City Groups are missional communities that multiply disciples of Jesus. It's a group of people who scatter through out the week in community with others so that they are being transformed spiritually through the reading of God’s Word, living out biblical fellowship as a family, and intentionally pursuing God's mission of living out and declaring the gospel to everyone. We want everyone to be in a City Group to experience the family of God in real ways and continually grow as disciples who love Jesus and love one another more every day.
Evan O'Keefe is one of these people in our church who is living out God's mission within a City Group. He shared with our church why he is in a City Group and how God has used community to change his life, his understanding of God, and of himself.
"God has opened up the doors in my heart to prioritizing all people. I've struggled with being intentional in meeting up with people ... Going out to dinner with people, having them over, or giving them my time. I only did if I was available or if it was convenient. But, what God has been showing me lately is I need to spend my time with him and his people. That means to step out of my comfort zone, get out of my pride and be willing to meet people where they are at instead of where I am at.
When I do this, and in a City Group, I have received the gift of empathy. I used to feel distant from God and felt like I was failing and making mistakes. I see now that he has been growing me and putting me through trials and errors for this growth. I heard on a podcast recently that a group of people had created a dome where they had the best atmosphere for trees to grow. When they planted the trees in the dome, they saw that the trees grew faster than ever but the second the dome was taken away, the first storm that hit, all the trees fell down. The trees didn't have that time to grow their roots deep. I feel like God has been growing those roots in my life. He's put his people, those in my City Group, in my life and the situations there for me to grow. Especially when it's not been convenient or I've been dragging my feet, God keeps putting them there. He keeps giving me opportunities so that I will take the leap of faith.
For the longest time I thought I would never be in a City Group. Just because it scared me. I thought "Why should I give more time and effort? I already go on Sundays." At the time I thought it was just another thing to leave my house and talk to people and be vulnerable. I now know that this isn't the case. The second I stepped into community, it opened up all the doors and new ones. I became more closer to God, I grew in my understanding of what He wants for me and how to be a disciple and a disciple maker. He wants that for everybody and no matter where you've come from. If you think God doesn't want you back, that's the enemy in your head. No matter what walk of life you've had, you belong in a group. Community must be around you."
To get connected to a group, visit citylightomaha.org/citygroups.