Seeker Small Groups

Important News!

Merry Christmas to you! I wanted to give you an update on what has been happening with seeker small groups in the bay area. It was only a year ago that God gave a group of us a vision and call to launch ONE HUNDRED seeker small groups in the San Francisco bay area. As I write you a year later, there are over ONE HUNDRED FIFTY seeker small group leaders that have launched or are planning to launch a group that is specifically designed to meet the needs of spiritual seekers in the bay area from THIRTY different churches. We are receiving stories from many of you that indicate the fruitfulness of these groups in bringing people into a relationship with (or closer to a relationship with) Jesus Christ.

Shortly after the training conference in March 2007 with Garry Poole in which many of you said you would become ONE of the ONE HUNDRED seeker small group leaders, I met with another ministry that has a similar vision for reaching unchurched people through the self-discovery small group process by the name of Neighborhood Bible Studies (NBS). Throughout the rest of 2007, Garry and I have gotten to know this wonderful 47-year-old organization that is based in Dobbs Ferry, New York. We were astonished at the similarities that we found in their method and ideology. Here is their mission: to mobilize and empower followers of Jesus Christ to introduce and multiply small group discussion Bible studies among their neighbors, co-workers and friends so that participants can encounter God, grow in faith and pattern their lives after Jesus.

Within the last month, NBS and Garry have determined that there are significant benefits to both parties in forging a partnership that provides new direction and life into each ministry in reaching the unchurched with small groups for spiritual seekers. NBS has asked me to be their new CEO, based on this new partnership with Garry Poole, and I have accepted. Our vision is to grow NBS into a well-known resource for unchurched people to find a relationship with Jesus Christ through the self-discovery, question-asking process in a small group. And all of you in the bay area that are leading (or getting ready to lead) this kind of a group are part of that vision! Somehow, we are all finding ourselves in the middle of a movement that is sweeping through the bay area and to some degree, through our increasingly secular national culture. We all have the privilege of walking alongside and partnering with this established godly organization that is beginning a new chapter of Kingdom building. NBS has Bible studies that are a natural follow-on to SSGs for those who find a relationship with Jesus! It is exciting to see what God is doing with this form of outreach. - Mary

Pictures of 5/12 event

I am still learning how to use this Blog to do cool stuff like insert pictures. During this particular segment of our session, Ben Pierce and Bill Weir were sharing their experience of a few weeks ago when they had their first meeting, which is Step 4. They followed Garry's instructions for that meeting. They met a Stacks, which is a local breakfast place in San Carlos. One of their invitees confessed afterward that he had an "escape" plan in case things got a little weird and he was uncomfortable. As it turned out, all of those that attended had a good time. Besides eating a good breakfast, they all shared answers to a few ice breakers and what they would ask God, if they could ask Him one question. Now they are trying to find a regular time to meet. Not an easy challenge, but they are working on it! Ben and Bill were encouraged and plan to invite a few more guys. - Mary

Building Strong Bridges

The second step of launching a seeker small group is: Building Strong Bridges. Garry talks about "hanging out together" as one of four "handles" to building relationships. In hanging out together we find common ground with others and establish trust and respect.

I find a great place to "hang out" with new people is on airline flights. You're sitting there for four or five hours with a person or two on either side of you with not much else to do. No phones ringing, meetings to attend, e-mails to send, or other possible distractions.

A few weeks ago I was on a flight to Chicago from San Francisco. After our flight was in the air, I struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to me. I discovered Charlie lived in the bay area and was an aerospace engineer. My husband is in the aircraft industry too and my son is an engineer. We talked about a variety of things including the things we had in common, the Iraq war, politics and religion. He was very bright. When we talked about spiritual matters, he said that although he believed in God, that he and his wife did not attend a church. They were from different Christian denominations in their growing up years, and had not figured out exactly what they believed.

I suggested that they consider joining a small group where they could safely explore their beliefs about God with others that were seeking answers. He said that he would like to join a group like that! When I returned home, I was able to connect Charlie and his wife with an existing seeker small group in Sunnyvale led by one of the leaders that came to our conference in early March.

In a short amount of time on that flight, there was a bridge built through finding common ground and establishing a basic trust and respect for one another. I know that the Holy Spirit was present in the conversation that day and guided that process. It was very natural and enjoyable to both Charlie and I. And hopefully, it will enable Charlie and his wife to begin exploring faith related questions. - Mary

NEXT STEPS Event 5/12 nine to noon at PCC

On Saturday, May 12 from nine to noon Garry Poole and I will be co-leading a session called NEXT STEPS and MORE QUESTIONS at Peninsula Covenant Church (3560 Farm Hill Rd. Redwood City, California) for those that are leading or planning to lead a seeker small group. It will be a practical, hands-on morning of stories, questions, encouragement, sharing answers, connecting, and support. There is a $10 suggested donation to cover our costs.

If you haven't signed up yet to attend, contact Mary Schaller at mary@schallerfamily.net. It's not too late. We hope to see you there! It should be a fun and encouraging morning. This is the first of (hopefully) many quarterly gatherings of seeker small group leaders. Garry Poole and I are committed to supporting you as you reach out to your neighbors and friends with this effective form of outreach to those that are not sure what they believe about God. - Mary