It was an Easter Sunday that got Marcia Gorham to Citylight. Her daughter-in-law had been inviting her for months. Marcia had been attending her church and thought it was enough. She knew about God, the church knew about her, and she thought she was fine. However, on that Easter Sunday, Marcia’s ears and heart heard for the first time news she didn’t know before. The Good News! God used His word to bring about life in Marcia she didn’t know was dead. She leaped out of her chair that morning with joy. Since that morning, she has never looked back to her old self and old religion.
That was nine years ago. Looking back, Marcia is thankful. Jesus saved her and has taken her on this journey of truth, confession, and fellowship. She has made connections and community with people that were not only awesome and amazing but needed. Marcia was not aware of how much she was craving an authentic and Godly community. City Groups, small groups at Citylight, have been a blessing by providing easy ways to connect with community.
“I heard about City Groups early on at Citylight,” Marcia described. “I signed up at the connect table and so many people reached out to me. Not long after, I randomly met Dave and Robin Laney, and they were starting a City Group. I joined it and loved it. What they did was they opened the Bible, and we studied it! Other people knew so much, and I learned from them. I learned about serving others and at church. I have gotten so much out of serving. Serving is a gift to me.”
When the Laney’s left for a global assignment, Marcia got connected with another City Group. There she found more amazing people and truth.
“The Mertz’ City Group was my next,” Marcia shared. “I now know that you have to be in a City Group. You get real. You confess with one another. You are transparent with struggles and you walk through life together and through it all – the good and the bad. You are never alone. Not only in the church but also in City Group. That’s the biggest truth I have learned. You are not alone.”
This past year, Marcia wondered if there were any City Groups that met during the day. The cold and freezing temperatures and going out in the dark became a lot for her. After a quick conversation with Sarah Buettenback, Midtown’s City Group Director, she found that there were none. Sarah asked her if she wanted to launch one. Marcia didn’t know what to say.
“I immediately thought, how?” Marcia confessed. “I mean I can welcome and connect people. But I don’t have the knowledge of the Bible. I would love to start a City Group but was unsure of doing it by myself. So, I prayed. I asked God if I am worthy of it.”
Sarah invited Marcia to the City Group Leader training that February. Marcia went and met so many wonderful leaders. She also encouraged Marcia to not give up and helped her with a plan. Soon after, Marcia got connected with a couple, John and Becky Sieler, who had been attending Citylight since the beginning. After meeting with one another they devised a plan to launch a Thursday morning City Group in the fall. The group would ground most of their time in the Bible with some devoted to social connection.
“We started after Labor Day and are still trying to figure out our rhythms,” Marcia said with joy. “Sarah helped us with the technical and communication part. She’s been wonderful. Since then, we’ve made a family. We check in with one another. We reach out every week. I’ve met with a few women for coffee. It’s a friendship and a family. Everybody is focused on Jesus.”
“I think there are people who don’t know what a City Group is so they don’t step into one. City Group is a church in a small community. Just like churches go forth with the good news to all nations you go home and talk to your neighbors. You are the hands and feet to your neighbors. You wouldn’t get that if you didn’t have a relationship with one another. Without relationship with others, you don’t have knowledge, and you don’t grow in it. A City Group is a family that encourages. When you connect with people, your connections grow even more. It’s a family. You share life and family with your City Group. It’s great to be known. And to be known by such incredible people. You grow in every way ... and not just relationally, but yourself and in the Bible and in faith. You meet so many people, and you are better off.”
Marcia has seen and experienced so much goodness from the Lord since that Easter Sunday. Fellowship has been just one. City Groups is where she has found the best source of fellowship. Helping lead one now has been an unexpected gift. Considering the need for more City Groups, Marcia invites others into launching and joining one.
“You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to love and learn about the Lord,” Marcia explained. “A leader offers a warm, welcoming, loving group that can walk in life with you. It is through God’s people you will experience church on a whole other level. And from that, faith and hope and love. What held me back from a City Group at first, was not knowing what one was. The benefits are so large. It’s like night and day. The group keeps you going through the week. It doesn’t matter all the differences in people. Don’t worry about leading either. There are real people in our church, like Sarah, who can teach you and guide you. My hope is everyone joins a City Group. It is beneficial and spiritually you are getting fed and the learning is amazing. It’s another opportunity to connect with Jesus.”
Marcia now understands deeply why her daughter in law invited her to Citylight. She wanted her to experience and the joy of what they experienced at church. It was Jesus and His people that satisfied abundantly the craving within Marcia. Today, Marcia wants others to experience the same.
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Email for West groups sam@citylightomaha.org
Email for Midtown groups sarah@citylightomaha.org