I’ve finished reading the material on Small Groups Development. Who am I to comment on material lauded by Christians in Cyprus, Egypt, Nigeria, Finland etc! It’s first class and it obviously works, works in the sense that this is how the Lord meant His church and people to function and these are the time-honoured principles that bear good fruit in the Holy Spirit.

Something you said on page 5 of the “Small Groups Develeopment” booklet seems to sum it all up: “Small groups complements and completes the weekly large body worship celebration experience.” So many of the listed points – and I marked a fair selection of them – are applicable to congregational life in general and the emphasis on lay-ministry, leadership and body life/relationships is spot on.

The “Small Group Development” booklet is excellent. Many of its points reiterate the best principles of church growth and body-life, proven, God-honouring, Spirit-blessed principles. I loved that stuff on page 46 about “everyone having potential – so what’s your excuse?” I’ve taken a similar approach in some sermons I’ve preached on “earthly spirituality.” I think the more we are confronted with principles of group-dynamics and individual characteristics such as those outlined on page 48, the more we can be open and constructive and blend together in love in what is often described superficially as “Christian fellowship.”

My new work at North Canberra Baptist (Australia) will be very modest at the beginning, but many of these principles can be put into practice right from the beginning as a guarantee that the kind of new congregation we will be growing, will be “healthy” and “full of love.”

Thanks again for your ministry and thanks to God for the fruits of that ministry already experienced overseas. May God continue to bless that ministry here in Australia.

John Bracht

John is the Pastor of North Canberra Baptist Church in Australia