Anna Rogness
Longtime KingsWay member Anna Rogness shares about the benefits of participating wholeheartedly in a Community Group at KingsWay.
My name is Anna Rogness. My husband Rich and I have been going to KingsWay for about 33 years. I’m going to share about Community Groups today and since I’ve been around a while, I thought it might be interesting to give a brief history of names we have had for “Group.” At the same time, the names might give a slight glimpse into what Community Groups are at KingsWay:
We used to call them “Home Groups” – I guess because we met in homes. Then, we called them “Cell Groups” – because it was meant to be dynamic, alive and growing, but 9-11 nixed that. Later, we called them “Small Groups” – they were meant to be small, not like a Sunday meeting. During another season we called them “Care Groups” – a place to care for others and be cared for by others. Now, we call them “Community Groups” – because we are living on mission together as a local community of believers.
Community Groups have been and are a vital life-giving part of our Church life. I want to give a shout out to Daniel and Korina Crichgno, our current Community Group leaders. They do an amazing job leading and loving on us! I’ve also had many other wonderful leaders over the years. Rich and I wouldn’t be where we are today as a couple without John and September Robertson. They were our group leaders way back when we both had kids sleeping in pack-n-plays while we met. Yes, even before there was an Autumn or a Julia. The Robertsons have been faithful friends and way more than amazing group leaders. Thank you!
There are so many amazing people in our church with amazing stories of faith, and people from so many varieties in life. In community group, I get to hear new ideas and perspectives and other people’s experiences of how God has been or is working in their life. It’s helpful to not just stay in my little world – God has so much more for each of us.
Community Groups are a privilege and we shouldn’t take them for granted: we’re not meant to live on an island thinking we can live life well on our own! When we do that, we are missing out on serving and giving our life away, and others are missing out on receiving things God has for them through us. More recently, after working with the youth for many years, I was hungry for more adult fellowship and I looked forward to participating in Community Group.
I’ll share with you about the character of our group: it’s a place to be serious and studious, and also where I can laugh and have fun and be goofy. I get to be myself and don’t need to pretend or try to look perfect. I can explore thoughts I’m having and get Biblical input from others. It a place where I can be relatable and vulnerable and where others will ask good questions, drill down and draw me out.
There are many ways I personally benefit and contribute at Community Group. I often get nuggets of godly biblical wisdom at just the right time and in places I need it. They help me in my parenting, watching my speech, helping me see why I do things, and steering my heart toward godly motivations. At Community Group, I gain thoughts for practical planning and making good use of my time, and I benefit from counsel on conflict resolution that glorifies God. As Hebrews 12:1 says, I get encouragement to “run with endurance the race that is set before me.” At Community Group, I’m building relationships where we can follow-up with each other on things in life. Others will pray with me and for me and I can do the same with them. I get to hear and see where God is at work in other people giving them hope or strength or joy as they fight for faith – and that fuels my faith knowing God can work in me, too. I get to share life together with others through its ups and downs: as Galatians 6:2 says, we should “bear one another’s burdens”.
Let me encourage you to be a part of a Community Group and throw yourself all-in without holding back. Be willing to invest in God’s kingdom by also investing in others. If you are feeling dry or disconnected, Community Groups are a place where you can find food for your soul and friends who love and care about you. Or if someone else is in that place, you get to care for them, offering hope it out God who is faithful.
Anna Rogness