Small Groups, Big Impact: How Church Community Groups Are Changing Lives Through Set Free

9 Min Read

Nov 3, 2026

Churches have different names for them. Some call them community groups, life groups, small groups, or Bible study groups. Whatever the name, these gatherings bring people together in a more personal setting to study God's Word, build relationships, pray for one another, and grow in their faith.

Many church small groups also look for meaningful ways to serve beyond their own congregations. Partnering with a nonprofit or mission organization gives members an opportunity to put their faith into action, work toward a common goal, and make a difference together. Through Set Free's church partnerships, churches and their small groups can support missions through prayer, financial gifts, education, and outreach.

At Set Free, we've seen firsthand just how powerful these partnerships can be. From a Brookwood Church community group that funded two clean water wells and a medical clinic in India to a Hope Point Church small group that transformed 100 Wellas into ornaments, groups are finding creative ways to support children and families around the world. Their stories show that you don't need an elaborate fundraising plan to make an extraordinary impact.

From One Mission Trip to Two Clean Water Wells

For LifeLink, a community group at Brookwood Church, it started when group leader Scott Lowery returned from a mission trip to India with a desire to help. Scott and his wife, Crystal, lead the group of more than 30 adults who meet twice a month in their home. Members come from different ages, backgrounds, and seasons of life, but share a desire to grow in their faith and encourage one another.

After witnessing the challenges faced by families without access to clean water, Scott returned from India with photographs, stories, and a passion to make a difference. He described communities where families travel long distances to collect water that isn't always safe to drink. When he shared his experiences with LifeLink and encouraged the group to consider funding a well through Set Free, members were eager to respond.

According to Scott, the group raised $5,500 by the end of that week. Within a few more weeks, they had raised enough to fund a second well, and they also helped provide a medical clinic. What began as one person's desire to help quickly became a shared mission that brought the entire group together.

"It has been a unifying goal," says LifeLink member Amanda Murphy. "We all wanted to see it happen and knew the Lord could make it so." For Amanda, watching the group rally around a need thousands of miles away has been a powerful reminder of what God can accomplish through people who respond in faith.

When Generosity Becomes Personal

For Craig and Angela Welch, who have been part of LifeLink for about a year and a half, the decision to give came through a deeply personal moment of prayer. As they listened to Scott describe his experiences in India, Angela felt God placing a specific amount on her heart to give. She quietly prayed that if this was truly God's leading, He would place the same desire on her husband's heart.

Later that evening, Craig asked if she wanted to make a donation. When they compared the amounts each had in mind, they discovered they were exactly the same. Their experience illustrates how the group's collective response was built on individual decisions to give as each person felt led.

Heather Rickard and her husband had a different introduction to Set Free, but their experience led to the same desire to get involved. They first learned about the ministry several years ago when friends invited them to the annual gala, and they were so moved by what they heard that they purchased a table the following year to introduce more friends to the mission. Now, through LifeLink, they're part of a community working toward that mission together.

"We feel like we are working toward a common goal together to love India and spread the love of Jesus," Heather says. She believes one of the most meaningful aspects has been watching members pray and respond individually to what God has placed on their hearts. The experience has strengthened the group's sense of shared purpose while giving them a tangible way to serve others.

Seeing the Impact of Serving Together

For LifeLink members, one of the most meaningful moments came when they received photographs of the completed wells in India. Amanda describes how emotional it was to see tangible evidence of what their group had accomplished together. "It was so moving and made me emotional to see the actual evidence of our group coming together on the goal and God graciously making it happen!!"

Ben Payne and his wife joined LifeLink more recently, but quickly discovered how meaningful the group's shared mission had become. Ben was especially touched by seeing photographs of people using the wells and knowing that Scripture engraved on them would share the message of Jesus, the source of living water. "We as ordinary people can accomplish great things together," he says.

The group's involvement has continued beyond the initial projects. This fall, LifeLink attended Set Free's annual gala together, filling three tables and introducing even more people to the ministry. Some community group members have also chosen to continue supporting Set Free through The Cornerstone, our foundation of monthly givers whose consistent generosity helps sustain the ministry's ongoing work.

Looking ahead, members of LifeLink are praying about the possibility of traveling to India together to experience the ministry firsthand. Heather says her hope is that the group could one day serve together in the country that has become so close to their hearts. For groups interested in similar opportunities, Set Free offers vision trips to India and medical mission trips to West Africa.

Using Creativity and Business to Make a Difference

For Scott, the desire to support Set Free didn't end with the group's well projects. As a business owner and entrepreneur, he began thinking about how he could use his creativity and professional skills to make an even greater impact. Through his business, Rooted Apparel and Merch, Scott creates faith-inspired products, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, and other drinkware.

His creative work has also included woodworking projects such as home décor signs and cornhole boards. Motivated by what he experienced in India, Scott is now developing merchandise specifically to help support Set Free's mission. His efforts show how a person's existing talents and business experience can open additional doors for generosity.

It's a reminder that supporting a nonprofit doesn't have to look the same for everyone. Some people give financially, others organize events or create products, and still others offer their time or professional expertise. When those different gifts come together around a common purpose, the possibilities can grow well beyond what one person could accomplish alone.

Hope Point Church: Holding the Rope for Missions

At Hope Point Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, small groups are finding their own creative ways to support Set Free. Hope Point has been a generous church partner, and its approach to small-group missions is especially meaningful. At the beginning of each year, small groups select a local and an international mission to support as Rope Holders, committing to learn about their selected ministries, pray for their work, and find practical ways to offer encouragement and support.

For one Hope Point small group, that support recently took the form of a creative project involving Wella, Set Free's elephant mascot. Together, the group transformed 100 Wellas into ornaments, finding a hands-on way to participate in the mission and help share Set Free's story. The project demonstrates how something as simple as a group craft activity can become an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage generosity.

Hope Point's Rope Holders are another example of how community groups can build lasting relationships with the ministries they support. Instead of viewing missions as an occasional project or a one-time donation, groups are encouraged to learn, pray, and remain engaged throughout the year. That kind of ongoing connection can help members develop a deeper understanding of the people and communities their support is reaching.

How Your Church Small Group Can Get Involved With Set Free

The stories of LifeLink and Hope Point show that church community groups have incredible potential to make a lasting difference. A conversation after a mission trip can lead to clean water for families in India, while a creative project can introduce others to the mission of rescuing children from slavery. And when people come together around a shared purpose, the impact isn't only felt overseas; it can strengthen the relationships and sense of community within the group itself.

Whether you're part of a Bible study, Sunday school class, life group, or church missions team, there are many ways to make a difference through Set Free. Your group could pray regularly for our ministry partners, work together to fund a clean water well or medical clinic, organize a creative fundraiser, or explore opportunities to serve. Some members may also feel led to become monthly supporters, helping ensure the ministry's work continues long after a particular project is completed.

If your group wants to make a difference but doesn't know where to begin, Heather Rickard offers some simple encouragement: "Find what you have a passion for and go for it, and watch what God will do." You don't need to have every detail figured out or know exactly what your group can accomplish. Sometimes the most important step is simply being willing to get started.

What could God accomplish through your community group? We'd love to help you discover how your group can be part of Set Free's mission to meet urgent needs and share the love of Jesus around the world. Complete our volunteer interest form to explore opportunities to serve, or learn more about Set Free's church partnerships to discover how your congregation can get involved.