REACH GROUPS

In a world with so many questions, only one matters: DO YOU BELIEVE?

Based on the major motion picture, this all-church REACH GROUP will challenge us to examine what we know to be true, and then live out our faith by sharing the life-changing message of the cross with others who may not believe…….YET.

BONUS WEEK: We’re kicking off this four-session study with a BONUS MOVIE NIGHT on Tues, Sept 3rd at 6:30PM. NOTE: This film is rated PG-13 and is DOVE-approved for ages 12+. Childcare is NOT available on movie night.

In a world with so many questions, only one matters: DO YOU BELIEVE?

Based on the major motion picture, this all-church REACH GROUP will challenge us to examine what we know to be true, and then live out our faith by sharing the life-changing message of the cross with others who may not believe…….YET.

(Childcare and REACH GROUPS for children and teens are available during this four-session study.)

BONUS WEEK: We’re kicking off this four-session study with a BONUS POPCORN & MOVIE NIGHT on Wed, Sept 4th at 6:30PM. NOTE: This film is rated PG-13 and is DOVE-approved for ages 12+. Childcare is NOT available on movie night.

Each week in REACH YOUTH, teens go deeper into the Word of God developing a more personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. REACH YOUTH is also an outlet for teens to fellowship with one another, strengthen relationships and grow in their spiritual journey. NOTE: This REACH GROUP is for 6th-12th grade students only.

Jesus is the Son of God. From before time began, Jesus sat at His rightful place at the right hand of God, the Father. He had a perfect home in Heaven with everything He could ever want or need.

Then, one day Jesus followed God’s direction and left Heaven to come to Earth. He came ON A MISSION. He had a specific plan to seek and save the lost people of Earth. He lived and worked for 33 years to accomplish that mission piece by piece.

In this series, the children are going to learn all about the mission Jesus was on. They are going to learn WHY He came, then learn WHY He left. Jesus left in order to leave us a powerful Helper in the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can accomplish a MISSION of our own – the Great Commission!

After dedicating your life to Jesus Christ, what’s next on the journey? Discipleship!

Discipleship Explored goes beyond simply teaching the right moves – go to church, pray, read the Bible, share the gospel – and focuses on the music which drives discipleship: the love of Christ. The greatest love anyone can ever know.

Discipleship Explored has been crafted to help followers of Jesus discover the joy, unity, righteousness and love which are theirs in Christ.

This small group study journeys through Paul’s letter to the Philippians and will help believers, young and old…new and seasoned, to discover the greatest love anyone could ever know, and how to live as disciples of Christ Jesus today. NOTE: This group meets for a continental breakfast before the study begins. This eight-session study ends on Sun, Nov 24th. A new group will begin in December.

In this REACH GROUP, we will discover how God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things and the process by which He molds men and women for His purposes. We’ll learn the six conditions that God looks for in the lives of people He uses: a dislocated heart, broken spirit, radical faith, strategic plan, personal commitment, and a courageous soul.

This REACH GROUP is for individuals who are interested in participating in global & home missions and other forms of community outreach. Days & times will vary. By registering for this REACH GROUP, you will be included in communication on upcoming missions activities. NOTE: This group meets weekly for planning sessions and continues past the semester.

Beth Moore considers Breaking Free her life message. This in-depth Bible study leads you through Isaiah 61:1-4 to discover the transforming power of Christian freedom by drawing parallels between the captive Israelites and the spiritual strongholds in our lives. This study includes testimonies from women who have found freedom from their personal captivity. No matter what life stage you’re in or struggles you’re going through, if where you are isn’t where you want to be, don’t stay there. Break free! NOTE: This is a two-part journey that will continue into the Winter semester. This REACH GROUP is for women only.

There is grace for family members and friends walking alongside loved ones with mental health challenges like bipolar disorder, major depression, persistent depressive disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, disorders associated with addictions, dual diagnosis and the like.

This REACH GROUP provides peer support, biblical and neuroscience insights, as well as practical tools for family members and friends of people with any mental illness.

If you have family members or friends who are struggling with their mental health journey, this group is for you. You are not alone.

NOTE: This support group meets weekly and is led by trained Family to Family NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) facilitators, not mental health professionals.

MidWeek in Mount Vernon presents Forgotten God. In the name of the Father, the Son, and…the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of all three, but how often do we live with an awareness of only the first two? As Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Helper—so that we could be true and living witnesses for Christ. Unfortunately, today’s church has admired the gift but neglected to open it. Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of the church’s power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and we are reaping the disastrous results. Thorough scriptural support and compelling narrative form Chan’s invitation to stop and remember the One we’ve forgotten, the Spirit of the living God. NOTE: This REACH GROUP meets on the Mount Vernon campus and will be led by various guest facilitators.

