Community Group Testimonies
2012 Community Group Testimonies
In January, we asked community group members, "How Has Community Group Blessed You?"
" I feel blessed to be involved in this Community group because I would not otherwise be able to get to know some of these people, as they are of different ages and stages of life, yet share many struggles as I."
"After being surrounded by nonbelievers all week at work, I love being able to fellowship with other Christians and talk about things that matter more than trivial day-to-day things. Community Group is a great time of encouragement.
"This community group has been a blessing in my life simply because it is a safe community of believers. This was esxpecially awesome being a young single in a new city."
"Community Group has blessed me and my family greatly. My children have learned to interact well with people of all ages and I love seeing them speak to these older people at church. I personally love being able to "hash out" the sermons and have a chance to ask questions and expand on points with other believers. And after being in a group for a few years now, I have gained some very previous friends - older and younger that I feel I could call on for anything.
"Community Group has been a real blessing. It has been an easy and non-awkward way to meet new people and the food is awesome. It also is great to fellowship with believers and hear varied opinions and takes on the morning sermons. "
"My community group has blessed me by prompting me to discuss the sermon and its themes apart from Sunday morning. I've also really benefitted greatly from the friendships and accoutnability present in its members."
"My community group has blessed me by providing a warm, supportive environment where anything can be shared. I feel my kids benefit from interaction with other children. And the food is always good."
"The friendships in CG have been a huge blessing to me. Just being able to 'walk along the road' together on a regular basis has been challenging and comforting."
"Community group has blessed me in that I know I have someone I can share with and have others to pray with and for concerns and needs - Lots of encouragement". - Dianne Fossett
"It's great to spend time digging deeper into the sermons. I hear new perspectives and am challenged to apply what I've heard."
"Being introverted by nature, CG offers a group setting without being 'put on the spot'. The accountability to be involved with people in my community has been good." - Kristen
"I have loved being able to share life- through community group- with people I wouldn't normally connect with. The people in our group have become family."
"By providing community within the church. I was very new to Mitchell Road when I started in the group last year and now I love all the people and see them throughout the week and month. We encourage and spur each other on and are involved in each other's lives."
"Community group has been a blessing by providing a way to find fellowship within the church after moving to Greenville."
"It is a blessing to get an intergenerational viewpoint on the sermon and how to apply God's word to everyday life." – Jennifer
"Community group has blessed me in talking and discussing God's word. When we talk about life's journey, many will listen and be encouraged." – Lyman Fossett
"Community group has blessed me by giving me a steady group of Christians that I can discuss my faith, beliefs, and spiritual walk with. It is so comforting to know that there is a group of people that, if you needed it, would drop everything and pray for you no questions asked. It's great to know that people care."
"Community groups have provided me as a newcomer to Mitchell Road Presbyterian to immediately plug into fellowship and discussion with other church members. Because of mine, I feel part of a support group and a close-knit church family. I've enjoyed getting to know various people at various stages of life and being friends in Christ."
"For such a large congregations, community group is a way to personalize worship." Through the discussion in Community Group, I find practical application to the sermon. Plus it helps me remember what was said for more than one day." Joe Wallwork
"For us small group has been a safe place to play and share. Our group has walked through the waves of suffering with us. They have loved, supported and prayed for us." - Heather Corey
"It's a good place to be challenged to think more deeply about the sermon and make better applications." "I appreciate the fellowship. It has been encouraging to hear from and share with others from different backgrounds and in different circumstances."
"This is our first time at community group. Our family is thirsting to be united with other families to share life together, share in our walk, share in our struggles and joys. I am looking for fellowship with other men and families. The same for my wife to share with other women and families. The same for our children to be with other lovers of Jesus and to establish a strong friendship with other believers. In general to grown close to one another as we share life together in our walk with Jesus. To learn from others and get wisdom from others. We're excited!" - Chris League
"Community group has been very uplifting to me by the fellowship and prayer. It's nice to have a group of firm believers praying for you."
