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Dawn and Robbie Walker care about their neighbors. During weekly get-togethers at the Walkers' home in Lakeland, Florida, they've gotten to know their neighbors' likes and dislikes, spiritual beliefs, and personal stories.

The idea for the regular gathering came from their church. Church of the Highlands (lakelandhighlands.org) emphasizes "small church families," a concept that serves not only to deepen relationships among members, but also to reach the unchurched in a personal manner.

More than just small-group Bible studies, small church families provide an ongoing network of relationships for new and growing Christians.

"There is a reason Jesus' disciples met in homes from the very beginning," explains training pastor Robert Beckman.

Small churches don't start their meeting with a song, nor end with a benediction. These fellowships of 6-10 people may start out with conversation around the dinner table or a backyard barbecue. Laughter and stories are shared as they talk over life's challenges or daily bungles, something not as easily done in the rush of a Sunday church service, which Highlands calls "big church."

As they bond and study the Bible together, the groups become a spiritual family, where members identify and cultivate their unique gifts, such as hospitality or wisdom.

Beckman says that maturing process is more difficult in a big church format, where sometimes only the public gifts, such as leadership or teaching, are acknowledged and developed.

In home church families, each person is expected to learn directly from Scripture and share their insights.

"Robbie and I aren't Bible scholars," Dawn Walker says. "We were worried about that at first, but then we thought, 'We're just here to keep the group on time.'"

"Each small church family is every bit a church," says lead pastor Hal Haller. "We want them to be missional in reaching out their neighbors, whether or not they ever come to a Sunday morning gathering."

While big church can be a place for people to check out God at a safe distance, Highlands doesn't want visitors to feel like they have to join its programs in order to connect with Christ.

"If they have time to participate in only one thing, I tell them it should be the small church group because that is their family," Beckman says.

One couple who live near the Walkers decided to attend big church after joining the Walkers' small church family gathering.

"They said they would never go to church with their neighbors because they were afraid we'd be watching to see if they were attending regularly or not," Dawn Walker says. "I guess they changed their minds."

Following the launch of Highlands' regular "big church" Sunday gathering in Lakeland, Haller and other leaders began walking nearby neighborhoods to pray over every home. Leaders then found families willing to open their homes for small neighborhood gatherings.

During the first 24 months of its life, Church of the Highlands planted 30 small church families. At the 20-month mark, it sent 70 of its people to start a satellite church, Church of the Highlands at Four Corners, which likewise is planting small church families in its own community.

Now they're training leaders for a church plant in Daytona.

Highlands' vision is to birth a small church family in every neighborhood throughout Central Florida.

"Our message is that God wants to jump into your world," Beckman says. "Our goal is not so much to become big, but to multiply and make disciples."

Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.
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