Life Groups

The LIFE GROUPS phase is crucial to those who want the Abundant Life. This is where you get connected, get to know more people, and build meaningful relationships with other Christian believers. The Bible shows that Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation or on your own.

LIFE GROUPS are small gatherings of people who desire to connect authentically with other believers, grow in their faith, and impact their world together.

You can choose a group based on your age, interests, zip code, whether you are single, married, divorced or widowed. There are even Spanish-speaking and workplace groups.

Most LIFE GROUPS meet weekly to eat, talk, study and apply God’s Word and pray for each other.

But LIFE GROUPS are more than just a once-a-week meeting. They are about experiencing life together with friends. Real friends. Real faith. Real fun. Join a LIFE GROUP today and experience the Abundant Life.

If you would like to learn more about LIFE GROUPS, contact Mike Mack at 212-5241 or e-mail him at mike.mack@necchurch.org.

You can locate a Life Group through our List of Life Groups or Life Group Map.

REAL FRIENDS. REAL FAITH. REAL FUN.

God is calling together little communities of the heart, to fight for one another and for the hearts of those who have not yet been set free. That camaraderie, that intimacy, that incredible impact by a few stouthearted souls—that is available. It is the Christian life as Jesus gave it to us. --John Eldridge, Waking the Dead

“Little communities of the heart.” That’s a great description of a Life Group at its best. In Waking the Dead, Eldridge describes how to get the life that Jesus promised us—the Abundant Life—in John 10:10. It starts when our hearts are fully alive … and that happens best in what we call Life Groups—Abundant Life Groups. A Life Group is a little community where we hear each other’s stories, discover each other’s glories, learn to walk with God, pray for one another, have each other’s back, go fishin’ (God’s way), impact our community and the world, and have lots of fun along the way … together. As Eldridge says, “This small core fellowship is the essential ingredient for the Christian life.” It is the place where you will experience the Abundant Life together.

If you are in a Life Group already, I want you to know that we have an offer and an objective for you over the next year. It is to see your group transform from a good group to a great group—a Superabundant Life Group! The Life Group Ministry Team is planning many new, creative ways of helping your group move from good to great. Make sure you and/or your leaders take advantage!

If you are NOT yet in a Life Group, what’s your obstacle? Please let us know so we can help you in any way we can. At Northeast, we deeply desire for you to live the life that Jesus came to give you—and that happens best in a little community of the heart, a small platoon, among friends and allies—with people who will accept you for who you are but want something better, something even more abundant. That’s why Life Groups are life-giving and life-changing.

How do you get involved? 1. Start a new Life Group.

2. Join an existing group. Check out our new online directory of Life Groups (above).

LET'S BUILD SOMETHING TOGETHER!
You can do it! We can help!

• Cora loves Bunko.
• Bob & Molly are in a blended family.
• John wants to “man up.”
• Tom and Jenni are new parents.
• Jennifer and Susan were in an Explore Group together.
• Pam, Fred, and Betty have a passion for serving at Northeast.
• Kenny and Amy like hanging out with friends.
• Erica is single.
• Julie quilts. Heidi crochets. Both like to serve others through their crafts.
• Zorre and Rebecca enjoy the community of their neighborhood.
• Katie likes coffee.
• Harriett loves spending time with her immediate and extended family.
• Talfred, Renee, Robby, and Lori have adopted children.

All of these people started Life Groups at Northeast around something they were already doing, with people they like, or around an interest or passion in their lives. None of them are Bible scholars, gifted teachers, or even “super-stud Christians.” They are ordinary people who love God and want to be connected with other people.

At Northeast, we believe that it is vital to your faith to be connected in a small circle of friends that is focused on knowing God and impacting your world. The Explore and Life Groups Ministries are committed to helping you build or connect with your group of friends.

Life Groups are a place to connect … a place to know God … a place to impact your world.

How can we help you build your group of friends? Go to www. necchurch.org and look under “Abundant Life” and “Life Groups” for more information.

Or contact us:

Explore Ministry Director Katie Haller: katie.haller@necchurch.org; 212-5246

Connect Ministry Coordinator Diedre Wade: diedre.wade@necchurch.org; 212-5240

Life Group Ministry Minister Mike Mack: mike.mack@necchurch.org; 212-5241

At Northeast we talk a lot about how vital it is to be in a Life Group. But maybe you’ve been thinking, great, but what is a Life Group?

