Garden
City Church
A Small Group Church Movement
are you looking for a close-knit church setting?
Consider Our Small Group Model Church
What is a Small Group Model Church?
A church centered on discussion rather than monologue. While we love and honor traditional church structures and methods, we believe that today's culture also needs a space for discussion-based teachings, community, and mission within smaller-sized churches.
On a typical Sunday morning, for example, we eat breakfast together, spend some time in worship, discuss the Bible reading for that week, hear Biblical teaching from one of our pastors, and share about life and prayer requests with one another. Additionally, groups stay small in order to foster deep relationships and community. We currently meet in homes. We may not always do this, but for the foreseeable future this has served us well to create genuine community and simplicity.
Who We Are
We are a gospel-centered, community-building church, established in March 2026 in response to a calling from God to plant a small group church model that multiplies throughout the greater Hickory area.
Inspired by Francis Chan's We Are Church, we desire to bring biblical and simplified gatherings to provide opportunity for new growth and deep community.
Why This Model?
For some, engaging the Bible together produces greater spiritual growth. Personal reading at home combined with discussion and teaching on Sundays enhances ones overall encounter with God's Word. Every person in the church is expected to read several Bible chapters (usually 3-5 chapters) each week in preparation for discussion on Sunday mornings.
For some, a faith that cannot be questioned or discussed isn’t worthy of their trust. This either leaves them searching, unsatisfied, or doubting that faith.
For many, loneliness is very real. The American Psychological Association reported a survey in November, 2025 that concludes: “Half of adults in the U.S. reported feelings of emotional disconnection, saying they have felt isolated from others (54%), felt left out (50%), or have lacked companionship (50%) often or some of the time, suggesting loneliness may have become a defining feature of life in America.” With such loneliness and lack of emotional support in the U.S., what better place to foster community than in the church?
For some, the closer life on life discipleship and accountability is really helpful for them. The pastors and leaders at Garden City Church seek to mentor and guide every member towards maturity in Christ. For example, many church goers know that they should develop their relationship with God outside of Sunday mornings, read their Bible each week at home, spend time in prayer, develop small group Christian relationships, and serve and share Christ with others, but often, people need help. They need a mentor and guide to strengthen them and hold them accountable on this journey. This is what we seek to provide.