Growth Groups

Their place, our model, the future

It is wonderful to see how Growth Groups have grown over the past few years, both in the number of groups and in the number of people attending these groups. It is also good to see how certain aspects of church life have been successfully devolved into Growth Groups: Bible teaching, practical care (through the appointment of Care Links), relational fellowship (including Growth Group weekends away), missionary support (through the appointment of Missionary Links), prayer, community involvement and evangelism.

However, ‘devolution’ does not mean that we are moving towards Growth Group independence.  Oversight, vision and strategy, the teaching plan, practical care, training, pastoral care and missionary support are all centrally controlled, provided for and directed: these, if you like, are the spokes that connect the hub (Big Church) to the outer wheel (our Small Groups spread across the City). At City, therefore, we are firmly committed to a ‘Big Church’/ ‘Small Group’ model.

Growth Groups are not:

• autonomous in governance or practice;
• individual small churches – they do no possess the structures to act as such;
• an indication that we, at City, are moving towards a small church model/ or Growth Group church plants;
• more important than centralised church.

Growth Groups are:

• a wonderful expression of Christian ‘household’ life;
• a source of great encouragement and support;
• a means of doing various “church life” activities more effectively;
• able to work together for certain activities;

Firmly linked and connected to the central hub, i.e. the Big Church (including Pastors, Elders, Staff Team, Care Ministry, and the Missionary Development Group).

As we move into 2010 and prepare for ‘Passion for Life’ at Easter we are introducing another change to GG life when we trial a new format/pattern to our meetings: two study nights, one evening of prayer, and one night for fellowship/evangelism. This will be followed hot on the heels by another new venture, as we run ‘Christianity Explored’ through Growth Groups for the very first time.

Another significant change in the New Year is that Rich Owen will be taking over responsibility for the day to day oversight of Growth Groups. Please pray for Rich as he takes on this thriving, increasingly diverse and ever expanding ministry.