After the break-up of the last home group I attended, I was hesitant to commit to another weekly church group. I was trying to deal with my divorce. So, I was treading lightly around others, especially men.

 

In 1992, one Sunday morning during a church service, I felt a tug in my spirit to start a home group at my house. I immediately responded to God, saying that maybe one day I would do that—after I had dealt with the mess of the divorce. I then heard His gentle voice saying to me, “Not after it all Leonie, but through it all.” I know when it is God speaking to me. It comes as a short sentence. But, it carries direction, encouragement, healing, and wisdom. Wisdom is something you carry with you throughout your journey in life. It’s like carrying a basket on your back full of life-giving bread, bread that can sustain you and others.

 

I did not expect such a request. The thought of starting and leading my own group had never crossed my mind. I only remember my thoughts in groups I attended, "If this were my group, I wouldn't do it like this." I got used to these thoughts but never shared them with anyone.

 

But God wasn’t going to let my thoughts of starting a group slide. Soon after, Naomi, who had been with me in our previous group, approached me in church. She simply said, “Leonie, I want to tell you that if you start a home group at your home, I will be there.” I was a bit stunned and did not respond. How did she know about my conversation with the Lord regarding starting a home group? She didn’t give me a chance to reply before walking away.

 

The next Sunday, Naomi approached me again and reiterated her message. I asked her why she was saying that, and she replied that she felt she had to tell me. I then shared my conversation with God about the home group with her. The rest is history. Looking back now, I see how Naomi would sense a word from the Lord and immediately respond. She didn’t approach me with a question first; she taught me what obedience looks like.

 

I remember that first night of my new home group. I had a large black square coffee table in the middle of the floor. As I waited for people to arrive, I felt the Lord prompting me to remove the coffee table. I didn’t know why, but I obeyed. I flipped it on its side and dragged it into my bedroom. Only months later, during counsellor training, I learned: never counsel someone with a table between you. It creates a barrier and prevents them from opening up. I realised that the Lord cares about the details. I felt encouraged. It wasn't a big deal, but it mattered. It helped people feel comfortable and fostered intimacy.

 

The same principle applied to the lighting. Ambient lighting creates a soft atmosphere. It makes people feel freer to be in God’s presence. In contrast, bright lights make it feel like everyone is watching them. Each moment when I felt God’s prompting—along with my response to it—was valuable. It taught me to hear God's voice and to respond immediately, saving me and our future church a lot of heartache.

 

On the first night of our home group, it was just Naomi and me. We sat on the sofa and began discussing the deeper aspects of our lives, soon confessing our sins to each other. Naomi became the best mentor God could have sent me. She was always there to lift me when I was down, and I am so thankful that the Lord connected us. Often, the day after our home group meetings, she would call me, especially when the meeting didn’t go well.

 

One evening, there was such a thick atmosphere in the room that you could slice it with a knife. It was obvious who the upset person was. Another lady asked her if we could pray for her, and everyone gathered around her. The moment this lady placed her hand on our upset friend’s knee, she blurted out, “Don’t touch me!” We sensed the problem. We ignored it and kept praying. Unfortunately, this led to a heated argument between the two.

 

The following night, Naomi called me and wanted to know how I felt about the previous night. My immediate reply was, “Oh Naomi, it was horrible!” But Naomi responded, “Oh no Leonie. That was good. We cannot harbour these feelings in our hearts; they need to come out. Without that, how can we forgive?” Naomi was right, and I learned an important lesson. That was not the last time such incidents occurred. But, I then knew I must step aside and allow God to work.

 

Our home group didn't always meet weekly. We also had weekend get-togethers. We enjoyed dinners, barbeques, and movie nights. We often invited friends to join us. I met a lovely lady, called Carey, at church. She is one of the most gifted people I’ve ever met. She was not only artistic and musical but also has a prophetic gift.

During our home group meetings, I typically kept the lights dimmed. However, when Carey was present, she preferred all the lights off. Only a few lights in the other rooms leading to the sitting area would be on. One night, while we were chatting, there was a knock at the door, and I found Dorothy, an old friend, standing there.

Throughout the years I had known her, I had been praying for her salvation. She had recently moved into the area. The previous weekend, I had hosted a dinner party for my church friends. I invited her and another non-Christian friend to join us. Looking back in my diary, I found a note I had written after the party that touched my heart. I noted that when Dorothy left, she turned to me and said, "I like your friends," meaning my Christian friends. Then, she added, "Thank you for not being ashamed to introduce me to them." There is a part of the harvest that is always ripe and ready, all around us and ready for the picking.

 

On the night of the home group meeting, when Dorothy knocked on my door, I noticed she had tears in her eyes. I invited her in, but upon seeing all the people in the room, she tried to excuse herself. I reassured her by reminding her that she had met everyone at the party the previous weekend. With it being so dark, it was easy for her to feel less like the centre of attention. I went to the kitchen to prepare tea for her and a few others. When I returned to the sitting room, I saw that everyone was praying for her, and I gave them space to continue.

 

When they finished, there were smiles and laughter all around. Curious about what had happened, I asked my friend, and she told me, “I gave my heart to the Lord!” Well, slap me with a wet fish! There I was, spending years praying for her, and in the time it took me to make a cup of tea, she became a Christian! That was an extraordinary moment. Carey’s love for dim lighting and her prophetic gift knew exactly what my friend needed.

 

I realised how much I love to watch and see how God uses every person. We are all made in God's image, but we are all different. We each have unique abilities and talents. With a close relationship with God, we can move mountains. I was aware of the gifts I lacked. I admired others and prayed that God would bless me with the same gifts. He seemed to have ignored those prayers. I guess it was a “no.” But in working with God, all things are possible. We are not perfect when He sends us out.

Now, at the ripe age of 73, I can look back and see when and how God used me in ways I never expected. The secret is to trust God without hesitation. It is His ministry, and I am the tool. Either He is our Master, or He is not. I may lack the talents I should have. But, I trust Him. I know He will provide those talents. If not through me, then through someone else’s gift.

 

As leaders and pastors, we need to identify and nurture the gifts in others. We should pray for them and with them. This will help them grow by allowing them to practice their gifts. Sometimes, we mistakenly look for finished products. We must trust that this person has a deep, loving relationship with God. We need to release them and trust that God will guide them in the plans He has for them. This is a relationship between God and His servants. Do we not trust God?

Very few people can empower and release leaders.

 

 

Here Jesus tells us that He must leave, but He will send us His Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.

Then in Matthew 28:18-20 [Amplified Bible] “Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

 

Jesus tells His disciples that He is giving them all authority to do what He has done. It is important to note that Jesus did not say He would wait to see if they fully understood His commands. He left them because He knew the Holy Spirit would guide and instruct them further. Therefore we must do the same with our leaders. Spend quality time with your leaders. Teach and equip them. Lay hands on them. Then send them out. The same Holy Spirit that guides us will guide them. That is empowering leadership. It is key to Jesus' model of discipleship and our mission.

 

It was sad when Carey stopped attending after a while; I think she found it too difficult to be in large groups. We must look out for those who are shy or feel embarrassed. And how about dimming the lights? What do we have to lose? No one wants to sit in the spotlight, especially if they’ve never been to a Christian gathering.