Registration for our spring round of our new Access Groups at Buckhead Church will close in less than one week. We would love for you to consider being a part of an group for 6–8 weeks. We have groups that are focused on learning what the Bible says about marriage, as well as groups that look at finances from a biblical perspective. Connection into an Access Group is an easy online process. You choose your group based on topic of interest, as well as area of town and night of the week.

It’s a short investment of your time, but we think you will gain valuable information that will last long past your group experience. You’ll also get a chance to meet some other people just like you who are looking to connect and learn. To learn more and to register, please visit www.buckheadchurch.org/accessgroups. Space is limited, so reserve your spot in an Access Group now!

::: Steve Giddens ::: Director of Group Life :::

You’ve heard us say that we love moving people from rows on a Sunday to being in a circle of a small group.

Many of you heard that message and took action this past weekend. To be exact, we had 1,115 people move from a row to a circle and connect into a community group at Buckhead Church this past weekend at one of our GroupLink events.  That is awesome, awesome stuff!

Thanks to those of you who took a BIG step and chose to try a community group. Please join us in praying for these new circles that have formed and for God to do what only He can do in these circles!  Also, if you missed the GroupLink and still desire to get into a community group experience, keep an eye out for some of our Access Groups (6-8 week small group experiences that focus on a particular topic or study) that will be rolling out later this month.

::: Steve Giddens ::: Director of Group Life :::

“It had been four years and two precious daughters since our last small group. My husband, Brett, and I had been putting off past GroupLinks not knowing whether we could fit it into our schedules with two small children, but we felt a void and were ready to fill it. We started praying not only for our next group, but for GroupLink as a whole that God would prepare everyone’s heart and give us all open minds with no limitations on how we felt the night should go. We prayed that His will be done whether that meant that He led us to a group that night or a few weeks/ months later, knowing that His timing is everything.

A few days before GroupLink, we asked our neighbors whether they had considered joining a small group and to our surprise they were thinking about it. We made plans to meet there and our experience was nothing short of amazing. We saw and felt God at work that night as we met other couples and were led to a group that we thought was THE group. Within minutes this same group had nine other couples wanting to join! This created an opportunity for couples in the group to step up and form another group. A few minutes later, Brett and I felt an undeniable tug. It was going to be outside of our comfort zone, but we didn’t ignore it. We volunteered to break away and form another group where we were nominated to be the contacts. We now had a formative group of four couples and were amazed at how quickly it came together. It was unbelievable to see so many unconnected couples in the beginning of the evening and to look around the room at that moment and find so many small intimate, huddled, connected groups. We were humbled and so excited to witness God’s work that night.

A few weeks later, we were honored when our group nominated us as the leaders of our small group. We were open to whatever God had planned going into GroupLink, but being leaders was the last thing we imagined. It was another example for us of how radical life can be when we let God lead and we’re open to His plans for us. We are so grateful for the other three couples in our group and look forward to sharing, growing and experiencing this season with them.

So, before this next GroupLink, don’t think about how you think it should go. Pray about it instead and ask God to open your heart and mind to His plans.”

Amber Greenway

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GroupLink is the event that connects together all those seeking to be in a small group.  It happens THIS WEEKEND! You can read all about GroupLink and get the details/times by clicking HERE!

I am however no longer frightened of the events that have transposed into what is now known as my life, and will venture a try at sharing with you this part of my story.

Almost eight years ago now, I awoke to the world of my marriage ending, much to my profound regret. Not only was I facing the devastation and shame of becoming another depressing divorce statistic, I was catapulted to next in line for membership in the heartbreaking club of “single moms”. Yes, for I was also expecting a baby, our first child. Honestly, all I was truly expecting at that time was to feel alone for the rest of my life. I agonized daily with thoughts of how in the world I was going to nourish, nurture, teach, discipline, shelter, and protect a little life all without the assistance of another equally-invested adult. I had no answers.

A girlfriend at the time had invited me to come along with her to church. Little did I know that God would use her invitation to alter and transform the course of my life, while ultimately making family a possibility for me again as my own family excruciatingly evaporated right before my eyes.

Steadily over time, I found myself becoming more and more involved at church. I attended service on a regular basis and even served weekly in Waumba Land. However the size of Buckhead Church only shrunk from enormous to manageable. I still felt very alone and struggled with finding my place in the church as a single parent. I often felt as if I just didn’t fit in anywhere.

Everyday I get on my knees and thank Jesus for the blessing of my son, but as an adult without any family even remotely close to Atlanta, I found myself craving more. I longed for community. I longed for someone to know me, and still love me despite my faults and scarred past. One Sunday I heard Andy speak about how real community happened in circles, not in rows, so I decided it was time. I made up my mind to join a small group.

