Biblical Equipping: God's Word in Your World
Price: $11.95

Me, an Evangelist? Every Christian's Guide to Caring Evangelism
Price: $11.95

Pass the Word Packet

ChristCare Equippers' Sharing the ChristCare Series Kit

More than a Parting Prayer: Lessons in Care-Giving for the Dying
Price: $15.00

Stories about ChristCare Group Ministry in Action

Soccer Games, Pool Parties, and ChristCare

Jason and Katy had an unwritten family rule to avoid anything religious. Growing up, neither was actively involved in a church, and that was fine with them. As a couple now, with dual careers, business trips, golf outings, social events, and shuttling their sons to and from soccer games, the thought of making room for church in their busy schedules never occurred to them.

When a teammate of their sons invited the entire family to a pool party--and Katy’s pocket scheduler showed they were available--they happily agreed to attend. There were five other families at the pool party, and, as it turned out, the other couples were all members of a ChristCare Group. When they first learned this, Jason and Katy were a little uneasy, but quickly found that they enjoyed the company of the other couples.

At the end of the evening, their hosts, Brad and Lori, invited Jason and Katy to come back the next Friday for a ChristCare Group meeting. The invitation caught the couple off-guard. They had their unwritten rule, but then this wasn’t exactly going to church; it was a gathering of four other couples whose company they enjoyed. Katy checked her pocket scheduler hoping they’d have an excuse not to attend, but remarkably there was no conflict, so with mild trepidation they agreed to come.

Friday arrived and Jason and Katy were not quite sure what to expect. But despite their skepticism and lack of knowledge about God, the evening went surprisingly well. They enjoyed the company and the conversation because no one pressured them to talk. Everyone seemed to accept them for who they were.

Perhaps the most awkward moment came near the end of the meeting when it was time for a group prayer. But Lori had told Jason and Katy beforehand that they wouldn’t be pressured or expected to say anything, so the couple simply bowed their heads, folded their hands, and listened to the others praying. Lori prayed last and thanked God for Jason and Katy’s presence, asking God to watch over them during the week. It was a strange feeling for Jason and Katy--the first time they had heard anyone pray for them.

At the end of the evening, Lori and Brad, along with the other couples, invited them to come back, all in a relaxed and non-threatening way. They weren’t able to attend the next meeting due to a conflict, but Lori told them at a soccer game about the next meeting and gave them the same no-pressure invitation.

Friday came and Jason unexpectedly found himself wanting to go. When he mentioned it to Katy, she felt the same. Before long, these ChristCare Group meetings became a regular part of their busy schedules, and they consciously blocked out time to attend.

As they saw Jesus more and more in the other members of their ChristCare Group, their skepticism about God grew less and less. After a few months, they attended a worship service with Lori and Brad and enjoyed that too. It was nothing at all like they had anticipated. Six months later they were baptized and became part of the fellowship of the congregation. A year later Jason went through ChristCare Group Leader training, and he and Katy formed a new ChristCare Group--one that would reach out to unchurched couples, like they once were.

"I had always thought of God as being distant--if he even existed at all," said Jason. "What I learned through my ChristCare Group--and through the close relationships I developed with other Christians in those groups--is that Jesus really is present right here among us right now. I am excited that I can now reach out to others and share that same experience with them."