Daniel Faunce

I moved to Atlanta 3.5 years ago and desperately wanted to replicate the deep community I had in Florida. I was navigating leaving full-time ministry and learning how to follow the Lord while working a corporate job – I was very nervous about the transition. I was coming into Atlanta tired and drained (as we all are) and hoped that joining a Grace Group would be a fast launch to deep friendship. I did eventually find that in Grace Groups, but what I really appreciated those first couple of months was the consistent witness to the Gospel.

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The first semester we read through The Gospel-Centered Life, and it was exactly that, a guide on how to live a life centered on the Gospel. It was simple and yet so sweet and exactly what my soul needed at that time. In a season of major life change, it was tempting to listen to my insecurities or get caught up in the distractions of a new city, but the Lord consistently brought me back to Him and His love. I often showed up to Grace Group feeling messy and stressed, and every time was met with love from my dudes and comforted by the truth that Jesus knows the dirtiness of my heart and still loves me – how refreshing! I can vividly remember those drives back home from Grace Group being filled with so much more hope and contentment. We all need a constant drip of the Gospel in our lives.

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There’s a quote I love that says, “Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning.” You can’t earn God’s grace, but you can put yourself in situations where you’ll experience it more consistently – that’s what my Grace Group was for me, and it could be for you!