The Underground Movement is a spiritual revolution within the Metro Community fueled by a passion to grow deeper in relationship with God and each other beyond Sunday service. This movement is driven by Underground Groups with the goal of becoming a CWOW (Church Without Walls).
Underground Groups are made up of 12-15 people that meet together each week in a common location during the semester. The focus of the underground group gatherings is to provide an atmosphere for growth, learning, fun, and new relationships while going through a series of your choice. We want the underground groups to be a place where people can connect with God and each other.
To get involved with either being a part of a group or leading one, please contact Pastor Stephen Sharkey.
To sign up for a group online, please click here.
Underground Group FAQ
Q: What do you mean by “Church Without Walls”?
A: A Church Without Walls (CWOW) is authentic faith and community being lived beyond the walls of the church. In a CWOW, church becomes a lifestyle rather than a building in which peo-ple gather once a week.
Q: What do you mean by “authentic community”?
A: We define authentic community as people genuinely having fun, caring for one another, and growing in our relationships with God and each other.
Q: What’s the difference between Underground Groups and small groups?
A: Whereas in the past at Metro, small groups were regarded as a separate ministry with more of a social focus, we see the Underground Groups as a natural continuation of our Above-ground movement (a.k.a., Sunday Worship Service) with a focus on going DEEPER with each other and Jesus Christ (hence the term, Underground).
Q: How often will Underground Group meetings take place?
A: Underground Groups will meet on the same day every week during a 10-to-12 consecutive-week semester.
Q: Where will Underground Group meetings take place?
A: In the homes of church members.
Q: How long are Underground Group meetings?
A: Two hours. The exact times will vary depending on the group, but we recommend 7-9 or 7:30-9:30.
Q: Why should I take part in the Underground Movement?
A: You will have the opportunity to form new friendships within the church community, to serve together, to share your faith and God’s love with your friends and family, to have fun learning about a topic that will help you to develop spiritually and deepen your knowledge of the Bible. Ultimately, you’ll draw closer to God and the people He has placed in your life.
Q: Can I bring friends who do not attend Metro to my Underground Group gathering?
A: We encourage you to invite as many friends as possible to the Underground Group gatherings. However, only invite friends who don’t have a relationship with Christ or don’t attend church. Sometimes, church can be an awkward and intimidating place, but Underground Group meetings provide a safe place for people who don’t regularly attend church to find a community that welcomes, embraces, and loves them.
Q: Can I also invite those friends to church?
A: Yes! Please invite your friends who don’t know Christ or attend church to join our Sunday service. The Underground Group gatherings can serve as a segue for them, but we desire that they ultimately become a part of our Above-ground movement (Sunday morning celebra-tion/Worship).
Q: Once the semester ends, do I have to be a part of the same group the following semes-ter?
A: No. You can join another group that meets elsewhere and is studying a new topic next semes-ter.
Q: If I find that I’m not really interested in the topic that we are studying, can I switch to another Underground Group?
Yes, as long as it is within the first two weeks and the group that you want to join has openings. The maximum number of people for a group is 20 people. After two weeks, you can no longer switch. You’ll have to wait until the following semester to join a new group.
Q: Will the Underground Group studies be Bible based?
A: Yes. Even though most groups will not be doing a Bible study per se, all of the topics and books studied will evolve out of Scripture.
Q: How do I sign up for an Underground Group?
A: Click here to sign up online. You can also sign up at the information table after Sunday Worship Service.
