Community is a foundational part of God’s design for humans, and should thus be foundational to the church.1 Time and time again, the Scriptures use the phrase “one another,” signifying the importance of relationships—not with God and not with oneself, but with a community of other believers. Our aim in beginning community groups is to love one another in “unity, hospitality, devotion, and edification.”2 We hope to come alongside one another not just on Sundays, but in everyday life, in one another’s homes, with one another’s families, to minister to and love one another, to hold one another accountable to the Word, to pray with one another, and share in life experiences. It is only then that we can embrace each other’s differences, each distinct in function, and be unified in our purpose to magnify the name of the Lord in our lives.
Alexander Strauch shared a vision that we would like to adopt: “Hardly anything is more characteristic of Christian love than hospitality. Through the ministry of hospitality we share the things we value most: family, home, financial resources, food, privacy, and time. In other words, we share our lives.”
In Spring 2018, we began our first Community Group, which met on Sunday evenings at Harriett Baptist Church. In the months following, we launched four new groups, which meet in the homes of group members, once a week, to study God’s Word, pray, and fellowship with one another.
We’ve just started a new group in 2022.
If you are interested in learning more about our Community Groups please contact Brandon Ayscue at 252-432-2886. You can also reach Brandon via email at brandon@harriettbaptist.com.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
[1]Tim Challies, “The Bible and Community”
[2] Tim Challies, “The Bible and Community”