Groups

At CATC we are a family that stands alongside one another. Time and time again in our Life Groups, we see the beauty of brothers and sisters supporting one another, encouraging one another, and growing together. We continue to add people to our groups, and many times unbelievers are exploring Christianity through them. Every semester we offer two rounds of Life Group Connect, and each round produces a new Life Group. Last year, we started three new Life Groups through Life Group Connect. We currently have 34 groups, but as we continually start new ones, we are in need of more leaders. If you have benefited from belonging to a Jesus-centered community and have a vision to help others do the same, we encourage you to reach out to Matt Lear to learn how you might lead a new group. Our leaders are disciplers who work hard to see their group grow in love for Jesus, and they receive regular care and support through our Life Group Coaches, who meet with leaders every semester in a cohort setting over a meal.

Discipleship Groups also continue to form out of relationships built in Life Groups. These are smaller groups of three to five people who meet regularly for Bible reading, accountability, and prayer. Last semester we developed a curriculum for Discipleship Groups, walking members through the book of 1 Peter. Anyone can start a Discipleship Group—simply invite a few friends and register for the new fall curriculum, which will walk through the book of Mark. This year, our Discipleship Group curriculum will align with the content being studied in our Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies.

Our life together is also an evangelistic event. When we put Jesus at the center of our community, we show the world His power to redeem broken people. Our desire is for groups to be a place where unbelievers encounter the love of Jesus. One of the ways we live this out is through Front Yard Festivals. Life Groups and Kids Ministry partner together each year to equip groups to host festivals in their neighborhoods, shining the light of Christ to their neighbors. This year, we saw 21 Front Yard Festivals take place throughout our community.