“This experience has allowed me to meet several wonderful Furman students – to hear them share their walk with the Lord and their spiritual struggles. I appreciate how our group represents all ages and walks of life. Of course, the Parhams are the best host/hostess. They make everyone feel welcome and wanted.” - Regina Yorke
“I have been incredibly blessed by the intergenerational aspect of our community group. Plus the website makes it possible to pray for one another and share blessings. I have been blessed by the Parham’s sacrificial sharing of their home. What aqn example to their peers and the young adults who are ‘watching’!”
“The consistent fellowship and vulnerability with brothers and sisters from all walks of life has broadened and enriched my walk with the Lord and drawn me closer to the heart of Christ.“
– Julie Twardzik
“All the calls and texts and prayers and encouragement during recent trials.” – Stephen
”Blessings – Friends, the furman students, Mrs. Burch.” – Katie Griffith
“I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing what God is doing in the lives of those sharing. I get fired up hearing about God’s activity.”
“Friends. Getting to know people I did not know before.” Claire Parham
“Being able to see Christ work through people in the group. Seeing people like the Furman students.”
“I am thankful and have been really blessed by the support and fellowship through community groups. Knowing that I have fellow believers I can confide in and have a safe place to go is a huge comfort. The range of ages, opinions, and wisdom has been a blessing and has offered me perspectives I may not have otherwise received.” – Darby Woodward
“I came to community group as a Furman grad, not knowing many people at Mitchell Road other than those my age. It has been a blessing to see an inter-generational group of people and especially for me to learn from older women about how to follow Christ in the real world. In particular, Mrs. Woodward has reached out to me and asked me about my life. So refreshing in a world in which the default is anonymity.”
“I love getting to hear from so many different age groups – from elementary school, middle, high school, and college. Yong adults, middle ages, seniors – we have it all! Great community with so many different perspectives.”
“The awesome food, fellowship and friends gathered to talk and glorify God…”
“Emily and Ashley have been a huge blessing to me during community group! They are the sweetest girls I’ve ever met.”
“seeing people that I know every Sunday night”
“The Parhams and people from community group have been a lot of fun!”
“As a college student, community group has been wonderful because it has given me familiar faces at church on Sunday to greet outside of my normal college circles.”
“I started going to community group as a Furman student, and it was such a valuable way to connect with church members outside of my peer group. I have loved getting to grow with members of the body of all ages, seeing new perspectives and building new relationships.”
“Don’t like change, but love being a part of a home group! They are our family! They are there to help in a minute, especially when Steve was in the hospital.” Steve and Beverly
“Being in a community group has allowed me to gain perspective from a body of believers that vary in age that I wouldn’;t be able to get just by going to church. It has allowed me to open up
to a new set of people and grow in my understanding of the Lord and the Church
itself. Each friend I have made has deepened my love for the Lord. I would recommend everyone who goes to church to get involved in groups like these.” – Maxwell Zinger
“Community group has allowed me to get closer to many that I would have never had the chance to know. Like most things the closer you get the more you can see and appreciate God’s design and beauty. It has been beautiful to watch Jesus build a safe place for confession and celebration. We have laughed, cried, sung, eaten, prayed, worshipped, challenged and served together. Just last week, we gathered, laid hands on and prayed for Peter and Kara – a couple in our group that are to be married this weekend. We have been blessed to watch their relationship form and grow over the past few years and have seen God work in their lives and weave them together. What a thrill! - The Parham’s
"I have been encouraged by my community group this year. It is so encouraging knowing that there are other people going through what I am going through. We can encourage each other in these circumstances through the Gospel."
"My community group has been my family, filling a void especially after I graduated from Furman and decided to stay in Greenville. This group has also been an instrument in God's hand to encourage and sharpen my application and understanding of His precious word."
"I always thought I yearned for small groups to develop at Mitchell Road because I am an extrovert - I love being with people and am engergized by being with them. But I was so excited to know that the idea of community is also Biblical - we grow best and change best when we are living in community!"
