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Discipleship


transforms Virginia congregation ...


sending one member on ‘the most exciting


journey of spiritual growth and service’ By George Kegley


A


fter years of a “spiritually empty” life, David Poole came to Peace Lutheran Church in Charlottesville, Va., and joined a discipleship group. He said that


launched him on “the most exciting journey of spiritual growth and service” he could imagine. During 25 years of largely social involvement in two congregations, Poole said he was hungry for something but “didn’t know what it might be and had no idea how to find it.” That changed abruptly when he heard a mem- ber of Peace tell how his group of four met weekly to share their lives, faith and struggles. Poole said he was “a pew warmer” until he joined a group at Peace, where members told of confusing, trou- bling or doubting experiences, as well as new learning, joys and understandings. Once a social worker, Poole and his wife, Ruth, have


retired from a picture-framing business. Now they’re both sitting down with at least two groups every week. As caring and trust grew, Poole said two things hap-


pened: He felt “the powerful, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and learned to pray out loud in the presence of other people.”


Deb Myers, a leader of the eight-year discipleship movement at Peace, said the groups have transformed the congregation from an inward to an increasingly outward-looking church. “It’s central to everything we do,” she said.


Myers, a retired human resources manager, said sharing her faith with others has changed her life. Dis- cipleship brought about “a huge shift in my growth in


Kegley is The Lutheran’s correspondent for the Virginia Synod. 34 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


faith. I’ve moved from knowing about God to knowing God,” she said, adding that it’s a shift from “belief as doctrine to belief in God’s promises.” Peace became an empowering congregation, Myers added, saying, “People feel God is calling them to min- istries. … Faith is dynamic and people are energized.” Nearly two-thirds of the 325 members of Peace are involved with small discipleship groups, prayer, book study, fellowship groups or adult Sunday school classes, said John Herman, who is retiring as pastor of the congre- gation in September to write and teach about discipleship. Members of Peace, located near the University of Vir-


ginia, have a higher than average level of education and worship attendance, and a slightly younger age level. These characteristics enhance the discipleship group experience, Herman said.


More than half of the members are leaders of min- istry teams, the congregational council, worship and Sunday school.


Although many members are involved in groups, a congregational survey of 300 members indicates oth- ers aren’t. The reasons given include: not able to make a weekly group commitment (29); schedule was too full (27); they’re not the small group type (23); they’re uncomfortable sharing with others (17); and the required commitment of one or two years was too long (16).


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