My first experience with Rooted was ten years ago in a couples group, led by Kimmy Mora. I was pregnant with my third child at the time, and my sweet leader even threw me a one-month celebration party for the baby — and now that little girl is turning 10!
My second time was during COVID-19. We quarantined at home, so the class was on Zoom. My leader was Mardi. I remember representing our group on stage, holding up a before-and-after sign, and what I wrote for “after” was: I’m so glad to have made new friends at church.
Now, this is my 3rd time. Ten years ago, I never could have imagined there would be a Chinese-speaking small group here — and now there’s even a Rooted class in Chinese. All of this is thanks to the support of Friends Church. Thank you, William, for faithfully translating every week, and thank You, God, for Your mighty power!
In my first two times, I was the participant who tried to stay quiet. This time, I became a leader in my native language — though not entirely, because the Holy Spirit is the one who truly leads every gathering.
We never arranged in advance who would bring food, yet God would always move someone among us to prepare just the right snack — unexpected, yet perfectly fitting.
The sisters naturally stepped in according to their gifts, leading worship, sharing the week’s content, and offering testimonies from their lives. The Holy Spirit prepared a spiritually safe environment where we could open up freely and exercise our gifts.
Before each gathering ended, we prayed for one another’s needs — drawing close to each other’s hearts, committing to one another, and learning to depend on God. Being part of it all, what I can put into words is far less than what God has already done.
Through Rooted, we took a fresh look at the strongholds in our lives, shared our life stories, and grew to know one another more deeply.
The girl who sat in that couples group ten years ago — pregnant, barely daring to speak — never imagined that one day she would be here, surrounded by brothers and sisters who speak the same language she does.
The content of Week 9 stirred us to prepare ourselves and be ready at any moment as an outlet for the gospel. This will become the vision for our Chinese group — to keep trusting God, believing that the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
(Romans 1:16)