By: Rita Early

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing”

1 Thessalonians 5:11

The first Christian group I joined was by accident. I was at the lowest point in my life with nowhere else to turn. Unemployed, out of yet another relationship, and did I mention broke? I decided to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and help build a home. (The one thing I did have was time.)

I had no idea Habitat was a Christian organization nor had I accepted Jesus into my life yet. So I was a bit taken aback when they opened up in prayer before getting to work. Most volunteers showed up for one day and then a new round of volunteers showed up the following week.

I knew this because I kept going back every Saturday until the home was completed. I kept going back not because I had any special talents or desires to see the job done, I returned because like Peter, I had no one else to turn to. There, I had people praying for me, I had community and like the tv show Cheers, “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came.”

A lifetime has gone by since I helped build that home, but I still recall the homeowner giving a speech thanking the volunteers. She described in great detail how the fires devastated homes, some neighbors perished and how she and her family barely made it out alive.

I was in tears. I hadn’t thought about the family because I was too self-absorbed enjoying my pity party of one. But God was at work behind the scenes and used both that woman and myself to bless one another. Unknowingly, we had lived out Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Sisters, we weren’t meant to do life alone. That is a lie of the enemy to keep us oppressed, imprisoned and ineffective. Jesus modeled doing life in a small group with his twelve imperfect disciples. It wasn’t their great titles and status that qualified them. It was their willingness to follow, their desire to get to know him. They prayed, they encouraged one another and they served. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Grace Family Church has so many groups with various times and interests. The hardest part may be narrowing it down to one. It might be scary to be the new person and share your life. So what? You’ll be in good company. Start somewhere. You may end up making new friends, learning more about God, who He is and who you are to him.

Perhaps you’re like me, you’ve been in so many groups you have a collection of T-shirts to prove it. Then consider leading. Yes, you! Last year was quite a challenging year for me, but making time to lead a Freedom group was the lifeline I needed.

A group is waiting just for you.

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