Small Group Testimony

I realized the value of “Christian Community” when I stepped out in faith and joined a small group for the first time. It wasn’t an easy thing for me to do. I was definitely not a “joiner”.  Doing life with other Christians wasn’t high on my priority list at the time. I figured that as long as I went to church every Sunday and prayed regularly, I’d make it on my own just fine.

That was until I stumbled into a very lonely place.

Truthfully, I didn’t stumble. Life’s circumstances and my choices helped to lead me there. I was full of pride and didn’t want to be perceived as weak or in need of help. I convinced myself it was easier to deal with life’s struggles on my own than it was to trust someone and be hurt by them, or worse; risk shame and embarrassment.

I heard about small groups at the Vineyard, however I struggled finding the motivation to go. As I grew more lonely and frustrated, the walls I put up to keep me safe started to feel like a prison. I wanted to change but didn’t know how to go about it, until one day I read in Psalm 68:6, “God places the lonely in families;”

I took this scripture to heart, put my trust in Jesus and believed he would place me into a family and he did.

I’ll never forget my first visit to small group, or my first small group leader, Sherie Nissen. The moment we met, things just clicked and the “doing life together” thing finally made sense. Small group was a safe place where we were free to learn and grow in Christ, and Sherie encouraged us to do just that!

Sherie was a great leader and a true friend. She poured out love into our lives and taught us how to pray confidently with hope and expectation. She was a wonderful mentor and I’m grateful to have been a part of her group.

I share this small group story in loving memory of Sherie, who passed away in March of this year. It’s a testimony of how God’s word does not return void and how he blesses us though the lives of others.