Really getting to know people during a Sunday morning worship service can be hard. Sunday School and Connect Groups at First Baptist Church Mebane give you a smaller place to connect, ask questions, and grow in your faith.
Key Takeaways:
- Smaller groups give you more time to get to know people. Sunday School and Connect Groups create opportunities for conversation, friendship, prayer, and support.
- There are different ways to find your place at First Baptist. Sunday School classes serve different ages and stages of life, while Connect Groups can bring people together at other times and around shared interests.
- Connection and faith go hand in hand. Smaller groups give people opportunities to learn, talk about faith, and grow alongside one another.
Kids and adults are milling around, some talking, some laughing. Members of the worship team are still on the stage as they prepare for the service.
You walk in, find an empty spot and sit. Little by little, the room fills. A few folks notice you and say hi. Some may even stop and talk for a minute. Pastor Sammy comes around to welcome everyone.
“Stand and greet your neighbor….” The room buzzes with voices. The service is underway — music, prayer, the sermon. You leave feeling refreshed an hour later.
And while you’ve been a part of something bigger than you, it’s not likely that you know anyone better after spending the worship service together.
That can be especially true when you’re new. Maybe you’re looking for a church after being away for a while. Or you have questions about faith and aren’t sure where you fit. Maybe you’re feeling like something is missing from your life and you’re looking for answers.
Sunday School Director Anita Wilson sees Sunday School classes and Connect Groups as a way to find connection.
“Church is about being a family, and you can’t just attend a service and say hello to somebody on a Sunday morning and have that togetherness, closeness, and fellowship you need to grow in Christ,” Anita says. “You can grow in Christ by listening to a message, but where you can take it a step further is where you have enough of a relationship with someone to actually know a little bit more about their needs and hopes, their dreams and concerns, their fears. If we don’t know these things about people, we don’t know how we can minister to each other.”
Building Connections Through Small Groups
Getting to know people that well takes time. Sunday School and Connect Groups create opportunities for a smaller group of people to have conversations and get to know one another beyond a quick greeting on Sunday morning. Time is built into those groups.
One good example is a women’s group Anita helped start. The women range in age from 40s to 60s and meet once a month, either in someone’s home or at a restaurant. They stay connected between gatherings, too.
“Our small group has a text group, and we’re constantly requesting prayer for each other,” Anita says. “We’re requesting prayer for needs that we come across, and it’s nice when you have something going on in your life, and you’ve got 10 people texting you saying, ‘I’m praying, I’m praying, I’m praying, and how are things going?’ It’s a good feeling to have a support system behind you.”
Support like that is one reason Anita would like to see even more opportunities for small groups to spend time together outside of Sunday mornings. A meal, a game night, or another gathering can give people more time to develop friendships.
Sunday School or Connect Groups?
Are the small groups called Sunday School or Connect Groups? Here at First Baptist Church-Mebane, you’ll likely hear both.
For many longtime churchgoers, a group that meets before worship on Sunday morning will always feel like Sunday School. Anita tends to think of Connect Groups more broadly, including groups that meet at other times and in other places.
“I use both names because I want to make sure that people of all ages feel comfortable with whatever term we use,” she says. “Sometimes I’ll say Sunday School, sometimes I’ll say Connect Groups, and sometimes I’ll say both.”
Whatever you call them, the purpose is to give people a smaller setting where they can spend time together, talk about faith, and build supportive relationships.
Finding a Sunday School Class or Connect Group at FBC Mebane
We have groups for all ages and stages of life. The newest is a young adult class, which has helped fill a previous gap for people in their 20s. Adults 30 and older have several options, too, and some age ranges have more than one class to choose from.
“There is definitely a class for everybody,” Anita says.
You can find descriptions of the Sunday School classes, including where and when they meet, on our website.
Anita would like to see more groups develop around shared interests, such as golf, sports, cooking, or another hobby. When people have something in common, they have an easy place to start a conversation.
A Place to Talk About Faith
Conversations can easily happen in Sunday School, too. Sunday School gives people a smaller setting to learn about the Bible and talk about what they’re learning. Classes use different resources, including video-based studies that encourage conversation.
“It leaves more room for discussion,” she says. “If someone’s up teaching, unless they’re asking questions, a lot of times you’ll just sit and listen. But with video, it will actually say, ‘Take a minute, pause the video, and talk about this.’ It encourages open discussions.”
Discussions can provide a place to listen, learn, and explore or grow in your faith alongside others.
More Than a Sunday Morning
Finding your place in a church can take time. Sunday School and Connect Groups give you a chance to move beyond saying hello on Sunday morning and begin getting to know people you can turn to for friendship and support.
If you’re looking for a church, exploring questions about faith, or simply looking for a place to connect with others, we’d love to welcome you to First Baptist Church of Mebane.
Visit our Be Our Guest page to learn what to expect on your first Sunday and plan your visit.
