IBC Ministries - Small Groups

The geographical spread, cultural diversity and transitional nature of our congregation pose real challenges to ‘community living’. To deal with these challenges we have developed a diverse small group ministry based upon, what we call, “The LIFE strategy.” LIFE principally stands for ‘living in fellowship everywhere’ and signifies our belief that church life must go beyond Sunday’s few hours and be accomplished daily throughout the week in dynamic and thrilling ways.

Some key characteristics of our small groups are:

Traditional
Many of our small groups follow the path of the more traditional Home Group Models, common to many churches. So, we believe that Living In Fellowship Equips its members to disciple new and less mature believers and reproduce lives and communities.

Personal
Some of our groups are focused more upon Personal Support and Scripture Reading than on Bible Study and worship. These are groups of three people where life is shared and each person challenged and encouraged to read Scripture and feed on the truth of God’s Word. So we believe that Living In Fellowship Encourages its members as they care for and hold each other lovingly accountable.

Special Interest Groups
Some of our small groups meet to study special themes for a specific number of weeks and then disband. Some of our groups are also targeted at specific people groups – like young adults, women, men, young adults, etc. Our special interest groups reflect our small group strategy: “one style does not suit all.” So, we believe that Living In Fellowship Establishes its new members in simple obedience to God's Word, prayer, church and evangelism.

International
The call on our church is to be international in practice not just in name. Research suggests that people of the same ethnic, cultural, educational, and economic background connect more naturally at the relational level. Our experience would support that conclusion. Having said that, our experience also suggests that such basic level compatibility is not essential to living as the body of Christ. Intimate, powerful cross-cultural community is possible when people are ‘in Christ’. Following Christ is the basis for true community and our unity in Christ is more powerful that other uniting factors. So we believe that Living in Fellowship Envisions but a taste of how beautiful the church will be and how wonderful the fellowship at the wedding ceremony to the King.

Language Specific
Many people in our church speak English as a second, or even a third / fourth language. Our research has led us to conclude that there is no church in Hamburg for people speaking certain languages even though there are believers in our church who speak those very languages. Our goal is therefore to train, equip and release people to start specific language small groups as expressions of church for people open for hearing the Gospel and growing in Christ in their own native tongue. So we believe that Living In Fellowship Exists outside of the walls of a church building and inside of the communities in which we live, work and relate.

Temporary
The symbol we use to depict our church family is a kaleidoscope. There are many differences between a mosaic and a kaleidoscope but the principle difference for us is that the kaleidoscope’s image can change at the turn of the dial. We see our congregation as the kaleidoscope and God moving His hand to turn the dial and change the picture we make. Given the migratory nature of our congregation – as people come and go - we accept that a group that is here today might not be here tomorrow and see this as God’s hand turning the dial. So we believe that Living in Fellowship Energizes its members to keep on keeping on for as long as they are found in Hamburg.

If you live in or around Hamburg and need help to live life 24/7 with the Lord, then do LIFE with us …

Interested in knowing more about our small group ministry?
Read more about the LIFE vision by clicking here.
Read more about the how the LIFE in practice by clicking here.

Interested in getting involved in one of IBC Hamburg’s many small groups?
Contact the Small Group Facilitator through the contact form.