Pictured above are two of our Growth Groups from last Sunday (Cauble Group and College Group). Notice the smiles on their faces. I am happy to report to you that we had a great start to this experiment of having our Growth Groups meeting on Sunday morning. Many people shared with me they liked the change. In fact, I received an email this week that stated, "I just wanted to let you know how much I loved being at Ridgeview last Sunday. I really liked having the growth groups before the service – I felt so much more connected to the others in our group and to the sermon." Another person shared with me after the service Sunday that she had been attending Ridgeview for five years. She shared that she had gotten to know more people on Sunday because of attending the Growth Group than she had gotten to know in the previous five years. That's awesome to hear!
Many thanks go out to those who showed up at 7:30 am to help set up "church" due to the new schedule. Because of your commitment to come early, 76 total people were involved in Bible study groups from preschool to adults. Because you showed up early our people were able to connect with one another in fellowship, grow closer to God and one another in the study of His Word, and have an opportunity to pray for one another- all before the 10:30 am worship service! Special thanks go out to Paul Eill who has been working with me to form these Groups. He called many families on Saturday reminding them of the new schedule. Paul and Paula Eill are the newest members of our church and have been a tremendous blessing to our church family. I would also like to thank Shelley Thompson. She lined up people to come and help set up at 7:30 am. She made it possible for a stress free morning for all of us and allowed us to focus on the main thing.
Where to Groups go from here?
This Fall semester (September 13 - December 13) our Growth Groups will meet each Sunday morning at 9:30 am - 10:15 am. They are open Groups and if you were unable to attend Sunday, then rest assured we have a seat waiting for you! Each Growth Group will be asked once a month to serve on Sunday morning with set up and take down along with participating in our Greeters ministry on their Sunday. We are also encouraging each Group to get involved in our various Bridge projects by serving once a month in these incredible opportunities for outreach (i.e., Bridge for Bread, Single Mom's Free oil change, etc). Just because we have moved our Growth Groups on Sunday morning in no way means our vision has changed. We have always stressed that small groups are incredibly important. We are just moving them to Sunday mornings as opposed to during the week. If you would like to get involved in a Group, please call or email me or Paul Eill (tommy@ridgeviewchurch.net, 630-9459 or Paul4him@aol.com, 877-6227).
I am looking forward to this Sunday as we open Psalm 51. We will examine it not only in our Growth Groups but it will also be the text I will be preaching from. I will be sharing three things to do for restoration when you have sinned. My guess you will have dealt with that sin thing before Sunday, so come prepared to hear what God's Word has to say and receive some help.
See you Sunday,
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Tommy Hargrove
www.ridgeviewchurch.net
864 630 9459
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