Small Groups at Altamesa are where some of the most exciting and God glorifying ministry take place in our midst. The shepherds have called us to join them in an important transition from being a church that has a small group ministry to being a church that flows through small groups. This is a challenging task that we must work to pursue together.
As we prepare to move forward as a congregation, this is a season in which we must focus on those things that are the most important. There is no debate that the one thing that God's people are to focus on is God. At Altamesa we seek to honor God by "Reaching up to God" and through "Reaching out to people". We reach out to those in our community of faith as well as those who are outside of it. We have been called to reach all of God's people. Small Groups is the vehicle that we use at Altamesa to draw individuals closer into the community of faith.
As we work to become that type of congregation, there are a couple of terms that I hope have already become familiar to you.
FAMILY GROUPS: This describes groups of people who are not currently in a small group who will meet for three weeks in the month of September to give everyone in our congregation an experience in a small group setting without forcing them to make a long term commitment to a small group. Each of our family groups will have the opportunity to become a long term small group at the end of their time together. I pray that many, if not all, of our family groups will become small groups. Last year we moved from approximately 20 small groups to 30 small groups. This year we are working to increase our number of ongoing small groups to 50 and above. That is our goal not because of the number, but because of the lives being drawn toward community with God and God’s people that the number will represent. The training and communication for the leaders of small groups and family groups will be identical. If you are a family group leader, you will attend the same meetings with David and your Shepherd that Small Groups leaders attend. The only difference is that your group has not committed to meet after September at this point.
REUNION: On October 7, we are going to be having a church reunion. This will be a time in which past members, past ministers, family and friends of members and guests will be asked to come and help us celebrate who we are as God’s people here at Altamesa. We will honor our past, praise God for our present, and celebrate our future.
9 Ice Cream Supper Kick-Off
16 Groups Meet #1
23 Groups Meet #3
7 Altamesa Reunion Celebration
(no groups meet)
14 Small Groups Continue
(Bible Hour, Bible Adventure, Bible Quest begin)