Community Group Finder

Yes. Group Finder will continue to be an excellent way to connect with other Watermark members who are also looking for a community group. While we social distance, you can connect with one another remotely to discuss community group expectations. If that’s a phone call, Face Time, Facebook Messenger video, Zoom, etc., — feel free to use technology to get to know one another and build your community group.

For more details on how to form a community group, see the question “How do I form a Community Group using this tool?”

Visit my.watermark.org and the “Find Community” button will appear on your profile once you’ve completed steps 1-3 in the Membership process.

The Community Group Finder is a tool for those who have completed steps 1-3 of the Membership process and are looking to continue with Step 4: Community.

Visit watermark.org/membershipstatus to view your current Membership status as well as any remaining steps needed for access to the Community Group Finder.

Forming a group is a three-step process:

1. Build relationships.
   • Get to know others through this tool by initiating coffees/dinners with new friends throughout the week. You’ll be able to search and connect (via email) with other members in a similar loctaion and life-stage.
2. Align relationships.
   • Common questions to ask:
     • Group Night: Which night of the week would be best to meet?
     • Location: What part of town would we meet? (Most married groups rotate meeting in homes.)
     • Group Size: What’s our ideal group size?
   • Men’s/Women's groups are typically 6-9 individuals, with a minimum of 3 individuals
   • Married Couple groups are typically 4-6 couples, with a minimum of 3 couples
     • Membership: Has everyone in the group completed the Membership Process? Groups become official when at least 3 men, 3 women, or 3 married couples have all completed the process.
     • Childcare: What will be our group’s childcare plan for community nights?
     • Commitment: How often will we meet as a group? Most groups meet weekly (Married groups typically rotate weeks between all-couple time and same-gender time).
3. Inform staff of new group.
   • Send the Connecting Team a note with the names of your group members
   • Once we hear from you, we will send you additional information on next steps for kicking-off your group. We’ll provide you an 8-week community curriculum and Launch leader support for your first 90-days to ensure you group begins healthy and strong.
     

Yes. Community Group Finder is simply a second tool to assist you in finding a group as you go through the Community Formation process.

Your best next-step is to join a Foundation Group, which is designed to establish couples for a lifetime of marital oneness and ministry and led by an experienced married mentor couple.

Note: If you’ve already completed Foundation Group or attend the Frisco campus, YES – this tool is for you.

Learn About Foundation Groups

Community Group Finder went live April 1, 2020.

Yes. Adding to your existing group is a two-step process:

1. Email your Community Group Shepherd or Director and let them know you’d like to add to your group. (If you don’t know who your Community Shepherd/Director is, please ask your Community Group Leader.)
2. Once your group is approved to add members, your Community Group Leader will be given a list of potential members to add, based on your group’s geography and life-stage. From there, it will be your Community Group Leader’s responsibility to initiate conversations with potential new members.

Not at this time. The primary way to access the tool from your smartphone or device is by going to my.watermark.org in your mobile browser.

Existing groups will be able to find you through this tool, however individuals won’t be able to specifically connect with existing groups. If an existing group is looking to add, they may reach out to you directly via email to connect about possibly joining their group.

1. Be prayerful and trust the Lord.
   • Saturate the process in prayer and we trust that He will guide your steps (James 1:5).
2. Remember, the most critical ingredient to any successful Community Group is:
   • Not a shared geography or life-stage, but a shared commitment to daily abide with Christ (John 15:5). While those things help, we want to keep the main thing the main thing: sharing a commitment to follow Jesus (Acts 2).
3. Communicate with brotherly/sisterly love.
   • The goal of every interaction you have on this tool should be 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let everything you do be done in love.” Be loving, kind, and compassionate in every correspondence.
4. Utilize both the Community Group Finder and Community Formation.
   • Try and meet as many people as you can through the in-person connecting events and the Community Group Finder.
   • Frisco and Plano: link to both campus Formation pages above
5. Blessed are the flexible.
   • While that might not be a Bible verse, it is a wisdom principle that we’ve seen serve as a common denominator for individuals and couples successfully finding groups.
   • Hold your preferences loosely and trust the Lord has the right people for you in this season of life. (If you’re waiting to meet someone who either lives on your street or shares your child’s birthday, you’re going to be waiting for a long time.)
   • There should be differences among us—just like Jesus and his disciples. From backgrounds, to interests, and cultures, these differences should stretch us as we seek to fulfill the Great Commandment of loving God and loving others.
6. Be an owner of the process and initiate connecting.
   • The more people you meet, the closer you’ll be to finding a Community Group that fits. Plus, you’ll make new friends in the process. It’s a win-win.

Yes. Simply use the tool to search for a same-gender group to connect with other men or women.