James had a unique earthly relationship with Jesus, but his letter clarifies what the Christian life should look like for us all. The Book of James is filled with practical wisdom for Christians, calling us to live out genuine faith through good works, but it is also rooted in rich theology. Perhaps more than any other book in the New Testament, James emphasizes the application of Christian belief.

This REACH GROUP examines the core message of James: the relationship between faith and works. In our own ability, we cannot stand in the face of adversity. Without faith we could never find the strength to trust God. We would never be able to see above the trials we meet and to keep our eyes focused on the King while counting our trials as joy. This is the essence of James. We don’t work to be saved; we work because we are saved. Faith apart from works can never be sustained. NOTE: This is a two-part journey that began in the Spring semester and continues into the Fall semester. However, participants can jump on-board at any time. This REACH GROUP is for men only.

Do you feel that the ability to hear God’s voice is for other people and not for you? Is it only for people who lived in Biblical times?

Not at all! The God who loved you enough to die for you loves you enough to talk to you. And wherever you are in your spiritual walk, God will find a way to speak to you in a way you will understand.

Become acquainted with the Voice that has spoken from a fire and a cloud, with visible signs and an invisible Spirit, through a burning bush and burning hearts. Hear from some of the most well known Christians in history about how God speaks to them, and discover for yourself how you can discern the voice of God.

NOTE: This REACH GROUP is for women only.

Most parents want their kids to be successful. However, there’s something even better than success. It’s called TRUE GREATNESS! Based on his book, Raising Kids for True Greatness, Dr. Tim Kimmel turns the definition of success on its head and guides us in preparing our children for a life that will easily eclipse the goals of those who are merely successful.

Together, we’ll discover how to raise our kids the way God raises His – with grace! We’ll learn how to build a lifelong connection to our children’s hearts, focusing on the things that really matter to our children’s future. And we’ll gain the confidence and skills to raise kids who flourish in their culture and live their lives for True Greatness. NOTE: This REACH GROUP is for parents.

After dedicating your life to Jesus Christ, what’s next on the journey? Discipleship!

Discipleship Explored goes beyond simply teaching the right moves – go to church, pray, read the Bible, share the gospel – and focuses on the music which drives discipleship: the love of Christ. The greatest love anyone can ever know.

Discipleship Explored has been crafted to help followers of Jesus discover the joy, unity, righteousness and love which are theirs in Christ.

This small group study journeys through Paul’s letter to the Philippians and will help believers, young and old…new and seasoned, to discover the greatest love anyone could ever know, and how to live as disciples of Christ Jesus today. NOTE: This group meets for a light meal before the study begins.

Everyone desires a deep, meaningful connection with others. Everyone. But to mentor or be mentored in the Christian context can change the course of your life. Something powerful happens when you do life with someone in a position to spiritually lead and influence you — or when you do the same for others.

Mentoring is a one-on-one relational discipleship model where one growing believer encourages and equips another to REACH his or her potential as a disciple. Drawing from Biblical examples like Jesus and His disciples and Paul and Timothy, we will examine the life-transforming process of a mentoring relationship.

This REACH GROUP is both a practical and spiritual guide to Biblical mentoring, providing easy-to-model life application for how to have and be a mentor.

Come out for a night of health & self-defense with Marlon Pilossoph; graduate of a martial arts institute and owner & operator of a self-defense school. In this REACH GROUP, participants will strengthen their core, develop balance and learn self-defense techniques using various methods of martial arts. Participants will practice slow movements that will improve physical strength, balance, coordination, focus and can reduce stress by learning how to stay calm, even in a self-defense situation. Participants should wear loose clothing and sneakers.

We all long for our father’s approval. Whether our earthly fathers were the best, the worst, or somewhere in between, they fell short. All fathers do. And whatever our experience was, we’re not alone. No matter how amazing, absent, abusive, or empowering our fathers were, they couldn’t hand down a perfect blessing to us. No father can. Yet the primary way Scripture reveals God to us is as a Father.

In this REACH GROUP, we’ll be introduced to the breakthrough possibility that regardless of life’s circumstances, a perfect father-to-child relationship can be ours when we follow God through Jesus Christ.

Our relationship with God is a BIG adventure! Each week in KIDSQuest, elementary students collect the keys to unlock the greatest treasure, a relationship with Jesus Christ. We share this quest together as we explore biblical truths and put them into practice. Kids will be equipped with the Armor of God to navigate this journey and combat the ways of the world with the sword of the spirit, the Word of God. NOTE: This group is for kindergarten -5th grade students only.

Each week in REACH TEENS, 6th-12th graders will go deeper into the Word of God developing a more personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. REACH TEENS is also an outlet for teens to fellowship with one another, strengthen relationships and grow in their spiritual journey. NOTE: This group is for 6th-12th grade students only.

