Frequently Asked Questions

1. The child has to be able to articulate to the parent what baptism means and why they are doing it.
2. The child has to be able to stand up front and answer his/her baptism questions.  No fingers in mouth, picking at shirt (or nose!), or staring bashfully at the floor.
3. The child must be able to make his/her baptism video (check out a sample), just like the adults do.  The videos children make are very short usually, but they can be just as powerful as the ones made by adults -- sometimes moreso.

The difference between being a member and not being a member is not that members are better, more holy, more spiritually evolved, or anything like that.  Members are simply people who say, "I embrace the values and purpose of this church and I commit to partner with these people to fulfill that purpose."  Membership involves commitment and accountability.

If you don't want to pursue membership, don't.  If you want to see what it's all about, attend Discovery where it's spelled out clearly for you.

1. Place it in context by making sure you have heard the whole sermon series (always on our website)
2. Send the pastor an email and ask a question.
3. Stick it out and see if the impression you got is consistent with the other things we say and do.
4. Sign up for Discovery which will give you many of the Why's behind who we are and what we teach.
5. Consider that Wildwind may not be the right church for you. We are fully aware of this possibility, but would like first to see people explore the options that will help them arrive at this conclusion with confidence.

As Wildwind gets larger it will naturally become more difficult to connect with others and build relationships.  Small group participation will assure that every person has the opportunity to have a network of friends to share life's journey with.

If after this explanation you still do not understand why it is so important, that is because you have probably never been part of an effective small group before.  All we ask is that you give it a try.  Everyone who has ever joined a group has been nervous at first -- that is a natural feeling.  But everyone who has ever done it has also understood very quickly why we encourage it so much!

Get information on small groups here.

Believe me, we’ve all been there. Stepping out of our comfort zone is never easy, yet God reward’s that kind of by-faith action step. You’ll be glad to know that our small group leaders have gone through specific training in the area of helping new comers to feel comfortable and at ease.

E.G.R.(extra grace required) people are often times not fun to be around. Have you ever considered that “so and so” may be just the reason that God has placed you in the group? One of the best ways to grow in Jesus is through the buffering of those who rub us the wrong way.

New people can change the dynamics of a group. Change by nature rocks the boat, yet in the end new blood can create added depth to a group. Also, remember Rick Warren’s words on day one of the 40 days of purpose…”It’s not about you.” There are times when we need to willingly let the focus shift to the needs of the new member(s) of the group.

All of us experience seasons of decelerated spiritual growth. That’s how the Christian life works. It’s while going through those chapters in your life that you need the support and accountability of your small group more than ever.

Being a part of a small group can be compared to being in a marriage. There will be times of great celebration as well as times when it might seem easy to just bale on the commitment. We believe that when it come to the relationships in our lives, God wants us to ride out those low times, realizing that better days may be just around the corner.  This quality of relational consistency is called faithfulness.

We all have topics that don’t get us all that excited. When the material in your group isn't "doing it" for you, remember that the main reason you are in the group is the relationships, not the resources!  Always be positive about the material your group is doing, realizing that God may be using it to change the life of another person.  We just cannot always know what the needs are of other people.

It’s only human to want to be placed in a group with friends we know well. Although that seems like the best route, it can create cliques that end up leaving other people out in the cold. The developing of new relationships is a good thing for you as well as for the overall health of the church.  Our small groups are arranged to make it likely that close friends can get into groups together.  But also each group will be likely to have newcomers.

As members of a small group, we can relate to your sentiment. It’s difficult to multiply a group and have to separate from those individuals with whom you’ve invested deeply. The fact is that when groups don’t multiply they inevitably begin to deteriorate and eventually become toxic. We acknowledge that multiplication is not easy, yet it is essential for the overall health of our small group ministry. Wildwind MUST remain focused on continuin to offer opportunities for everyone to be in a group, and we can only do that as our people remain committed to offering to others what has been offered to them.

We agree that it’s not always easy to carve out time for small group participation. Yet no worthwhile activity comes without a price.  Please remember that for many people growth happens primarily within the small group setting and not one of us can risk not investing needed time in this valuable asset.  We have structured our groups on a "semester" system, so breaks up to a month long are built right into the schedule and from there you small group leader will work with your group to set a schedule that is right for the group.