Mid-Cities

reaching - growing - sending

Group Studies For Growth and Connection

EQUIP groups come in all shapes and sizes at Mid-Cities. These groups are primarily study experiences that open up and connect you to God's truth. They also connect you with other believers as well as you share insights and experiences with one another, encourage each other in your spiritual walk, and develop friendships as you become part of the larger community of faith at Mid-Cities.
EQUIP groups meet not only on Sunday mornings but at other times during the week for a specified length of time (typically 4 to 8 weeks) and then end. They are led by an array of mature believers with teaching gifts. Some are foundational studies for the Christian life and are offered several times each year while others are designed to provide a variety of studies applying biblical principles to different aspects of our lives. We intentionally offer studies that are designed to help new believers grow in the essentials of the faith and other studies that challenge seasoned believers to even deeper levels of discipleship.


spiritual growth

Each year we offer a balanced diet of study groups to help believers grow in the following areas:


• The Word which includes textual and topical studies in scripture, theology, and related studies.


• Personal Spiritual Practices including the spiritual disciplines of personal Bible study, prayer, fasting, meditation, devotion, Christian living, hearing God, etc.


• Marriage and Family including marriage enrichment, preparation for marriage, parenting, finances, etc.


• Freedom and Healing which includes studies on finding freedom and healing in Christ and the principles of spiritual warfare.


• Leadership which involves equipping experiences for ministry and leadership in the kingdom of God.

 

connection

EQUIP Groups are not only important catalysts for spiritual growth but also help connect individuals to their spiritual family as they are able to meet and build relationships with others who are joining them in these studies.


How do Life Groups differ from EQUIP Groups?


Life groups are also an essential part of our spiritual life at Mid-Cities. Life Groups differ from EQUIP groups in that they are primarily for connection in relationships where study and prayer tend to be secondary. EQUIP groups are primarily for study for a specific period of time with relationships and prayer being important but secondary.


We encourage our members to participate in both.


Life groups usually meet for the length of the school year and are renewed after the summer with core members remaining the same - although new group members are always welcome. Life groups provide encouragement, care, loving accountability, and deepening friendships as well as study and prayer. Christ-centered relationships are essential to your spiritual life.


EQUIP groups will take you deeper into the Word and provide biblical training in numerous aspects of your life. They will also emphasize your personal relationship with Christ. Study and application of biblical truth are also critical to your life as a believer.


Jesus commands us to love God and to love one another. Participating in both EQUIP Groups and Life Groups will maximize your ability to do both.

 

winter 2012

 

Knowing Jesus

The ultimate goal of our faith is not to get to heaven but to intimately know and experience Jesus. He is the source of every blessing and those who walk closely with Him live transformed lives. This study will offer insights and practices for drawing close to Jesus in ways you have not experienced before. This study will benefit every believer but especially those just beginning to grow in their faith.

Led by Becky Martin. Becky is a gifted communicator with prophetic gifts and deep spiritual insight. She is currently serving as a chaplain at Midland Memorial Hospital. She is married to Jim.


Begins Sunday, January 8 at 9:00 a.m. (4 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Free Indeed

This cornerstone study at Mid-Cities explores the essentials of healing and freedom in the Kingdom of God. You will learn who you are in Christ, how to hear the voice God and identify counterfeits, how to experience inner healing and find freedom from your past and demonic oppression. You will learn to use divine weapons in spiritual warfare and to stand on the victory that Christ has already won on the cross. The study is finalized with a powerful Friday night and Saturday morning experience in the presence and power of God. This study is a "must" for every believer.

Led by Tom Vermillion. Tom has been an associate pastor at Mid-Cities for 8 years and has been serving churches for over 30 years. He oversees Freedom Ministries, EQUIP, Singles and marriage mentoring at Mid-Cities. He is married to Susan.


Begins Wednesday, January 11th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. (8 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Singles Talk

This is a group discussion class on biblically based topics effecting single adults. It meets weekly throughout the year and id the Sunday morning component of our larger singles ministry known as "Lumen" at Mid-Cities.

