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I like that idea because a person would meet like-minded people that are wanting to serve others. It sounds like Heidi, your job is kind of a service job where you are actually ministering in a way to your clients.  Even though you can’t talk to them about Jesus, I would imagine, just your being present and interacting with them is a blessing for them they may not realize☺️ Prayers for you sister in Christ!! 💕

Heidi, maybe it would be a good and most beneficial thing, to consider laying all those interactive groups aside, because they don't fulfill you. They fail you.

Would you consider finding existing groups that serve people somehow, letting that be your life focus? There are so many christian's who find so much fulfillment in ministering with their free time, to serve and help people in need.

I don't know what you have in Canada, but here there are things like soup kitchens, street evangelism, collecting and organizing clothes for the poor, building homes for disabled servicemen, repair work on homes for needy people, senior needs are some off the top of my head. I'm sure there are several more operating to be found where you live?

I see the joy in so many who reach out with others, in giving to the needs of others in so many ways, that are so fulfilling that it is all they need for the happiness it brings to them and to the ones they serve.

Christian support comes naturally between the Givers in these kinds of ministries, where everyone is united and focused on the needs of others, that are many. One or more of them might be just the ministry for you that would give you much joy to be involved with. Maybe something to look in to.

Ok, the people in the Bible study group met me only yesterday so they don't know anything about me. When we got the prayer request part, I said I need wisdom and guidance. I had another prayer request but I ended up forgetting about it and not mentioning it.

when the leader was praying for me, he mentioned "God to make himself real to me"

I get very annoyed (to say the least) when people pray like that.

Unless a person asks specifically in their prayer request that God is made more real to them or that their faith is increased, I never pray out loud like that for another person.

If I prayed in a bible study group in front of everyone for "God to make himself real" to someone in that Bible study group, what is the implication here?

that for that person, God is not real enough. That is making assumptions and also, maybe  being judgmental. It also makes the person who is praying that sound more superior than the person he/she is praying for. ( God is real to me, I pray that God becomes real to that person I am praying to. )

I was really annoyed and wanted to email the person asking: what do you mean by your prayer: for God to become real to me?

I went to a different life groups and I thought recently, never again. There are good things about it, however some people want to go into lengthy details about problems, and even end up sharing some graphic details (abuse) or get everybody depressed by things they are saying and their outlook on different things.

One lady kept sharing a story that would cause others secondary trauma. I am surprised the leaders did not stop her. I once could not take all the negativity and depressing stuff in one life group, I told them I had to leave and walked out of the house with chest pain.

I was talking to one of the ministry team at a new church and he mentioned life groups. I told him I decided not to attend life groups anymore when I mentioned the stuff I mentioned above. he said: what? He sounded disturbed and said he has to bring this stuff up with the leaders.

Another person said she has been to life groups and noticed that people do tend to tell long stories. she said it is true we have to be there for each other but she is sure the Bible also says not to cause each others sorrows.

I thought I will try a Bible study group at the new church. I thought maybe Bible studies are better, we just study the Bible and share prayer requests. Also, we spend most of the time in Bible study that the sharing prayer request time is rushed so people don't get into lengthy stories.

When I logged into the zoom meeting, a bit late cause I thought it was at a different time, I found someone giving a lecture on how to evangelize. I don't know if that was a one time thing where they play a video of someone teaching. I really don't like that cause I prefer to read and have interaction rather than listen to videos. when we got to the prayer request part, a person had a lengthy prayer request and he was saying such depressing stuff (about the state of some things, not a personal problem that he has) that I could not listen  and I ended up having to turn the volume down.

I did not like it at all. I also found the Bible study depressing (for other reasons, but don't want to make this post longer)

now I have to come up with something to say for not attending anymore. however, I can always say for "personal reasons' or something.

I was hoping it would be a good thing joining that bible study group, turned out to be depressing again (including stuff the presenter touched on)

Thank you everybody for your responses.

I think it is most likely that he read previous emails. I don't remember what is in them, but if I go over them, I might have mentioned that stuff.

Like I said, having spent a month or 2 with a new friend and then finding out she was a psychic maybe got me unnerved.