"We didn't think that this would work"
It's also a great opportunity to indulge in some delicious cakes and succumb to the aroma of freshly cooked bacon rolls. Last year a video was made for an international conference about the philosophy of outreach to the community behind the weekly sessions and this can now be viewed online on You Tube.
Originally launched for a short trial period it soon became clear that this initiative was something that had the hallmarks of a successful project. “A couple of people had the bright idea that we should meet one of the needs that we had identified in the community for a place to come and be together, to share good coffee and conversation,” explained Minister Sue McKenzie. “Somewhere perhaps for kids to come on a wet Saturday morning or when all the other groups are closed during the summer. We'd considered possibly using other premises but in the end we agreed that we had good premises and that we would hold this new style Saturday morning cafe arrangement in our own church building. That seemed the easiest option but we never expected it would become something that would roll on week after week.”
Groby Tasters has become a meeting place where residents share their good news and their bad news with their friends, confident that if they need support someone is there to help them. “What's happening on a Saturday morning is that people are coming along and they are not just being pastored by volunteers, they are pastoring each other and meeting one another outside of this particular group, so they are forming a community themselves,” explained Team Member Kevan Hall.
Large group of volunteers
All such activities have to face the dilemma of whether or not there will be enough volunteers. It actually takes 10 or 11 people every Saturday to do this,” he added. “Some of us thought we would run out of volunteers very quickly but we've ended up with a large group of volunteers and they are really keen to come along because they enjoy what's going on, they're being Christians openly in an environment that nurtures them and cares for them as much as we nurture and care for the people who come along.”
What starts as an introduction to the church on a Saturday morning often becomes in an interest in other activities. “We have a number of men who come along on Saturday morning as well as women and children, but interestingly we have a regular film evening, for instance, where it was just people from the church. We now have more people from outside the church as opposed to those who are inside the church and that's specifically people who have been along to Love Groby.”
The advice? Just do something
Kevan encourages others to use the Groby Tasters formula or think out of the box about something completely different that might work for them. “Anybody could do this. I would encourage anybody in any church, no matter their age, no matter what background they have, no matter how small their group is, just do something. If it doesn't work then try something else. We didn't think that this would work, this was the last thing we thought would work, we had other initiatives that we thought would work but they didn't.”
Watch the video. It will give you something extra to talk about at your next visit to Groby Tasters.