From Rev. Steven

I was appointed pastor of Pleasant View UMC last year on the heels of a tragic church split. When I arrived, the congregation was wrestling with resentment and hurt, while some were eager to move on from the drama, and others wondered how we would bring everyone back.

Having experienced the transformative power of Journey to Freedom small groups, I invited the congregation into a season of grief and healing. Nearly the entire church participated, and together we began to embody the principles of recovery.

For Methodists, small groups are woven into our history. John Wesley’s movement in 18th-century England began as a network of small groups meeting outside the church to grow in holiness. Every meeting began with the question, “How is it with your soul?”—is this not a form of a feelings check-in?

Over the past year, I have witnessed incredible transformation in our community. We are not only learning to grieve and heal from our hurt, but we are also engaging in difficult conversations and navigating conflict in healthier ways. Grace abounds in our relationships. People are making different choices in the face of church tension: seeking understanding rather than judgment, sharing the difficult parts of their stories rather than hiding them, and talking through issues rather than becoming more entrenched.

The Holy Spirit is alive in this place, and I don’t believe this renewal would have been possible without the power of small groups.