"JOURNEY GROUPS" are in essence, Journey Church.  We describe ourselves as a church 'of' small groups, not just a church 'with' small groups.  In our experience in church settings we have come to know that it is possible for a person to attend church for many years and never change.  How can that happen?  Simple. Church becomes a thing that you do each Sunday, barely getting there on time and leaving as soon as the service ends, making little connection with those around you.  At Journey, we believe that connecting with others who are ‘journeying’ with God will help you grow to your fullest potential.

JOURNEY GROUPS meet for a specific purpose.  We really believe that lives can be transformed through purposeful time together.  Each group spends time in Bible study, prayer, sharing their lives, and just plain fun.  As the group spends more and more time together, deep relationships form and members of the group begin to serve one another.  There are countless ways that a group begins to serve one another whether it be helping a member of the group who becomes ill, helping a family relocate, or even preparing a meal for a brand new mom.

What are Journey Groups?  Small groups of people that meet weekly and are joined together by common interests, gender, age, season of life, topic of interest, or even by schedule availability.  Each group contains at least five or six people and could have as many as eighteen to twenty. 

Why do we do Journey Groups?  We believe to accomplish the mission that Jesus gave us, we can do it most effectively using the tool of small groups within our church.  It would be impossible for the pastor or group of pastors to meet all the needs of those who call Journey Church their home.  The scriptures present the model of pastors equipping others to do the work of the ministry, namely, to invest their lives in the lives of others.  In moving people into small groups, the ability to minister becomes more manageable and effective. 

Why should I get into a Journey Group?  Simply put, people need people to reach their fullest potential in Christ.  If you didn't need others, God would have never said, "It is not good for man to be alone . . . "  Even with a perfect relationship with God in the perfect setting, Adam was alone and God saw that it was not good.  God created you as a relational being and your faith is enhanced in the context of relationships.  At Journey, we are intentional about helping you reach your fullest potential in Christ so we will constantly be encouraging you to plug into a group. 

When do groups meet? Right now we have groups that meet on every day of the week except Friday and Saturday.

Where do groups meet?  At Journey we have divided the Raleigh area into eight different regions or zones around the city.  You can select a group near your home or drive to any group around the city.  To locate a group near you, please use the request form and someone will contact you to point you in the right direction.  You can also stop by the Journey Group Table on Sunday mornings for more information.

How long do they last?  Each individual weekly meeting lasts between 11/2 to 2 hours in length.  Journey Groups also run on a semester schedule as follows:

Semester One:  Second week of January to Last week of June
Semester Two:  First week of August to Third week of December

What do they do when they meet?  Every group is different but each group has the components of communicating biblical principles, praying for one another, and just hanging out and having fun doing life together.  Outside of group nights, the groups meet for dinner parties, service projects, and social events.

How do I get in a group?  All of our groups are open groups which means, you can get into a group anytime you want.  You can tag along with a friend to their group, fill out the request form on our web site, or stop by the Journey Group table to seek help in finding a group.  For additional questions or needs, contact Lisa Bauer at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or Paul Crouthamel at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

What if the group is not a good fit?  Try another group!  Our desire is that you find the right place in which you can connect with God and others.  Don’t feel any pressure to remain in a place where that isn’t happening for you.