Christian Life Groups are the small group ministry of Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries. You will find that at any given time of the year we will have some small groups meeting around a wide variety of topics, needs, and interests. Some of these groups meet for a more inherently spiritual focus like prayer, Bible study, or the discussion of a specific Bible topic. Other groups meet around less spiritual activities like mountainbiking, rock climbing, fly fishing, or a community service. The number and types of groups vary throughout the year. The primary focus of every Christian Life Group however, is to provide an opportunity for strong life-giving relationships to develop between Christians, and between Christians and non-Christians. Through these relationships non-Christians have an opportunity to come to know Christ in a very genuine and personal way, and Christians can grow toward maturity in Christ.

That’s what we asked when the Lord began to lead us toward small groups in 1997. The answer has to do, not with the size of our congregation, but with the culture of the Rocky Mountain Region. We live in a small mountain town situated between 5 designated wilderness areas. Gunnison is surrounded on all sides by the high mountains and deep canyons of central Colorado. We live at about 8000 feet, and our skyline sits in the 12,000 to 14,000 foot range. This creates a sense of physical isolation that easily lends itself to emotional and spiritual isolation in people. In addition, there are nearly a dozen ski areas within a few hours of Gunnison. 85% of Gunnison county is either BLM or National Forest land. The recreational opportunities are nearly unlimited. The two primary employers in the area are Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and Western State College, both of which employ many people on a seasonal basis. A large portion of the people that move to the Gunnison Basin come for seasonal employment, or these recreational opportunities, leaving behind the fast-paced and crowded conditions of larger cities. All of this creates a unique spiritual atmosphere, one that requires a unique approach to ministry. Ours is a culture in which things like knowing God, connecting in relationships, long-term commitments and church life, take a back seat to skiing, kayaking, mountainbiking, and partying. So, in this atmosphere, how are we to help people make a vital connection with Jesus Christ?
We believe that the life of God flows through life-giving relationships - first our relationship with God Himself, and then our relationships with other believers. In fact, the truth is that almost no one will come to know Christ, or grow to maturity in Christ until they come into a relationship with a Christian. Therefore, the primary objective of every CLG is to connect people in relationship that can bring a Godly influence into one another's lives. Whether they are studying the Bible together, praying together, or hiking up a trail together, the opportunity exists for people to talk about the pertinent issues of life and help one another apply biblical principles to them.
We have discovered that people who would never attend a church service or go to a Bible study will spend an afternoon outdoors with a small group of believers. In this atmosphere, trust and relationship can grow to the point where a person can ask questions about your beliefs, or share an important issue about their life with you. What we have found is that people will come out to learn to fly-fish, and, after getting to know some of our down to earth people, will begin to ask questions about life and about God. People will come out to ride mountainbikes on a Tuesday evening, or kayak on a Sunday afternoon, and find out that these Christians are not boring and judgmental after all. We are finding that one minute we are simply walking in the woods, or riding a mountainbike with a friend, and the next minute we are discussing important issues about life. People come to Christ, or grow in their Christian walk, through relationships with Christians!

We have found that Christians who stay connected with a group of strong Christian friends are safer and healthier. They are the ones who tend to make it through life’s most difficult challenges with their spiritual life, family life, and work life in order. On the other hand, Christians who are disconnected often struggle through life, or fail in the face of adversity. Christian Life Groups provide an opportunity for believers to establish strong relationships and help one another overcome in difficult times.
Many people will connect with a Christian around a common interest or need long before they will set foot in a church. In fact, we don’t want people to have to come to church, or a “churchy” event to get to know a Christian — that would leave out far too much of the population. Instead we are forming small groups that invite believers and nonbelievers alike to get together for “non-spiritual” activities like recreation, community service, special topic seminars, or for more “spiritual” activities like Bible study, prayer, worship etc. CLGs also provide an unlimited variety of opportunities for people with various types of gifts to lead small groups. Because the groups are so diverse in their focus and purpose, all kinds of people with all kinds of gifts can form and lead CLGs. CLGs are a wonderful vehicle through which the body of Christ at RMCM is reaching out to our community, and strengthening one another.