Week One: Welcome & Testimony Night

Purpose of the Night

This first gathering is about connection and story sharing. We want everyone to feel welcome, heard, and known as we begin this journey together. Tonight sets the stage for the weeks to come by building trust, sharing testimonies, and laying a foundation of community in Jesus.

Flow of the Evening

1. Meal & Fellowship (30 min)

  • Gather at the leader’s home (recommended for week one).

  • Share a meal together.

  • Use this time for relaxed conversation, help people feel comfortable and connected.

2. Welcome & Vision (10 min)

  • Leader shares a warm welcome and a brief explanation of what these groups are about:

    • A place for growth in Jesus.

    • A place to live in community.

    • A place to be transformed as we walk together.

At OPCC, we do discipleship to hear and obey Jesus together, equipping every believer to love others, share the Gospel, and multiply disciples so God’s Kingdom is advanced in our world.

  • Hint at the weeks ahead: “In the coming weeks we’ll be diving into Scripture together, praying for one another, and practicing obedience to Jesus. But tonight, it’s all about sharing our stories.”

3. Story Sharing (45 min)

  • Invite each person to share their story. Encourage honesty and vulnerability.

    • Their life journey (family, background, big life events).

    • Their faith journey (when/how they met Jesus, or what brought them to Him).

    • Their current season (what God is doing right now, or where they are struggling).

  • Encourage listening with love and respect.

  • Remind the group: no one’s story is “too small” or “too messy.” Every story glorifies God.

4. Group Prayer (20 min)

  • After everyone has shared, close by praying for one another.

  • Acknowledge gratitude for the stories and journeys shared.

  • Pray that God would knit this group together as family in Christ.

  • Pray over the group’s future weeks of studying Scripture and living as disciples.

Leader Reminders

  • Set the tone: participation, safety, and openness.

  • Keep the atmosphere warm and encouraging, tonight is not about teaching, but about listening.

  • Be sensitive to time, but don’t rush, stories are the heart of the night.

  • End by reminding the group that these gatherings are about Jesus transforming us together.

Every story matters because every life matters to Jesus. As we share, listen, and pray, God is already shaping us into the community He wants us to be, a city of transformation.