Author Roy T. Bennet wrote, “You learn something valuable from all of the significant events and people, but you never touch your true potential until you challenge yourself to go beyond imposed limitations.”
There is one primary reason that individuals and faith communities fail to reach their full potential, it is individual thoughts compiled into a collective belief that someone else will do what is necessary.
When faced with opportunities to strengthen community and reach people beyond the confines of UBC, have you ever thought to yourself, “Well, I’m sure someone else will help with this. I’m too busy. What’s in this for me anyway?”
What if what is missing from all of this is you?
Yes, you are busy. But aren’t we all. Busyness is relative to what we care about the most, for we always make time for the things we cherish.
Yes, you want to have a sense of value when participating in something. But what if the benefit to you has to do with your presence and you will not discover what it is until you participate.
UBC has created dynamic and authentic ways to strengthen community within our faith community and be the presence of Christ to the greater community around us through Connect Groups. Yes, you have read articles about Connect Groups. But have you participated?
What if we told you that one of the greatest potentials for growth, individually and collectively, was by engaging in like-interest activities together? What if we told you that the greatest impact you can make in other’s lives was by simply being consistently present in the everyday enjoyment of activities, such as learning how to cook a new meal, cycling, painting, learning to dance, discussing theology, playing golf, or some other fun activity?
According to a recent Pew research study, most people are looking for a place of authenticity and belonging. When presented with a common space of belonging and authenticity, most people tend to view themselves as part of a faith community.
Consider if there is a better way to help people discover the authenticity of our faith community and feel safe to be who they are than by participating in non-intrusive like-interest activities? Furthermore, will we be open to the creative capacity of strengthening community and meeting new people with the love of Jesus or will we just assume that someone else will participate?
Therefore, we double dog dare you to participate in Connect Groups in 2019. More specifically, we double dog dare you to participate in one Connect Group per month and invite one person to join you for a Connect Group per month. Yes, we want you to invite fellow members of UBC and also non-UBC persons.
In leu of this double dog dare, our organized church-wide gathering for the month of January will be our various Connect Groups. Discover more about the groups and learn how to form a new group at www.ubc-br.org/cg.
Dare to believe that you need meaningful community through like-interest connections. Dare to believe that God can use you to discover the safe space that is Jesus.
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