Admittedly, my early experiences with GroupLink and being in a Community Group were not very comfortable. My daily struggles with potty training, or figuring out how to get my little boy to stop crying for his father were seemingly light years away from what I felt others in that room were facing. Luckily, however, my greatest (and often worst) personality characteristic of persistence was about to pay off, and I eventually found a group of single women to call my small group family.

I think back to our first meeting when we were all pretty much strangers, brought together organically, and as we started sharing our stories, we had 3 girls who had just recently broken off engagements. It was obvious from the start that God had been in the selection process and He specifically chose each girl that was to be a part of the group.

Well, our group has now been meeting for over a year and I continually feel so very blessed to be among the most tenacious, intelligent, articulate, generous, compassionate group of women that I could have ever imagined. They have added stability to my life and provided me with guidance, emotional support, encouragement, and companionship all while surrounding and uplifting me with an unwavering circle of prayer. I simply cannot imagine my life without this group of indescribably brilliant women. I know with my faith in Jesus, I would be alright, but then who would keep me focused on the basics of taking care of me? It is very challenging to be a valuable mother, or person for that matter if you are not healthy yourself.

Since its inception, I knew that I needed this group of women in my life, but was completely unaware of what an impact participating would have on my son. I feel a great sense of gratitude when thinking of what he has had the opportunity to observe. Meeting weekly in our home has provided him with a front row seat to watch us study God’s word together, celebrate life’s joys and grieve life’s tragedies. He has watched us spend time serving others, and even participated in some service opportunities right along with us. Most importantly, Carter has been able to witness the supremacy and all commanding power of prayer and see for himself what God can do in lives when people come together and pray as a group. I am humbled and truly speechless when I reflect upon the tremendous appreciation I have for the opportunity to live life as part of a community that includes the watchful eye of my precious son. Carter asks each week if he can join our group and we always tell him that he is our “mascot,” and the cutest one ever at that.

This is my world and, honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m rarely bored and few would consider my life dull. I am so thankful for many things: hope that only comes from our heavenly Father, health, love of family, friends, provision, opportunities to serve others, and last but certainly not least, my group, my place to belong. I continue to face similar struggles with being single as do others, but no longer, by the grace of God, am I without a family.

Kim Kulka

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GroupLink is the event that connects together all those seeking to be in a small group, like Kim.  It happens THIS WEEKEND! You can read all about GroupLink and get the details/times by clicking HERE!

I’ve always said that God has blessed me with the best friends in the world. And last year, I found out just how true that was. It was a memorable year for me. I experienced the highest of highs in March as I was baptized at Buckhead Church. I then experienced the lowest of lows in July when my dad passed away.

I will always remember 2010 as a year of tremendous loss and heartache, as well as a time when my faith grew by leaps and bounds. I will also remember the people who were in my corner fighting for me when I couldn’t fight anymore. I will remember the people who sat with me in the waiting room for hours, praying with me during the darkest and longest days of my life. They were the people who cheered loudly with joy and exhilaration when I was baptized . . . the ones who understand the importance of doing life together. I will cherish the people who recognized that spiritual and personal growth come from sitting in a circle every week and not just in rows on Sunday. They are the ones who hold me accountable, challenge my thinking, and want God’s best for me. They are committed to creating an inviting environment that’s conducive to asking questions and exploring faith. They have been pivotal in my understanding of what a personal relationship with Christ looks and feels like. They are the amazing women in my small groups that I have had the pleasure of doing life with over the last several years.

When I was asked to join my first small group, I was new to my faith and truthfully didn’t understand the concept of a “small group.” I had images of us sitting in a circle singing “Kumbaya.” My initial thought was, “No thanks. I can do this on my own.” But after some time, I decided to join a friend’s small group and was welcomed with open arms. The women were understanding and accepting of my questions about faith and God and my lack of Bible knowledge. I’m now in my second small group and am so thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone and took a leap of faith. Getting involved in small groups has been one of the best decisions of my life.

So to Jenn, Carolyn, Erica, Jessica, Melanie, Susannah, Cameron, Beth, Nicole, Jennifer, and Kelli . . . thank you. Thank you for being on this journey with me and, during the highs and lows of my life, being my rock and a constant reminder of God’s unfailing love. You have helped to shape my life more than you’ll ever know.

I can promise you that life will have ups and downs. So my question to you is, Who’s in your corner to pray for you when times get tough or to celebrate with you when prayers have been answered?

Simply said, life is better in community. Who are you doing life with this year?

