Have you found your place yet at Hope Fellowship Church? Do you feel connected? Are you getting to know at least a few people so that your sense of belonging is growing, even though there are so many that you haven’t met and don’t know?
A recent sociological study about “Religion, Social Networks and Life Satisfaction” discovered that people who go to church regularly and have three to five close friends in the congregation tend to be “extremely satisfied” with their lives. How satisfied are you with your life? If your answer is “not very,” it may be due to a lack of like-minded friends who make your experience of Christian community more tangible.
Ten years ago, when we first arrived at Hope Fellowship Church, we felt lost. People were very friendly. We felt very welcome. But we struggled to remember the names and stories that we heard every Sunday as we interacted with people after church. The remedy? We began visiting our way through the congregation, meeting people in their homes. We also got involved in a couple of small groups, including Run and Walk With Hope, the Saturday morning exercise group that still continues today. We also forged several close friendships that have been a constant source of encouragement. It took some time and effort, but soon we felt the same sense of belonging that we had enjoyed in our former church.
When choosing a church, people tend to focus on the music, the messages and the church’s ministries, in that order. But the social aspect of the Christian life cannot be underestimated. A sense of belonging to a community of like-minded friends is the factor that keeps people committed to their church and happy with their lives long after the exciting first impressions have subsided.
If the social aspect of church life is that important, imagine what can happen if connections are not made and friendships are not developed.
For some folks, especially those with an outgoing nature, these necessary social connections happen naturally and quickly. They are pro-active about showing up at church events or joining a small group. They don’t hang back. Instead, they quickly get involved. I sense that they’ll be fine.
Others, however, are more cautious. Perhaps they’re shy. Perhaps they've had a bad experience in another church. Perhaps they’re grieving the loss of a church community that they had to leave because of a job transfer. Involvement in a church may even be a brand new experience unlike anything they have ever tried before.
What hesitant people need are friendly folks who will “practice hospitality” and invite them to their home, their small group, or one of the community building events that we hold regularly to draw people together. Like the upcoming “Introducing Hope Fellowship” seminar, the “Tooney Spaghetti” dinner”, or the monthly Jam sessions for musicians and singers that will begin Sunday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Jesus surrounded himself with twelve disciples, including an inner circle of three well known to us – Peter, James and John – long before a sociological study made the conclusion that “friendships built in religious congregations are the secret ingredient in religion that makes people happier.” If God’s Son needed a small group and a few close friends, how much more do we also need them in our lives!
More than anything, I wish you a living relationship with Jesus. But I also wish you fellowship with other believers and a few close friends in our church. So, depending on your personality or past experiences, either jump in or tiptoe in. And watch your life satisfaction levels rise!
- Pastor Peter
A recent sociological study about “Religion, Social Networks and Life Satisfaction” discovered that people who go to church regularly and have three to five close friends in the congregation tend to be “extremely satisfied” with their lives. How satisfied are you with your life? If your answer is “not very,” it may be due to a lack of like-minded friends who make your experience of Christian community more tangible.
Ten years ago, when we first arrived at Hope Fellowship Church, we felt lost. People were very friendly. We felt very welcome. But we struggled to remember the names and stories that we heard every Sunday as we interacted with people after church. The remedy? We began visiting our way through the congregation, meeting people in their homes. We also got involved in a couple of small groups, including Run and Walk With Hope, the Saturday morning exercise group that still continues today. We also forged several close friendships that have been a constant source of encouragement. It took some time and effort, but soon we felt the same sense of belonging that we had enjoyed in our former church.
When choosing a church, people tend to focus on the music, the messages and the church’s ministries, in that order. But the social aspect of the Christian life cannot be underestimated. A sense of belonging to a community of like-minded friends is the factor that keeps people committed to their church and happy with their lives long after the exciting first impressions have subsided.
If the social aspect of church life is that important, imagine what can happen if connections are not made and friendships are not developed.
For some folks, especially those with an outgoing nature, these necessary social connections happen naturally and quickly. They are pro-active about showing up at church events or joining a small group. They don’t hang back. Instead, they quickly get involved. I sense that they’ll be fine.
Others, however, are more cautious. Perhaps they’re shy. Perhaps they've had a bad experience in another church. Perhaps they’re grieving the loss of a church community that they had to leave because of a job transfer. Involvement in a church may even be a brand new experience unlike anything they have ever tried before.
What hesitant people need are friendly folks who will “practice hospitality” and invite them to their home, their small group, or one of the community building events that we hold regularly to draw people together. Like the upcoming “Introducing Hope Fellowship” seminar, the “Tooney Spaghetti” dinner”, or the monthly Jam sessions for musicians and singers that will begin Sunday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m.
Jesus surrounded himself with twelve disciples, including an inner circle of three well known to us – Peter, James and John – long before a sociological study made the conclusion that “friendships built in religious congregations are the secret ingredient in religion that makes people happier.” If God’s Son needed a small group and a few close friends, how much more do we also need them in our lives!
More than anything, I wish you a living relationship with Jesus. But I also wish you fellowship with other believers and a few close friends in our church. So, depending on your personality or past experiences, either jump in or tiptoe in. And watch your life satisfaction levels rise!
- Pastor Peter
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