Led by Guy McKenzie. Guy is the contact person for this Sunday morning singles group has been on our singles leadership team for the past five years. He is heavily involved in connecting Christian singles throughout the Permian Basin. He serves on our worship team as well and has a passion for reaching singles and drawing them into the body of Christ.


Begins Sunday, January 15 at 9:00 am | No need to register

 

 

Getting Hold of God's Amazing Grace

Truly grasping God's amazing grace is not always easy. As believers we often continue to walk with a sense of condemnation or can't quite shake the feeling that we must somehow earn God's love and approval. This study will help you grow in your understanding of God's grace and enable you to walk in the freedom of that grace in greater ways than you ever have before.

Led by Sandra Fussell. Sandra is a gifted communicator, an ordained pastor and a woman full of faith and God's Spirit. She has been heavily involved in the Emmaus community for years and helps her husband Jerry operate his business as a commercial builder. She regularly teaches in our ConnectFOUR classes.


Begins Wednesday, February 1 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (6 weeks ) | Click here to register.

 

 

Peace that Passes Understanding

Philippians is one of the great letters of the New Testament. It was written by the apostle Paul while in prison and in spite of his situation is full of encouragement and joy. This study will help you discover God's keys to peace and joy in your life regardless of circumstances.

Led by Jim Martin. Jim is an associate pastor and elder at Mid-Cities. He oversees all of our host ministries and assimilation ministries for connecting new members and visitors to our spiritual family. Jim has personally experienced the transforming power of God in his own life and loves the word of God. He is married to Becky.


Begins Wednesday, February 1 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm (6 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Mission Possible

God does not wait for us to become perfect people before moving in amazing ways on our behalf. Faith for the impossible is for the imperfect believer who will cry out to God while standing on what Jesus has done for us rather than on what we have done for Jesus. This study will take you further into the realm of faith and open up keys to facing life's toughest challenges and greatest opportunities with the optimism of being more than a conqueror.

Led by Larry Elder. Larry is an ordained pastor who has served in churches for over 30 years. He and his wife Rhonda have a passion for world missions and for helping believers meet their full potential in Christ.


Begins Wednesday, February 1 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm (8 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Finding Your Prophetic Potential

Have you ever wondered about or desired a prophetic gift? This class will give you a biblical understanding of prophetic gifts and offices in the New Testament, how they differ from the prophets of the Old Testament, how they function in the church and how to receive and grow in that gift. We are commanded to earnestly desire spiritual gifts…so if you have ever desired this gift, this study is for you.

Led by Bill Avary. Bill is a man of faith. He owns and operates West Texas Windshields as a way of supporting his ministry in the kingdom of God. Bill has a well developed prophetic gift and a love for teaching and preaching about Jesus. He has travelled in Europe and South America preaching and experiencing the power of God to heal and set people free. Bill leads our prophetic ministry at Mid-Cities and is married to Wanda.


Begins Wednesday, February 1 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (4 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Discovery

Did you know that God had a very intentional hand in shaping you at the moment of your conception. In fact, scripture says that you are God's workmanship created for specific purposes that he ordained before you were ever born. This study will help you discover and understand your God-given temperament and spiritual gifts. Knowing how he made you can help you discover why he made you and point you to the ministries and even career path that God has destined for you.

Led by Susan Vermillion. Susan is a gifted communicator and teacher. She has been a public school teacher for many years and has a true love for people. In addition to teaching, she possesses the spiritual gifts of encouragement and prophecy. She is married to Tom and also serves as a leader in Free Indeed.


Begins Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 am (4 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Fighting for Your Family

This study, based on the book Fighting for Your Family by Steve Carlson, will challenge husbands and fathers to enter into the realm of spiritual leadership that God intended. This isn't just about leading devotionals at home or getting everyone ready for church on Sunday. This is about waging spiritual warfare on behalf of your family through prayer, the Word, and sometimes direct confrontation with the enemy. This study will offer practical strategies for standing between the unseen enemy and your family and winning the war. Wives and moms will benefit from this study as well.

