Building Community One Event at a Time
Feeling connected to your community is important. It’s more than just sitting next to someone on a Sunday morning—it’s about truly connecting, sharing life, and growing in faith together. That’s why our Let’s Connect events are so exciting. They’re designed to give congregants the chance to organize their own gatherings and create spaces where people can build meaningful relationships outside of Sundays. From Bunco to kickball, these events have already sparked incredible stories of connection. One such story comes from Gretchen Joubert, a dedicated member of our Lake Mary Campus.
For Gretchen, developing and fostering community within the church body is more than a passion—it’s her calling. “Biggest thing to know about me is developing and fostering community within the church body is a specific ministry I believe God has called me to,” she shared. “Let’s Connect events offer an easy place to start developing relationships.”
When asked about the opportunity Let’s Connect presents for anyone in the congregation to bring their ideas to life, Gretchen highlighted the simplicity of the process. “It’s easy to work alongside the church to schedule room space and get signup info,” she explained. “The extra publication that reaches folks you don’t always see on Sundays is a bonus.”
As for the work involved, Gretchen believes it’s all about how you approach it. “It really can be as easy or hard as you want to make it for yourself,” she said. “Because Summit takes care of online publication and signup forms, it can be as easy as having an idea and saying this is when I’d like to do it.”
The results of her events have been encouraging, though varied. “Currently, results are mixed. Some events have a lot of interest and others a few,” she said. “I believe that with time people will start to seek them out more as they discover the opportunities to connect.”
When asked what advice she would give to someone considering hosting a Let’s Connect event, Gretchen’s response was simple: “It is important to be obedient to the prompting God puts on your heart. Planning an event does not have to be a complicated thing—pick a date, pick a location, and just invite people to do life with you.”
Gretchen’s passion is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to be an extrovert or an experienced event planner to make a difference. All it takes is a willing heart and a desire to see others thrive in community.
As we move into the new year, we’re excited to see even more Let’s Connect events popping up across all our campuses. Whether it’s a backyard barbecue, a family hike, a new album listening party, a monthly book club, or a pickup basketball game, there’s no limit to the ways you can bring people together. An event could be tailored for families with young children, singles, or a certain age group even. If Gretchen’s story has inspired you, consider hosting your own Let’s Connect event! You’ll not only be creating a space for connection but also playing a vital role in building the Kingdom right here in our Summit community.
To learn more or to sign up as a host, visit www.summitchurchfl.org/lets-connect. Let’s keep growing together—one event at a time!