Intercessory prayer is prayer for others. An intercessor is one who takes the place of another or pleads another’s case. Jesus Christ is our model for intercessory prayer. In John 17, He stood before God and interceded for us. He still intercedes for us today and He invites us to enter into that partnership for others. This REACH GROUP is devoted to learning about prayer from God’s Word and spending time praying and interceding together.

In 2 Tim 2:15 it says, “Study to show thyself approved by God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing and accurately dissecting the word of truth.”

In this REACH GROUP, we will discover different tools to effectively study the Word of God. These tools include Textual Studies, Topical Studies, Expository Studies, Bible Character Studies and an examination of the context of the time, the culture and the chronological history of the scriptures.

Together, let’s become noble Bereans who diligently study the Word and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” What is prayer? Why do we need to pray? If God is all-knowing, what is the power in prayer? Why does it seem like God answers some prayers, but not others? These are just some of the questions surrounding the topic of prayer.

Prayer is more than just asking; it’s abiding in and connecting with the One who loves us perfectly. Understanding prayer and walking an effective prayer life is transformative in the life of a believer.

In this REACH GROUP, we will develop a greater understanding of the true essence of prayer. Come and let’s explore prayer together so that we may live a life of greater intimacy with Jesus! NOTE: This REACH GROUP meets in a home in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.

The Book of Hebrews is a direct connection to the Old Testament that outlines the superiority of Jesus Christ and He being the incarnate Word. We are given a detailed understanding of Melchizedek; the great high priest. Hebrews teaches that our faith should be unswerving allowing us to endure and persevere by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. This is the essence of Hebrews. The believer’s spiritual life should be one of obedience to God’s Word, embracing God’s training through discipline. In this REACH Group, participants will gain a more in-depth understanding of our great salvation through the superior ministry of Jesus.

Comprendiendo el libro de Santiago.

Estudiaremos la epístola de Santiago, el hermano de nuestro Señor. El libro de Santiago es la más practica de todas las epístolas, y ha recibido el título de “Guía Practica para la Vida y la Conducta Christiana.”

Estudiaremos en detalle los siguientes temas:

1. La Fe vence a La Tentación
2. La Fe evidenciada en Nuestras Acciones
3. La Fe manifestada en Las Palabras
4. La Fe manifestada en La Pureza de Caracter
5. La Fe manifestada en La Vida de Oración

NOTA: Este grupo es para participantes que hablan español.

Tudo tem um ponto de partida – sua vida, seus relacionamentos, sua educação, sua carreira.

Às vezes esquecemos que a fé também tem um ponto de partida. Para alguns de nós, nossas jornadas de fé começaram na infância como um conjunto de crenças que nos foram transmitidas por um pai, professor ou pastor. Talvez você tenha desenvolvido uma estrutura de fé baseada na experiência pessoal. Ou talvez você não tivesse fé alguma. Muitas vezes, uma fé formada na infância não é forte o suficiente para suportar as pressões da vida adulta.

Mas e se você pudesse encontrar um novo ponto de partida para a fé? Se você é novo na fé, curioso sobre Deus, ou voltando à igreja depois de algum tempo longe, é um lugar onde suas opiniões e crenças são valorizadas, e nenhuma pergunta está fora dos limites.

NOTA: Este grupo é para participantes que falam português.

The Book of Hebrews offers encouragement and hope to believers while giving a fresh perspective on Jesus and providing spiritual refreshment for the soul. The context of the original audience indicates that these early followers of Jesus were contemplating abandoning their faith, so the writer of Hebrews exhorts them to trust in Jesus in the midst of persecution and hard times. These words are just as faithful and true for believers today!

This small group is for young adults who want to grow closer to God and His Word, together! We’ll spend the first hour getting to know each other over wings or pizza, then we’ll get into the Word and our small group discussion.

NOTE: This group is for young adults who are out of high school, as well as into their 30’s. Although this group will usually meet on the White Plains Campus (multipurpose room), it may occasionally meet at a local wing or pizza place. Each week there will be a small cost to cover the meals. Weekly email/text updates will be provided to those who register.

Filet Mignon, NY Strip, Ribeyes, Venison, Lamb Chops, Pork Loin, Stuffed Chicken, Kabobs, Sausage Meats…even Rabbit! This is not your Burgers & Dogs BBQ.

This REACH GROUP is a fellowship group for men who love to eat meat! Once a month, men are invited to an awesome backyard grill or an excursion to a specialty restaurant on Arthur Avenue, Flushing, Astoria or Westchester County and a time of great fellowship!

Days & times will vary, but outings will typically be on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon. Costs per meal will be $10-25, depending on the venue.

By registering for this REACH GROUP, you will be included in emails updating the group on upcoming venues. There is no pressure to attend every outing. This is simply an opportunity for men to enjoy food & fellowship. Male friends and family members are invited to join as well. NOTE: This group is for men only. Opportunities for outings will continue past the semester.