Testimony

Testimony about Small Groups:

May 22, 2005

The last forty days have truly been a blessing and the blessings keep coming as we continue to meet. In fact the first day I walked into this church I knew I was in the right place. I have shared my gratitude with the Lord, Pastor Martin, and now I am sharing with you. Thank you so much for being so loving and open, it is truly awesome to be a part of such a loving family of God.

Early last year a friend gave me a book by Rick Warren, called the "Purpose Driven Life". So I started reading it and realized its power and message if read in a group setting and studied through a 40 day period. As I prayed about this message, I felt the Lord calling me to start a small group with family and friends to read the book and share. I went through a year of struggles to get it underway, even making food a few times with everyone canceling or just not showing. It's amazing how we all tend to get caught up in our busy lives and forget the importance of building relationships. So, I got frustrated, but I continued to pray and persevere. Then I met Dan, and then Pastor Martin, and well, the small group kicked off in the middle of the 40 days of Community. We are now in our third week and the Lord continues to send me different people each week that can benefit from a small group setting and the word of God.

The Lord has truly blessed me and guided me to open my home in his name to provide fellowship, worship, group prayer, support, and an opportunity to grow in Christ together. It also has become a great way to show off my cooking talents, share my gift of hospitality that the Lord has so graciously given to me, minister to people through fellowship, and it ultimately forces me to clean my house once a week. Any obstacle that has come our way has been taken care of or solved through the grace and watchful eye of our Heavenly Father. I want to thank each and every one of you who prayed for this small group and especially those who committed their time and efforts to get the group underway and be apart of it.

The Lord also called me to attend two other small groups being held during the 40 days of Community. Two very opposite groups in age and personality, but both show the importance of reaching out together, belonging together, growing together, serving together, and worshipping together. These groups have been an awesome way to share my faith, learn from other people and their experiences, pray together for each other and others, and grow in my relationship with the Lord. These experiences have made me wonder how I made it this far without the power of a small group on a regular basis. So I urge you to continue meeting in your groups and to continue to pray for how God can use you in other people's lives.

So really, your small groups could and should be considered a family. Have you attended a small group lately? Ask your church leader about one are start one of your own. If you need study/discussion ideas beyond Rick Warren's books, please call me or email me. Praise God for this opportunity to influence others while building your relationship with Him. I love you all, God Bless, and "Fly With Christ!!!!"

Tonya
tarmenakis@hotmail.com
www.flywithchrist.blogspot.com

I thought this testimony that I typed back in May of last year should be shared with my family and friends. It’s a testimony about how small groups have influenced my relationship with Christ. The testimony was really never read and a testimony never given is a wasted testimony. Thank you Lord Jesus for small groups and the opportunity to grow in Christ through your word and relationships with other believers, in Jesus name Amen.