As an avid golfer, one might expect Dave Dimmick to know who won the U.S. Open or his handicap, but some may be surprised that he can also explain Daniel and Revelation.
What’s even more compelling is that he’s just one of many volunteers leading groups at the Sunnyvale church. There, members can hone their golf game, exercise their brain cells, connect with Jesus, feed the homeless, learn scrapbooking, go backpacking — and make a lot of good friends, too.
Three years ago, Dimmick realized a need for a serious study of Daniel and Revelation and began a small group. When the idea of Adventure groups was born, his pastor approached Dimmick about turning his love of golf into a ministry, and another evangelist was born.
"I’m not the most outgoing person around," says Dimmick, the businessman who facilitates the golf and the Daniel and Revelation groups. "Now that I know so many more people, it is easier to greet people and strike up conversations. We have continued those relationships after people have left the groups and the area, so that’s neat."
Attracting New Members
Combining adventure and friendship is just one of the ways that the Sunnyvale members are attracting new members, reconnecting with former members and reinvigorating the current members. Who wouldn’t be interested in becoming more involved with a church that offers 27 ways to find fellowship and adventure?
"Richard Bowman grew up Mormon, but didn’t have much interest in church," says Pastor Sam McKee. His girlfriend first invited him to the Sabbath contemporary service, and he enjoyed the music and the sermons that pictured a God full of grace.
"Early on, he got involved with the golf group and became friends with me and several other people. About six months later, he said the church felt like family to him because of all the fun activity groups," says McKee. "He was baptized in May 2004."
Doing What You Love for God
McKee, who has pastored at Sunnyvale for more than three years, came into a church that already had eight spiritual small groups and the SOS homeless ministry. The only thing that could make it better would be to have more ministries.
"I thought the concept of having people take what they love and do it for God was powerful," he says. "If someone loves golf, we say, great. Now take that golf and make it a ministry to reach the unreached and build the church into a family of friends."
Not everything they’ve tried has been successful, but that doesn’t discourage McKee. According to church growth experts, flops are a part of learning to grow. About three out of four things a growing church tries, fails. "But they keep trying new things and they bravely reach more and more people," says McKee.
With approximately 38 members serving as facilitators and 120 members involved, the concept of Adventure Groups can certainly be considered a success, but there’s always room for more involvement.
Twice a quarter the church hosts an Adventure Groups Fair and fills the lobby with booths encouraging people to sign up for groups and meet the leaders. The golf group gives out golf balls; the prayer group gives out devotional literature and the softball group gives out bubble gum. "Before someone can consider becoming a Christian, they have to see that it is a desirable way to live," says McKee.
Adventure groups give members a chance to invite people to enjoy a social connection. Some who have previously thought they were not evangelists, have surprised themselves.
"Some have gone from being timid to being bold in sharing their faith in winsome ways," says McKee. "These people are starting to get a heart like Jesus."
