I wanted to thank you all for coming out to training on the 10th of January and also all of you who stepped up to make group link happen.  We had success.  Thanks for all of you that prayed for the day.  Pray is honestly what makes everything go.  For you that are starting new groups let me know where you are at with getting your group launched.  Are whole adult ministries team is here to serve you in any way possible.  For those of you that are starting a group I wanted to give you some thoughts from How to Lead Small Groups by Neal F. McBride.  Here are some of his thoughts summerized.  A lot of you know most of this stuff but never hurts to hear it again.  Some things that need to happen as you start your group is to FIRST set up your first meeting.  This may be a difficult task to coordinate a lot of people's schedules.  Don't be frustrated.  Go with the day and time where the majority of the people that signed up are able to come.  SECOND clarify the purpose for the group when people come.  They need to be reminded of the direction that you will be taking the group.  Tell people that the group will be running to May and then ending unless members want to keep going.  I will be glad to help you clarify the direction of the group if you need that.  THIRD as we have said in our trainings we first and for most are attempting to get people from WaterStone Community Church connected in community.  With that in mind give people the opportunity to tell about themselves in the first meeting.  People need to be able to get to know each other first before moving forward.  If you need help with creating that enviroment I would encourage to contact Chip at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   He has been using a process called life mapping with a lot of his groups which may be a good place for you to start.   FOURTH establish where the next meeting place will be.  I would encourage you to be open to have other members of the group host.  This will help everyone to feel more a part of the community that you are trying to build.  There is somethign good about being in each others homes for groups.  I will be praying for these groups as they get going.  I would encourage all of us to continue to pray collectively that God will continue to move people at WaterStone Community Church into community.  I believe it is happening and will continue to even more.  Thanks for taking some time to read this blog.  If you would like to borrow How to Lead a Small Group by Neal F. McBride I will be glad to lend it out.  It has a lot of great practical tips.

Tags: Group Leader Trainings | Training

Howard Schultz the CEO of Starbucks Coporation attempted to make Starbucks the third place where people would gather.  We all have three places where we gather.  There is work, home, and the other one is still up in the air.  Mark Waltz says this "If there are, indeed, three primary places in our lives--work, home and community--then our churches certainly could occupy that third place, a place where people feel at home.  I believe the local church needs to carefully create this kind of third place not only for our newest guests but for all our guests, returning friends, and members.  The church can do this by creating lasting impressions.  If first impressions are about connection, lasting impressions are about relationships."

Thanks for being willing to work at getting people into relationships at WaterStone Community Church.  Just know I am praying for you and if you need anything let me know.  I believe that together we can become a church that is connected.

Tags: Training | Group Leader Trainings | General

A portion of Spiritual Maturity by J. Oswald Sanders

The primary task of the church as symbolized in the figure of the lampstand is to bring the light to a world shrouded in darkness.  What other function has a lamp?  Responsibility for reaction to the light is not ours.  In Revelation, Christ is seen standing in the midst of seven lampstands, each of which represented a living church, scrutinizing and appraising the shining of their lamp of testimony.  Just as the golden candlestick was the sole means of illumination in the tabernacle, so the church is the only medium of light to a lost world.  It exists to give light, and if it fails here it fails everywhere.  God has made no alternative provision. 
But how is the church to fulfill its function?  The vision supplies the secret.  The church possesses no inherent lightgiving power.  Though illuminating, the lampstand was not itself luminous.  It could not generate light, it could only bear it.  It derived its light from a source outside itself.  Sourmounting the lampstand was the reservoir, always full, unfailingly pouring its supply of oil thorugh the golden pipes to the flaming lamps.  The bowl in turn was kept full from the olive trees which continually poured into it a stream of golden oil. 
The significance of the oil is clearly indicated --"My Spirit."  The church can give light only through the continual supply and enabling of the Holy Spirit.

I would encourage you this week as you grow community groups in WaterStone Community Church to know that the Holy Spirit will empower you.  You are not alone.  The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you.  Stay filled up in God's word and prayer.  It will make all the difference in the world.

Tags: Training | General | Group Leader Trainings