1993 A Peep Into A Care Group
Focus on a Living Part of the PLMC Family
Caroline Chai
A "pioneer" student in the Young Adult Bible Class
After a long day, I found myself in a dimly lit corridor in church, waiting to interview Roger and Jenny Lee's Care Group. Just when I had given up the evening as a total loss, I turned to see a small petite lady strolling towards me. Her impish, round face soon came into focus and she had a bright smile which somehow found a way into her eyes. As she approached me, she quite unexpectedly unleashed a lethal cocktail of a "hi!" mixed with laughter and "plonked" herself on the sofa next to me. I was soon to find out that Jenny's easy-going nature and ready laughter are not just confined to her but are also a peculiar characteristic of the Care Group she leads with her husband, Roger.
The rather extroverted group met in the library at 8pm on Thursdays. They are always willing to welcome new people to the group. One of their objectives is to multiply like a "cancerous cell". Once the group reached a size of 15, they would split into two groups and the process would be continued by these two new groups. In other words, one group will become two and then four and then eight and so on. In this way, they hope to spread the "fires of revival" within the Church and that God might use them mightily. In preparation, they have begun a series of tapes as well as increased emphasis in the areas of prayer and worship.
The group obviously rejoices in each other's company as each arriving person is greeted with a significant increase in laughter. This readiness to talk and laugh is probably a spill over from their willingness to share their lives with each other. For as Sharon says, "The sharing and testimony of the other members helped me most."
The group certainly lives up to its name as a Care Group as it is not just the leaders who care for the group but it is also the group which cares for the leaders. When the group was first formed one and a half years ago, Roger and Jenny were facing a period of transition in their careers. The group was a major support in the couple's period of adjustment.
The group's concern and prayers for them helped them through a difficult period. Now, the group gives them joy in a different way. The growth in the members' desire to know God more and the fact that they feel refreshed after each meeting are a source of encouragement for Roger and Jenny.
Whatever their various reasons are for joining the group, be it to learn more or for accountability or for a consistent Bible study, they all agree that sharing and caring are the main ingredients in their group. From the observer's stand-point, their sharing and caring need not be spelt out in words because these qualities are already exemplified in the way they live.
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