Week 8: Small Group Emails

(Below is an email I sent out to my small group on March 16, 2009)

Ok, everyone...

We missed two weeks of small group, one due to the crazy weather, and the other because we offered childcare during the showing of the movie 'Fireproof' at church last week. However, that does not mean that things haven't been moving forward--they certainly have! Last night, we really got to talking about our big project, involving the trailer park across the street from the church.

It was neat (to me as a leader) to watch different people getting excited about different aspects of this project--Matt and Nate are fired up about the benefit concert in April, ideas for a possible after-school program are growing in Ashley's mind, and Sam is just tired of talking; she wants to get something done! I think what started as a little idea is going to grow exponentially and bless a lot of people.

I found it interesting, then, and certainly not coincidental, that last night we discussed the topic of collaboration. One person can make a big difference, but there are some things that are too big to be tackled alone. Sometimes, even if going it alone is possible, it is good to have teammates who support and encourage and share the burden of the work.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I learned about the power of just a few while I was in Poland, studying the Holocaust. It amazed me, how a few men got hold of an entire nation and committed such atrocities. Imagine, then, if a few of us could get hold of just our peer groups... just our homes... just our schools... we could change the world. Something to think about, at least. Our small group has incredible strength and potential, because we're not just working together. We're working together with God.

Love you guys.