LIFE GROUPS are small (about 3-20 people, depending on the group) gatherings of people who desire to (1) Connect with others, (2) Know God and grow spiritually, and (3) impact their world together. LIFE GROUPS meet weekly or biweekly to eat, talk, study and apply God’s Word, pray, and plan how they will serve together.

What do Life Groups do?

They are about experiencing life together with good friends. Even more than that, LIFE GROUPS exist not just for the group members, but to make an IMPACT in our community by serving together.

What’s the difference between a LIFE GROUP and a small group?

LIFE GROUPS are what we call our small groups ministry at Northeast. So there is really not a big difference.

We like the term LIFE GROUP because it is where you do life together and experience real, lasting life change

How do I find a LIFE GROUP?

You can choose a group based on your age, interests, or lifestage; by where you live, work, serve, or play. Information is available at the Life Groups table in the Foyer or online at www.necchurch.org. You can also contact Life Group Ministry Assistant Diedre Wade at 212-5240 or diedre.wade@necchurch.org.

Northeast members are starting new Life Groups all the time! Starting a new group is not difficult. The Life Group Ministry provides great training, support, and resources. Life Group Leaders are average, ordinary Christians who God uses to do extraordinary things! Contact Mike Mack at 212-5241 or mike.mack@necchurch.org for more information.

What are people saying about their Life Groups?

Sometimes, the hardest part about a Life Group is getting there. Once there, the meetings are refreshing and educational. Connecting with people is probably one of the most fulfilling aspects of the group. It’s nice to be able to share ups and downs and just the simple things in life with others. The encouragement, the prayer; it’s all about real people- in the real world- having real life experiences- and sharing with real people- who really care about you!

–Dan, Life Group Member

Our Life Group contains two elements: fellowship and ministry. The fellowship portion makes it “not just another thing to do,” while the prayer and ministry allow us to see the world as God would have us see it.

–Gregg, Motorcycle Life Group Member

Time truly is not the issue. It’s a choice. And it’s a matter of priorities. Joining a Life Group has a fear-of-the-unknown factor not unlike a grab bag. You cannot know for sure what it’s like until you experience it. But take it from someone who has been in a Northeast Life Group for 14 years — there's a nice “prize” inside the “bag” when you find the group that’s right for you.

– Carol, Couples Life Group Member

For me, Life Group isn't something to cram into a hectic schedule. Instead it provides a sustenance that enables me to accomplish more in my busy days.

Our Life Group members provide support, affirmation and love for each other. We've been together at weddings, hospital bedsides, funeral homes, graduations, birthday parties — all manner of fun and serious moments in life.

The spiritual nourishing that takes place when we meet to pray and to learn more about our faith and our relationship with God fills up our spiritual "tank" so we can make it through our life journeys until the next time we meet.

We feel that we are more than a group. We are an extended family that experiences the joys as well as the pains of life that we all go through. We are currently on a “mission” to raise enough money to send one of our group's son to China to compete in the International Special Olympics as well as his mother and dad's trip. We are there for each other, through the good and the “not so good.”

We have moved from being an Explore Group to being a Life Group and the growth that we are experiencing is amazing. Each time we meet someone else is willing to share what's been on their heart for, maybe years. We are growing together as family.

We are in a group further along in our walk with Christ. This group has learned to serve others through X-Focus ministering. It is through serving together that we grew in our faith and closer as a group.

The Life Group is family. They are support for all your emotional, spiritual and physical needs. The power of a Life Group praying for your needs is awesome!

Your small group members become good friends. Getting together is a time of fun, sharing, learning and caring. It is a comfort to know there are others that we can share concerns with and get support through prayer.

I look forward each week to an evening of laughter (but sometimes tears), learning (but sometimes heavy debate), love (but sometimes disappointment), sharing (but sometimes withholding), caring (but sometimes frustration) with Christian people who love God.

I find solace in the time spent with God while gathering together with my small group. My personal time with God and my group rejuvenates me so I can go out and face the world with a smile on my face and the Lord in my heart.

1. The love, joy, truth, and care shared in our group through God's word, as well as, the enjoyment of connecting and developing relationships with people from our church.

2. Helps keep me be accountable to learning and knowing God's word in order to share it with others.

3. Encourages me to be more conscientious and discerning of others around me and have a greater awareness of my actions as a Christian role model.

4. To connect with people, learn God's word, and encourage one another in applying God's principles in everyday life.

Abundant Life: Life Groups