Lindsay Price

The hardest part of the whole GroupLink process is deciding to go. But isn’t that true about everything in life . . . the first step is always the hardest. Well, I was going to do it. I was going to join a women’s small group. Now, I am not a girly-girl. I have very few women friends. I don’t particularly like chitchat. But I decided to take a step to join a women’s small group.

At GroupLink, I went into a large room with lots of women. I am always nervous walking alone into these kinds of settings. I was nervous about getting in the right group, but when I saw a leader who was wearing Crocs, I just had a feeling she was to be my leader. I hung around her until another nice woman caught my eye, and I started some small talk. I wanted a group of women to help me with my journey with Christ. I expressed this to the nice woman who had started a conversation with me. She said we needed to be in a group together. She then pointed to the Croc lady and said that she would be our leader.  God had the same plan in mind, as I ended up in a group with the Croc-wearing leader AND nice lady.

I can’t really express through words how much I grew over the next year and a half. We were a diverse group ranging in age from middle 20s to late 40s. Some were married, some were divorced, some were single, and some were dating. We took the first few meetings to tell our stories. I got to know each woman, where they were, where they had been, and where they wanted to be. We had all come from different backgrounds and were at different places in our life experiences. And yet we became a close group of friends who emailed regularly, texted, and tried to meet up to go to church services together.

In this group, I could ask and be asked honest questions, sometimes hard-to-hear questions. I was met with truthful answers and helpful follow-through. I was never any further than a phone call away for support. My relationship with Christ grew as I helped other group members answer questions and navigate through life.

GroupLink states that it can help make a big church seem smaller, and, in my experience, it has. I would see people from my small group, and they would introduce me to their friends, and all of a sudden, I would go to church on Sunday and I knew people. It totally changes your church experience. But, above all, GroupLink helped connect me to some life-long friendships deeply rooted in our relationships with Christ. How cool is that!

Amanda Larkin

I’ve been in small groups since 2001.  I’ve had great experiences and some not so great experiences, but overall, I am very thankful for what God has done to help me grow through being connected to a small group of men.  For anyone who is considering taking a chance on joining a small group, I can’t recommend it enough.  One caveat to note, you will get what you put into it and you have to be intentional about it and the relationships you are blessed with through it.  I’m very thankful for the things I’ve learned through the studies we’ve gone through and the relationships I’ve built. I’m thankful for the men who have challenged me to grow and be better in areas that I was neglecting, who have kept me accountable to being the Godly man I was designed to be, and who have challenged me to grow and accomplish things that I wouldn’t have otherwise done without their encouragement.

Another thing that I’ve learned is to ask yourself what you want to learn and how you want to grow from being in a small group.  Pray to God for guidance on what you should be seeking from a small group and also what you can add to the group. Talk with the guys you meet at GroupLink and make sure everything lines up.  Expect and be ready for bold conversations and challenge each other to be better.  Pick studies that will help you all grow as men and in your relationships with Christ.  I’m excited for you taking this step.  It won’t be an easy road, it requires effort, but you’ll look back 2 years from now and be amazed at what God has accomplished in you and the men with whom you are in small group.

Joshua McAfee

It’s these kinds of things that cause me to stop and think, “Wow. This is really happening.” As Wendy and I have said to each other, we know leaving Buckhead and helping start the Gwinnett campus is the Lord’s will for us.  We are beyond excited about Gwinnett, but it doesn’t make leaving Buckhead any easier.  Buckhead Church has shaped our lives beyond measure and description.  We never thought we would leave here, but the Lord, the staff and the Buckhead Church community have been so gracious to us through these years that we feel it honors your investment in us to help create another church like this in Gwinnett.

As I leave, I want you to know specifically how I will be praying for all of you.  This not-so-short video explains how.  (I was hoping the video would only be five minutes but I got carried away. My bad.)  If you don’t have 24 minutes to watch the video, I hope you will know how deeply grateful I am for your support of me during these eight years.  When I started here, I had no experience at all leading a church. I am not trained to do this.  I am, after all, a marketing guy.  But you never let that stop you in supporting and following me.  This amazes and humbles me every time I think about it.

Thousands upon thousands of people have been impacted by the Lord’s work through you all, both in Buckhead and in places around the world.  Among those thousands that you have touched are Jeff, Wendy, Jesse and Cole.  The Hendersons are forever thankful and will continue to pray for you all.  In fact, here’s how:

If you weren’t able to be with this, we captured a view photos for you to enjoy.  Thank you for being the kind of church that makes stories like these possible.  Please continue to pray for the men and women of Atlanta Mission and My Sister’s House, and the incredible work being done there.

Merry Christmas!!

Jeff