And we have group members who have been involved at Sardis for years but hadn't developed close relationships here. Now they get to know a smaller group more intimately."
Building a Solid Foundation
Small group ministry--as well as Stephen Ministry--was already in place at Sardis Presbyterian when Rev. Herrin first learned about the ChristCare Series. The congregation had enrolled in the ChristCare Series some years earlier but hadn't trained Equippers. "I decided to go to St. Louis and see what ChristCare was all about," Rev. Herrin said. "Our small group ministry was doing okay, but we needed more structure. We needed more of an overall system to maintain and grow our groups, and a systematic way of training our group leaders.
"At the Equipper's Training Course, I saw how well organized and planned out the ChristCare Series is. This system is adaptable. Having it in place will help our small group ministry last for years and years. It is definitely worth the investment of our time and money."
After the ETC, Rev. Herrin recruited more group leaders and began a training class. Those who were already group leaders agreed to go through the training also. This phase of the congregation's small group ministry began with eight Mustard Seed Groups using the ChristCare Series model.
ChristCare brought a new dimension to Sardis's original groups.
"The group I was leading was one of the first at the church," said group leader Janice Mai. "When our minister came back from St. Louis and began the change to the ChristCare system, at first I groaned and moaned. I continued to lead my group while going to the leader training sessions. Through the training, I learned how our group could be more than a Bible study group. I gained a lot more ideas of what we could do as a group. We added care, support, and prayer to what we were already doing.
"I gave a presentation at church the other night. I told them that our group has become for me a church within a church."
"I already had experience in facilitating discussions," said Troy Meeks, Bud Lohr's group leader. "The ChristCare training taught me how to keep conversation and sharing moving, and how to draw others out. I'm a relational person who is comfortable in a group setting. The training taught me to ask a question and then give group members time to think. With ChristCare, I can be a participant in the group as well as the group leader. I'm always learning in this group. Fostering relationships and seeing God's work being done in my life and others' lives in this small group setting has been a powerful experience for me."
Growing in Faith through Groups
Being part of a group has been an integral part of the faith journey for many of Sardis Presbyterian's members. Regardless of age, gender, occupation, or life challenges, group members are learning more about what it means to be a Christian and encouraging one another to grow.
"I first heard about the Mustard Seed Groups when I was in the new members' class in the fall of 2000," said Equipper Kristi Gallimore. "In 2004, I went through the group leader training and began leading a group for mothers with young children. I'm still part of that group and help with group activities. This group is more than doing a Bible study. It is getting together as Christians and talking about Christ, about where we are in our walk, about the issues of raising our children."
The groups provide a safe place for members to grow. "Our group is a comfortable place to discuss issues that we might be embarrassed or uncomfortable about discussing elsewhere," Troy said. "When you're involved in the church, many assume that you already know everything about the Bible and Christianity. This is a nonjudgmental place to ask questions. We can bring our concerns and get reassurance here. Confidentiality makes that possible."
Caring Support
Group members grow in Christ and in their connections with one another.
"When our group went through a tragedy, I thanked God for the role-playing we had done in our group leader training," Janice said. "The son of a couple in our group committed suicide. I was thankful that I had learned that we needed to be supportive, to listen, and to pray. We couldn't fix what had happened to our friends. We learned that sometimes you can't just talk, you have to listen."
In Kristi's group, nine mothers have given birth during the past fourteen months. When a baby is born, group members deliver meals to the family and take time to visit.
"When a pregnant group member is getting close to her due date, the other group members lay hands on her and pray for her and her baby," Kristi said. "Our group is our lifeline, supporting one another through good and bad. They have seen me at my best and worst, mentally and physically. They receive me with open arms, asking what they can do to help. They help me keep my eyes on Jesus."
A Life-Changing Experience
Bud's connections with the members of his group have given him the confidence he needed to get more involved in ministry activities. Encouraged by his group, Bud recently led a mission trip to Bayou LaBatre, Alabama, located less than an hour from New Orleans. The group of seven included two members of his small group. These volunteers saw firsthand the struggles of a family working to cope with the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.
"This was one of those communities that just got wiped out," Bud said. "They never made the news and were left to figure out what to do. We added a room to a house for a single mother and her two children.
"When the struggle in my life was at its worst, I knew there were others who cared about what was going on with me. I truly felt my group's support. Because of this group, I've changed my outlook on life. Now I know what is important and who is important."
Small groups continue to make a great contribution at Sardis Presbyterian. "You can't make people understand how much a group will mean to them until they're in a group," Kristi said. "Group members realize that this is how you become more connected and involved. I often hear group members say, 'I need this in my life.'"
