The Quiet Ministry That Transforms Lives

At St John’s, our vision is to see our city transformed by the hope of the risen Christ. This happens as we GROW as disciples of Jesus, LOVE others like Jesus and TELL the world about Jesus.

The core place where we see GROW happen in the life of our church is in our weekly Growth Groups (hence the name!). Growth Groups are not the optional extra for the super-keen Christian, but they are at the core of being a member at St. John’s and fundamental for our vision.

But please don’t just take my word for it. Instead, let’s hear from two of our Growth Group leaders about why they love the ministry of Growth Groups and see it as vital:

“We are members of the 5.30 congregation and are leading a Growth Group of young adults. We have been leading Growth Groups together since 1980. It is a truly satisfying work as we have seen God do so much in the lives of so many men and women.

I think one story summarises rather nicely all that we have experienced in Growth Group ministry.

This story started in Wollongong where we were both working, living and were members of a church. We were leading a Growth Group for parents with young children. The group had been going for some time when a new couple came to visit and they stayed and connected with the group. We were disappointed a year or so later when their work transferred them to Singapore.

We did however, have the opportunity a couple of years later to drop in and visit them in Singapore. They invited us to have dinner with them and told us that they would pick us up and take us out.

They took us to a four-star restaurant (to our amazement). After a while, we asked about why we were at such a high-end venue.

They asked, "Don't you know the significance of tonight? It is our tenth wedding anniversary".

"Hang on" we said, "If this is your wedding anniversary, we should be at your place looking after the kids while you two go out together."

Their reply truly moved us and excited us.

"We want you two here because if it wasn't for you two leading the Growth Group in Wollongong and the love of the rest of the group, we would not be married now. We were at the point of divorce when we joined that Growth Group."

This is what Growth Groups can do. We share the Word of God. We share love and support. We see God using His people to do His work of restoring His relationship with His people and growing people in their spiritual maturity - which includes rebuilding marriages.

And then... they told us how they were now leading the family ministry at their church in Singapore. They were using the very same model that they saw in Wollongong. And then another couple of years later... their work transferred them to New York and they began leading the family ministry in their church there, and they used the model they saw in Wollongong again.

So that funny little Growth Group in Wollongong has generated spiritual fruit in Wollongong and in Singapore and in New York, and who knows where else?

So, if you were to ask us, "Is Growth Group ministry worthwhile?" Our answer is ABSOLUTELY!!!!.”

- Ross and Anne, Growth Group leaders from the 5.30pm congregation

If you are not currently in a Growth Group but would like to join one in 2026, please speak with your congregational pastor.

Jaison Jacob
Associate Minister