Led by Steve & Sabrina Carlson. Steve and Sabrina are people of faith, prayer and ministry to others. Both Steve and Sabrina have experienced the pain of divorce and the challenges of shattered families. But they have also experienced the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God for restoring love and relationships in their lives.


Begins Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 am (6 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Remodeling Your Marriage

Every marriage has strengths and weaknesses. Every marriage has things that both partners would like to keep as they are but other things that need to be reworked. This study will help build a framework for understanding your marriage and the underlying causes of ongoing issues, help you understand what it means to have a Christ-centered marriage, and even how to overcome issues that counseling hasn't helped. It will also help you nail down God's principles for a thriving marriage. Every marriage can benefit from this study whether you just need a fresh coat of paint or whether you need to knock down some walls.

Led by Tom Vermillion. Tom is an associate pastor over Freedom Ministries, EQUIP, and marriage mentoring at Mid-Cities. He has ben in full time ministry for over 30 years and throughout those years has provided pastoral counseling for marriages needing a tweak and for those needing a major remodel. Tom has personally experienced the pain of divorce and the challenges of remarriage and blended families and will share with you what God has taught him through his own experiences and the experiences of hundreds of others to whom he has ministered.


Begins Sunday, February 5 at 9:00 am (6 weeks) | Click here to register.

 

 

Marriage Preparation: For Life After the Wedding

This study prepares you for life after the wedding whether marrying for the first time or considering remarriage. In it you will get to know and understand your potential spouse in deeper ways, learn communication and problem solving skills, face your financial demons, and lay positive foundations for your marriage before you say "I do!" This study is required for anyone who wishes to use Mid-Cities facilities and/or a Mid-Cities pastor for your marriage.

Led by Mickey Eckles. Mickey is the Executive Pastor at Mid-Cities and has served churches in Lubbock and Washington State. He is a gifted communicator who brings honesty, transparency and humor to the serious business of preparing for a lifetime of marriage. Mickey is married to Bonnie. They have two children – Carter and Caylee.


Begins Sunday, February 5 at 10:25 am. (8 weeks) / Cost: $100 / couple including all books and mentoring. For details contact us at marriageprep@midcities.org | Click here to register.

 

 

Finding God in Dark Places

This study will lead you through the Old Testament book of Habakkuk. It is a short read but full of principles about finding God and his purposes even in the dark and discouraging times of life. It is about standing on his faithfulness when life has disappointed you and recognizing that God works good in your life in many ways. This will be a great study!

Led by Linda G. Ward. Linda has a Ph.D in Public Communication and teaches at UTPB. Not only does Linda excel at communicating but she excels at communicating the Word of God. Linda has an authentic walk of faith with the Lord and deep insights into God's word and God's ways. If you are searching for God during a difficult time in your life, this study will shine His light in your direction.


Begins Sunday, February 5 at 10:25 am (8 weeks) Cost: $20 per family unit | Click here to register.

 

 

Marriage on the Rock

This video/discussion series provides rock solid theology and practical applications for making good marriages even better. Jimmy Evans is one of the most requested speakers on marriage and family issues in America today. This video series will address issues of getting your deepest needs met, foundational laws for a thriving marriage, biblical roles for husbands and wives, understanding and meeting your spouse's needs, keys to sexual fulfillment, and more. Great for engaged couples, newly weds and "long- time marrieds."

Led by James and Melody Thompson. James has a career in the oil and gas industry while Melody works hard raising their children Jackson and Piper. But more importantly, James and Melody have a marriage that was once on the brink of divorce but that has been healed by Jesus Christ. They now have an amazing marriage and love for one another. Their personal experiences and faith in the power of God to renew marriage makes them ideal to lead this study.


Begins Wednesday, February 15 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. (8 weeks) Cost: $10/person for workbooks | Click here to register.