Small Group Leader - Roger Bronkema

*  NEW VIDEO SERIES AND STUDY BEGINS IN JANUARY  *

    The Homegrowth Group of the McConnell United Methodist Church is a group of younger members and friends of the church ranging in age from 18 to 45 from the surrounding area, but we welcome all adults to join in with us.  Our small group consists of about 7 people who meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesday evening of each month at group members homes.  Our purpose of meeting within homes rather than the church is reflective of Methodism founder, John Wesley's, first meetings consisting of small groups in the early denominations history.

                         Homegrowth Group Mission Project - 2005

    We get together for Bible study, prayer and fellowship with one another, along with participating and coming up with ways to help and bring love and spread the message of Jesus Christ to the community.

    The year 2006 was a great year for our Homegrowth Group.  We currently have a group of eight attendees:  Roger and Jenny Bronkema, Tim Mulhall, Carrie Kluck, Susan Coomber, Sandra Klontz, Michelle Lomas, and Coweina Travis.  Pastor Doug joins us when able.  We also welcomed Cathy Stabenow into our meetings a few times.

    This year our group has been involved in many church activities.  We helped out to organize the Youth 2006 Rockin' Lock-in, contributed to the Le-Win Food Pantry, received a $200 grant for Planned Acts of Christian Kindness (PACK) that we used to hand out  bottled water with a scripture verse attached, we helped plan and work at the Dan Kluck Benefit, and we donated our time serving at the historical society's Strawberry Social in June.  In July we helped with VBS and at the Beef Corral during the county fair.  In September, with the youth committee, we helped plan our Annual St. Jude's Bike-a-Thon.

    Although all of these activities have been great, the main purpose of our group getting together twice a month  has been to help each other become disciples of Jesus Christ in the Wesleyan tradition.

    In our gorup studies we strive to obey all the teachings of Jesus, and not just those that suit our temperament.  We help each other to maintain a healthy balance in our lives with Christ, as we mature as disciples through loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves.

    Our group leader, Roger Bronkema, is attending training sessions through the NIC Institute for Small Group Ministries to become certified as a Small Group Minister.  This training is a valuable tool to further develop group's in our church.

    Homegrowth Group schedule and place of meeting will be included on the Calendar page, or call the church office at 868-2324 to find out the most current meeting location.  All adults are welcome to join us in our small group study.