"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
1 Thessalonians 2:8

GETTING CONNECTED... at Church at the Gate means participating in a Life Group. They provide a setting to build dynamic relationships and apply biblical principles to daily life. Life Groups allow Church at the Gate to grow smaller as we grow larger.

WERE THERE SMALL GROUPS IN THE BIBLE?
The book of Acts records the tremendous growth of the first church in Jerusalem. Small group meetings in homes were the foundation of the early church. Acts 5:42 tells us that the people met "in the temple courts" (large group worship) and "from house to house" (small group fellowship). Small groups were vital to the church's growth then, and they are just as vital now. You'll never fully experience all that Church at the Gate has to offer until you connect in a Life Group.

WHAT ARE "FREE-MARKET" LIFE GROUPS ABOUT?
Our groups are as varied as we are; group leaders use their gifts and passions to create a group that allows others to join them in serving God. Whatever your age or interest—Bible study, cooking, prayer, missions, running, you name it—we've got a group that's just right for you, and they meet all over the city. In the Free-Market Life Group system, people can establish whatever ministry they think others might be interested in. If lots of people attend and it meets their needs, others are free to start similar groups. The market creates more and more so the supply meets the demand. If, however, the idea doesn't appeal to people, then those who were going to offer that ministry will know to offer something else next time. We don't have to coax people to attend, because the subjects offered match the needs and wants of the people. The demand comes from within the congregation—if a ministry is not valuable to people, they vote with their attendance. We don't need to beg people to lead because the people of the church will be deciding for themselves what kinds of different things they want to offer to make people's lives better.

WHO CAN LEAD A LIFE GROUP?
You! Just come to the next Life Group Leader Orientation and you'll be good to go! Male/female, old/young, married or single... you are called to influence others. But you say, "I don't have the spiritual gift of teaching or evangelism?" Studies of successful cell churches show no correlation between a person's spiritual-giftedness or personality in determining a cell group's success. The #1 factor is a Spirit-filled Life Group Leader. After the initial leader orientation, Life Group leaders receive ongoing training. They are coached and accountable to their section leaders and zone pastors who are coached and accountable to the Senior Pastor.

WHEN CAN I JOIN ONE?
New groups start three times a year—Spring, Summer, and Fall semester—with an exciting event called Rally Day where we showcase all our groups before and after our Sunday Celebration. But you don't have to wait for Rally Day to join a group. Most groups are open to new members throughout the semester. Find a group, contact the leader, and get going!

WHAT ABOUT CHILDCARE?
Some groups offer childcare and others don't. In the groups that don't, we recommend people get babysitters on their own. If there is a person who legitimately can't cover the cost of childcare and therefore isn't able to attend, Church at the Gate is happy to reimburse these parents the cost of childcare. Simply get a Life Group Childcare Reimbursement Form at the Information Center and fill it out. Some groups go in together to hire a babysitter for children during group time. Given that these engagements are done by individual Life Group members and not by the church, those members are encouraged to exercise reasonable care in their selection and supervision of babysitters.

Characteristics of "Free-Market" Life Groups

• Typically, they meet weekly.
• They have 3 or more people attending, including the leader.
• They develop and identify an assistant leader.
• The group meeting includes one or more of the following: prayer, worship, Bible study, and/or testimonies.
• The topics are varied and determined solely by the needs and wants of the people.
• They call on and care for their own.
• Unless otherwise specified, the group welcomes new people into their meetings.
• They are supported by church pastors and elders.
• They develop group members into future leaders.
• They encourage members to invite people who are outside the church.
• They complete their topic by the end of the semester.
• They grow.
• They hang out socially and in general, have fun doing life together.
• They step into the Promised Life!

• Bible Study
  • Cross Connection
  • Discovering Our Father's Heart
  • The Holy Wild - Trusting in the Character of God
  • Passion
  • Senior High Read and Teach
• Cleansing Stream
• College & Young Adult
  • Captivating Over Coffee
• Cultural Issues
  • Genesis Mandate Commission
• Family & Parenting
  • Power of the Praying Parent
• Health & Fitness
  • Honoring God with a Healthy Lifestyle
  • Camp Pummel
  • Women's Tennis
• Marriage
  • Protecting Your First Responder Marriage
• Men's
  • Men's Morning Coffee
  • Men Who Eat Breakfast
• Prayer
  • Saturday A.M. Prayer
  • Intercession As a Lifestyle
  • Personal Prayer Ministry
  • The Cooperators
  • Prayer for Leadership
• Recreation & Activity
  • Cooking with Lance
  • Gardening 101
  • Guardians of the Gate: Step into the Skirmish
  • Golfing
  • The Picnic Club
  • Secret Keeper Girl
  • Relics of Years Gone By
• Service
  • Covert-ops
  • Home Improvement
• Women's
  • Women without Partners