Surprising Community
Courageous, biblically-based relationships, empowered by grace, that lead to transformational intimacy.
A Few Stats & Quotes of Impact Through Surprising Community in 2022:
Women’s Beach Retreat: 82 Women attended
This year’s Women’s Beach Retreat provided the women of OMPC an opportunity to enjoy an impactful time in community with one another. Laura Sellers said, ‘I loved getting to attend the beach retreat and have the opportunity to slow down and be “washed away” in the rest and peace of the Father. Our Saturday worship time with Sue helped me dive deeper into my heart and reminded me to continue running into the Father’s arms as I processed the passing of my mother in law.’ Asked to sum up her experience in a word, Ellen Turner added, ‘I think my word would be thankful…. Thankful to have come home rested, renewed and connected to the Lord and community. Praising the Lord for He had done and continues to do!’
Life Groups: 52 Groups and 730 people in Life Groups
“I have seen in our Life Group Member's (as we have learned through Gospel Waltz but also within our Life Group conversations) a deeper understanding that God lovingly pursues us through the circumstances of life, and it has been very powerful to experience alongside our Life Group friends the reality that God is primarily changing our hearts through life's circumstances out of His love and greater Kingdom purposes.” - Nathan Kirkpatrick, Life Group Leader
Monthly Forerunners Socials and Gatherings; Quarterly Trips
“Forerunners has given us opportunities to meet others beyond our Discipleship class and Life Group. We have enjoyed the get-togethers at the church, game nights, ministry opportunities, visits to local interesting places, and overnight trips. We are so blessed to also have a leader for our group who cares for us and keep us busy.” - Gary and Janice Tennyson
Age & Stage-Based Discipleship Classes Established
"Our candid story is that we've been members of one of a local ‘mega-church’ for the last ten years, but we've lately been hungry for the closer, more permanent connections offered by a smaller church. We made some new friendships when our daughter began attending the Westminster School at Oak Mountain last year and we were invited to attend OMPC. We've since made so many great new friendships here and so many people have truly gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and wanted. The Elementary Parents Sunday School class has been especially impactful because everyone seems to be in a very similar age and season of life. We're so happy to have found OMPC and our new church home." - Jamie & Haley Pursell, Elementary Parents
“Amy and I have found that ParentU has provided us an opportunity to connect with others who are in the same stage of life, and who are oftentimes dealing with similar challenges in parenting. Mark is an invaluable resource, not only as the face of the class, teacher, and facilitator, but as a pastor who goes the extra mile to invest in the lives of the members of the class and provides insight and wisdom to parents of youth. The relationships both of other parents and Mark have proved to be a source of comfort, wisdom, and strength for us when parenting has become the most difficult.” - Chad & Amy Jones, ParentU
Young Professionals Gatherings, Bible Studies & Small Groups
"Summer fellowing with OMPC young professionals was a blessing to me in a lot of ways. There is something particularly special about opening God’s word and studying it with other believers—learning from the insights of others I would not have seen on my own.” - Heather Thompson on Young Professionals Summer Fellowship Gatherings
Other:
Monthly Men’s Gatherings began in Fall
Women’s Coffee for Four organized twice this year
Ongoing JrHi & SrHi Gatherings & Events
“These wonderful truths and realities (applying the gospel to life) have not only brought us closer as a Life Group and as friends, but also helped us know how to more intentionally pray for, and check in with each other. This type of gospel growth, as God graciously moves and works, happens within community!”
