Community groups are our kitchen environment – the place where lasting friendships are made. They are the safe place to open your heart, share your life, and ask the tough questions. The overriding mission of Harvest Community Church is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and we believe that accountability, care, and a sense of belonging are crucial components of that spiritual growth. These three things are best achieved within the context of a small group, or community, of like-minded, relationally connected believers. We refer to this as authentic community.

As we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and as we connect relationally with other believers, we believe that every aspect of our lives will be affected. To summarize, it will affect five facets of our day-to-day lives:

· Relationships
· Expectations
· Actions
· Lifestyle, and
· Mindset

REALM Community Groups is the ministry of Harvest that attempts to cultivate authentic community by providing a framework in which those connections can occur. (To read more about REALM, click here).

However, just like any friendship, community, and the relationships that comprise it, grows step-by-step over time. Community does not automatically occur just because we might desire it to. Rather, it is cultivated over time in safe environments that promote growth. Accordingly, REALM Community Groups attempts to create environments where you can experience community at your own pace in the context of three steps.

Large-group – Within a large group environment, smaller discussion tables allow participants to interact as each feels comfortable doing so. It offers a sample of community. At the same time, the larger group and nature of discussion topics provides a safe environment to meet people.

Starter Groups – Starter groups allow people to try out community with a particular group of people for a short period of time, usually meeting every other week, for 6-8 meetings, in someone’s home. These groups are somewhat less structured than the large-groups to allow members to share experiences, prayer needs, victories, and struggles as each feels comfortable doing so. Each person’s commitment to the ideal of community provides a safe environment to get to know people.

Community Groups – Once members have had a chance to try out community with a group of people, the members may choose to continue with that same group of people for a longer period of time. When we refer to authentic community, this is where it happens. Each member commitment to each other provides a safe environment to care for people.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
I Peter 4:8