by Phil Pawley

It’s 7.30 on Wednesday night and the first couple arrive with their 4 year old son. There’s food and drink on the table, beanbags on the floor, and a bit of pop music playing in the background. The DVD player is primed but may not get used. Over the next 30 minutes another 7 people arrive and the conversation drifts slowly onto matters of faith. JOURNEYS began somewhere during that timeframe.

The group is quite mixed – we, the hosts, are in our 50’s, the rest are in their 20’s, apart from the 4 year old and our 14 year old foster daughter. It’s also mixed in terms of faith. At least three have had no prior Christian input and make no profession of faith in Jesus. The others are a mix of occasional Catholics, Congregationalists and one ever so slightly backslidden Pentecostal. The group has one clear uniting factor. They are professional sportsmen and families.

JOURNEYS began as a forum for discussion about anything to do with life and faith. Between 15 and 20 people have been involved during its short lifespan of 1 year. Over that time conversations have ranged from evolution to healing, faith in Jesus to other world faiths, the place of faith in sport and superstitions. There have been discussions about fears. There have been times of tears. People have grown in their faith. And this by most measures has been a successful ‘cell group’.

Except for one thing. It’s not a cell group. Well, not if Cell Group is defined by what you might discover in some “cell churches”. There are no 4 W’s. No one has a clue who Uncle Ralph (Neighbour) is. And there are no fancy booklets to work through. Occasionally the group watches part of the JOURNEYS series, or one of Rob Bell’s Nooma DVDs. But even these have not always been helpful. We’ve never sung a song together, and most of the group have never prayed out loud nor read a passage of scripture publicly. In fact no one would consider they’d done anything that might be deemed religious – apart from talking about God, faith, Jesus, church, and life in general. And what’s more, this group has no recognisable links to any other church group. So you might be tempted to say it is a bit of a cell-disaster.

Or is it?

For one thing, it’s a work in progress. Secondly, it is tailor made to suit the network it serves –sports people at their pinnacle. For instance it’s seasonal to suit their particular sports year, and it’s flexible to suit their playing schedule. Thirdly it’s relationally based. It is within an existing community rather than trying to be a substitute community. Fourthly, no one is pressurised to ‘evangelise’. And yet there has been a slow stream of new people coming along. Fifthly, the best part is often around the table having a scoff. Some of the deepest discussion happens over cheese, crackers, salami and bread. And occasionally an accidental communion takes place.

As the hosts, we are well aware of cell principles. But our vision is not to start another cell group. It’s to enable people who are already within a definable and tight knit community to have a place where they can meet together and explore the God stuff without embarrassment, or being ‘on show’ to fans. So it is ‘cell’ - but not as you might know or recognise it.

Multiplying this group is not an objective. If it happens, so be it.

Getting participants to ‘attend’ church is not an objective. In fact several of them consider JOURNEYS to be their ‘church’, whilst one couple attend elsewhere on Sundays.

Getting them to bring their mates along is not an objective – again, if that happens so be it.

In fact, the group has no greater reason for being than simply ‘being’. It is there for all involved in the sports club to make use of should they so choose.

It is enough for us that we might demonstrate something of the life and love of Jesus to those who happen along. Through hospitality, and by being available to gently answer (and ask) questions, we hope that we might play some small part in the lives of these people and be a discernable spiritual presence in what is often an irreligious and faith-poor environment

Phil & Diane Pawley host JOURNEYS and Phil is chaplain to the sports club referred to.