It is with great pleasure we introduce you to one of our newest community group leaders, Ryan Duckworth and the Downtown Tacoma community group.

Hi I am Ryan Duckworth and I lead the Downtown Tacoma CG. Pastor Sam and Dave Harris asked me to share with you all what community has meant to me, along with where I see our group going. Our group launched a little less than two months ago with 5 of us from the Enchanted Parkway group.  We share a common desire to see community groups, and eventually, a Mars Hill campus in Tacoma.

I met my roommate Rick just this last October at that CG.
I nearly killed him the next day hiking up to Camp Muir, but quickly found friendship and common ground in Jesus Christ, along with a desire to be used in ministry. At the time I had already begun apprenticing in the Enchanted Parkway CG. Rick had just moved back from Orlando and I was in a 1BR apartment in Fife.
We were both looking for a roommate and a new place to live – preferably somewhere urban and fun. We started looking at Tacoma and praying for God to lead us to a location ripe for God’s redeeming work. We ended up at one of the first places we had noticed and written off as too expensive. The current economy and some move-in specials made it work – allowing us to be right in downtown Tacoma and just a minute or two off of I-705, easy access for locals/commuters and walking distance to all of downtown. We moved in December 30, 2009.

We thought starting a community group would take months to do but we resolved ourselves that our efforts were fruitless and we would trust in God’s timing and design. We prayed together regularly that Jesus would build his church and for the humility and unselfishness to give of our resources to help make it happen. That’s when our eyes were opened to the people around us, friendships that had been growing with others who lived in or near downtown Tacoma. At first we started meeting together the 5 of us for dinner, asking challenging questions of what it would look like to be the “core” of this community group and praying for God’s guidance – for Him to place a burden on our hearts to live out gospel community and to love the city around us. More and more people started showing up out of the woodwork that wanted to know more about Jesus or were looking for fellowship with other believers but for one reason or another weren’t willing to join another community knowing that one was about to start in Tacoma. Rick and I were conflicted with not wanting to rush anything but wanting to reach out and serve these people God was bringing into our lives. Providence came one week in late January when Pastor Sam and Carol Choi were going to be out of town and suggested that Mark Steeds and I lead the group in different locations that night. January 27^th was our first CG and I had no idea what to expect. 9 people showed up that night who have, since then, been an incredible blessing in my life and I think in each others lives. I was amazed right away at how quickly the group meshed and was willing to share – it can only be attributed to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Over the last 7 weeks our group has grown to just over 20 people. Each week someone shares their testimony and we share together in the joy of God’s grace and regeneration in our lives. We celebrate the wonderful gift of conviction and confession, because God has written his Word on our hearts, and how God repairs our relationships and gives us the desire to pray for, and serve one another.

Maybe my favorite night of our short two months together was on Valentines Day. Rick had been planning to propose to his girlfriend, Sarah, and three days prior, decided Valentines Day would be the day. Inspiration struck and we ran to Wal-Mart at 10PM to grab candles and cups and do a test run. The set up was perfect but we didn’t know how we were going to get the candles lit and keep people from walking by and tampering with them. We made a few phone calls and everyone said yes. Our boys (and girl) did an incredible job – every candle stayed lit, they popped out with the camera and champagne after Sarah said ‘Yes!’ and we prayed over Rick and Sarah and the life they are beginning together right there at the Spanish Steps in Downtown Tacoma.

I won’t say that community defines me as a Christian. Jesus Christ died once for all of my sin and purchased my life and that is where I find my identity. However, I will say that God is constantly using community to reveal Himself to me. I remember my first community group in Lakewood that really felt like a family. I was terrified to leave it thinking I would lose those relationships I felt I had worked so hard to build. It is only now, two community groups later, that I look back and see God’s faithfulness to me continually connect me with others who love and pursue Him. Not only that, I’m still close with my Lakewood and Enchanted Parkway families and they continue to pursue me and speak into my life. By God’s grace, as our community group grows in number, God is calling the young men to step up and begin the apprenticeship process. I have nothing to offer these men of myself but to continually have my bucket filled by Christ to pour it out to them. God is sovereign and will have his glory; he will be made perfect in my weakness. He is my confidence and my sufficiency.

So my challenge to you is to ask yourself where your heart is leading you? Is there a community group in your neighborhood? Do you know your neighbors? Are there some that still haven’t met Jesus Christ and been brought from death into life?  Look around you, we are the church and it’s up to us to take action. If you don’t feel a burden for the city around you, pray to Jesus and ask him why. If you do feel that burden, what is your next step? What’s keeping you from leading or hosting?

Written by:  Ryan Duckworth

Do you want to join a community group?  Email fwcommunity@marshillchurch.org