"Cord" - think smaller, small group.
"Turbo" - meaning meeting together for a quick period of 10 weeks with the hope and plan for each of us individually and/or partnered together in pairs (after the 10 weeks) to launch our own cord groups.
Our turbo cord group met weekly at a restaurant next door to our church campus. (Learn more about cord groups.)
Our favorite story happened during week 4 of meeting together. Near the close of our meeting we asked our waitress, who had been serving us the past few weeks, if there was anything we could pray about for her. It was a simple question. But it made an impact. She first stepped back, expressed a surprised look, and then quickly, replied, "Yes. I have a couple things you can pray about." Later she enthusiastically asked if she could share a third request. Of course we said, "Yes!" After the first exchange she left our table with a tear in her eye. She earlier shared, "You've made my day!" (Of course, we know it was Jesus who did that through us--the body of Christ.)
I'll never forget the look on our faces. We were all somewhat stunned at our waitress' response. We then talked about how amazing it would be if we could have groups from our church meeting in restaurants/public spaces throughout our community, building relationships with guests/patrons/staff, all-the-while sharing the love of Jesus.
In all honesty doing something like this isn't the most sacrificial thing to do as a follower of Jesus. But it is one doable step towards breaking out of our Christian bubbles and bringing the church INTO the community.
As a first step, the plan is to focus on meeting in restaurants/public spaces within a 3-mile radius of our church campus. (Check out the map and listing of establishments.)
Even before the turbo group finished meeting, we were able to launch 2 cord groups in the community. At the end of this month our original turbo cord group will begin meeting as a coaching group where we will mutually encourage one another in the Word and through prayer, on a monthly basis, with regards to the cord groups we've begun (or soon will begin) to launch. Hopefully we'll have 5 or 6 cord groups meeting in our community within a month. Also at the end of this month I'll be launching a new turbo cord group.
One goal is that before next year we could have groups meetings in 20 different establishments within that 3 mile radius of our church.
Each group and where they meet will have their own unique dynamics. Besides setting up the plan of cord groups meeting, they will not be over-programmed. While centered in God's Word, they'll all look and operate differently. We simply look forward to seeing what encounters God brings to us and how He will use us for His mission to make disciples and reach the lost with the good news of Jesus Christ!
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