In-Person Sundays @ 8:30AM, 10:00AM, 11:45AM
4812 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby BC Canada
Life Groups
By type / age
A Christ-centred community is foundational to helping us mature as followers of Christ. Life Groups are a way for you to connect in a small group setting, build meaningful relationships, and grow your faith in a supportive environment.
Life Groups
A life group is the perfect place for you to build meaningful relationships and grow your faith in an intimate and supportive environment. It will help you engage and unpack the message from Sunday, and is a safe place to ask questions as you grow in spiritual maturity. You’ll also have the opportunity to serve alongside each other, support one another in difficult times, and share the love of Christ both locally and abroad.
How Important Are Life Groups?
We consider Life Groups the heart of Willingdon’s ministry. They are the place where we can grow spiritually, encourage and support each other, and challenge each other in positive ways. God doesn’t want any of us to walk alone – we need each other.
What Is A Life Group?
A Life Group is made up of 6 or more people who meet weekly to study and apply the Bible, pray, share our lives, and serve others so that we are equipped to live on mission for Jesus Christ. Each group is led by a trained leader and hopefully a co-leader. A typical meeting lasts for an hour and a half, whether in-person or online. It’s a community to share and do life together.
Look for a Group
Interested in joining a group? Check out our list of groups. You can sort by city, stage of life, and language to help you find a group that fits.
After finding a few groups that you like, email our Groups Coordinator and we will place you. (Please Note: All groups are listed as closed by default, but you can still join the group. Please email the Groups Coordinator to Join.)
If you aren't sure which group is right for you, please contact our coordinator and let them know what you are looking for, and we will help you find a good fit!
Life Group FAQ
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We have many groups to choose from. Some are based on “seasons in life,” while others are “mixed adult groups” and have people in all stages of life. You are welcome to sign up for a group that best suits you.
Once you are in a group, it takes time to develop relationships in a group and that can rarely be done in just 2-3 weeks, so we encourage you to commit to attending that group for the whole season to see how it fits for you.
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Joining a Life Group requires a 9-10 week commitment to attend the weekly meetings. Allowances are made for sickness, vacation, work conflicts, and other special events… but not much else! We have found that the commitment to attending every week is key to building and maintaining strong relationships and healthy groups.
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Most Life Groups meet year-round with the leader deciding when to take breaks. Some groups plan their breaks around the three seasons in a year: Fall, Winter, and Spring.
At the end of each year or season, you have the choice of staying in the same group, trying a new group, or even taking a break. Most groups stay together for the whole year. Please let your leader know if you are leaving the group.
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With the online option, it’s easier than ever to join a Life Group. If in-person groups are happening, we encourage parents to consider arranging for childcare at home. Sometimes it works best for families to share a sitter or to swap childcare with another family whose group meets on a different evening or time.
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Most Life Groups follow the sermon series using the Life Groups sermon series study questions. If you imagine the weekend sermon as a lecture on Christian living, then the group meeting is like a lab where you get to discuss how the sermon works out in your real life. There are also some groups that are doing topical studies of their choice.
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Life Groups meet on various days and nights of the week in homes throughout Burnaby and Greater Vancouver.
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Church-wide online signup takes place in September and January. Online signup is available throughout the year for groups that still have spaces while in session.
If you would like to get involved before the next signup, please contact Pastor Brad.
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Life Groups are a key tool in what Willingdon calls the “Discipleship Pathway.” We use the metaphor of outdoor adventure to describe how we learn and grow in our faith. Like hiking, life can have hard or easy moments, but is much more fun when done in a group with others!
Start a Group
Do you feel called to start a group? Apply now to become a leader.
Leaders’ Corner
Already leading a Life Group? Check out our resources and sign up for leader updates.