UPDATE: Sign-ups have closed. If you missed out, please get in touch with us at maturity@hunterbiblechurch.org

Joining a group

Early sign-ups this year

If you’re heading to HBC City or HBC Garden Suburb in 2024, we’d love to invite you to sign up to a Growth Group now, so they can begin well next year.

We’re opening Growth Group registrations early this year in anticipation of the major changes happening for church in 2024. We think this will best love people by giving you extra time to get to know your new group as you get to know your new church family.

This allows for more time to connect over the summer and build relationships, so that your group is healthy for launching in February 2024 and ready to welcome new people.

Unichurch will hold Growth Group sign-ups in February as usual.

Important information for joining

  • Group preferences: The sign-up form allows you to specify your group preferences and highlight factors that are important to you.

  • Sign-up period: Please note that it's not a first-come, first-served system. We will open sign-ups for a two-week window from Monday, 23 October and then carefully organise and assign groups. From Tuesday, 7th November the forms will remain open but options will be limited to available groups.

  • Group formation period: Our team will be collecting responses and assembling groups throughout October and November 2023.

  • Group leader contact: Expect to hear from your 2024 group leader in November once the groups have been finalised. They will provide you with all the details you need to get started.

  • Group start date: Mark your calendars! Groups are scheduled to commence during the week of Monday, 5th February, 2024.

  • Join church before joining a group: If you’d like to join a group but you haven't yet completed the Connect Series, we encourage you to do so. At HBC, we’re committed to helping people join church well. We firmly believe that the Connect Series is the ideal way to connect into our church community, which helps you commit to a Growth Group well. Find out more about the Connect Series here.

  • Going Deeper Groups included: We've also included Senior Youth Going Deeper Group sign-ups here as well so your family can decide together how to commit to groups next year.

  • Support: We know signing up to a new group can be an anxious time. Our team is here to support you through this process. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns growthgroups@hunterbiblechurch.org

 

About Growth Groups

Growth Groups are weekly small groups where members of HBC dig into the Bible, pray and care for each other under the leadership of mature Christians. For many people at HBC, being a part of a Growth Group is one of the best experiences in their Christian life.

As Peter says, we want to be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Committing to a Growth Group is a great way to do this.

We look forward to another year of growing together in groups to be more like Christ!

 

Growth Group Infographic

Find a one-page overview of what Growth Groups are all about.

View infographic
 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A Newish group is for people who are new to HBC this year (or returning after a while). These groups will start the year with the Connect Series then morph into regular groups.

  • Some of our Growth Groups are known as Large Groups (aka Extra-Large Groups or Super Groups). These groups have the same purpose as our regular groups and are led by trusted leaders, but they are made up of around 20-25 people rather than the usual 8-12.

    The benefits of being part of a large group are being able to get to know more people and having the chance to learn in different ways. For example, groups can study the Bible as a large group, sub-groups or triplets. A large group is worth trying out if you can.

  • It can be tough to manage both people getting to a group in this situation. If you're keen to be in a group together getting a regular babysitter is a good investment if you can afford it. Sometimes family members are happy to help out (if they're around). If possible you might be able to arrange work commitments so that the mum in the family can get to Women's Growth Group. Alternating weeks is convenient but has the drawback of effectively halving your group time (or more with sickness/travel etc). That's a lot of learning and relationship building to miss out on over the year.

    Another idea is going out on different nights (a Monday and a Tuesday). This has worked well for some couples. See the testimonial below:

    “Being in a separate growth group to my spouse hasn't really been an issue for either of us. I've been fortunate to be in a series of men's groups with godly guys dedicated to encouraging one another. It's allowed me to talk about and wrestle with some very specific issues that men struggle with in living a life of faith. This has allowed for conversations about helpful topics that would be more difficult to talk about in a mixed group. In terms of the practicalities, we just make sure kids have had dinner, baths, finished homework and tidied up before 7:30 while both of us are still on deck (works pretty well most nights). It's become part of our routine for other weeknights as well and the kids don't know any different. The spouse that stays home usually appreciates time to do something that they would like to do while the other is at Growth Group eg read, complete a work task, watch a program the other isn't into etc. One particular advantage of being in separate Growth Groups is that as a couple, we connect with more families and individuals than we would if we were in the same group together.” — Dave, Newy am

    “Going to two evening groups is the only way that we could both do growth groups. Non-work days didn't coincide with Tues or Thurs women's groups. One year, Thursday was the only home day I had with my daughter so I wanted to be able to take it slow and hang out with her. We don't host or lead, and don't want to pay for a babysitter so we go to separate evening groups. When Ben's out I put the girls to bed, sometimes that takes all night! Will cook the following nights dinner, do some ironing whilst watching a TV show that Ben doesn't like.” — Mel, Newy am

    In the long term, some couples enjoy taking on the challenge of leading and hosting together. If that interests you for future years then please come and speak with one of your pastors.

  • If your preferences change while the form is still open, you can just submit another form. Otherwise email maturity@hunterbiblechurch.org

  • We'd love to have loads of people in groups but we're also keen for people to join well. At HBC we think the best way into any of our groups is through doing the Connect Series with us. Come and speak with the team at the Connect Point or head to the Connect Series page to find out more. Find out more about the Connect Series here.

  • Yes. It's fine to change your mind or leave a group if that's the best thing.

  • Both options are good. Continuing with the same leaders/group allows you to build on the relationships you've made in the previous year. Choosing a new group allows you to meet new people and encourage them. You can chat to your leaders or pastors if you're not sure.

  • Our Going Deeper Groups are Growth Groups for Senior Youth. We've included GDG sign-up options here as well so your family can decide together how to commit to groups for 2024.

  • If you don’t see your question on the list, feel free to email us at maturity@hunterbiblechurch.org or talk to your previous Growth Group leader or one of the pastors at church. They'd love to help!