Being able to do life alongside other believers is a gift from heaven. God said in Genesis 2 that it was not good for man to be alone—He designed us to be in fellowship with one another.
Natasha Pittman grew up in a ministry environment—both of her parents were pastors, and she has been surrounded by the Body of Christ all her life. However, when she moved to the Memphis area in 2018, she had to start all over and rebuild her community.
“The first year I was here in Memphis, everything was going well,” Natasha said. “I was still watching my mom and dad’s church online, but I was trying to find a church home that resembled what I believed in—I grew up in a nondenominational church.”
Natasha wanted to find a church that was rooted in the Word of God and that would allow her to expand her knowledge of God. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Natasha came across a sermon being preached by a pastor who was rooted in the Bible.
“I stumbled across one of Pastor Adrian Rogers’ sermons on TV, and I thought to myself, ‘I don’t know much about a Southern Baptist church, but he is preaching a great word,’” Natasha said.
Natasha feared that in a church so big, she would become just another seat that was filled. However, the Lord continued to be faithful and push Natasha toward becoming part of His Body at Bellevue.
“I fought back with every excuse,” Natasha said. “I told Him, ‘I don’t know where to go, and I don’t have any friends to get me connected,’ but I heard Him tell me, ‘Go,’ and I have been attending ever since.”
Eventually Natasha wanted to be more than just another face in the Worship Center. She visited the Groups Expo—an event tailored to inform the church about the different groups that Bellevue offers—and had she not stepped out in faith to ask questions and be intentional with whom she met, she may not have found the community she was searching for.
“I went to the Groups Expo, and I met with Mrs. Peggy Williams, and I simply asked her what being in a Life Group was all about,” Natasha said. “I desired more Christian friends to do life with.”
Even though Natasha wanted to have a godly community to go through life with, she allowed stereotypes about different church’s life groups to run rampant in her mind.
“I had heard some biases about life groups and how they can become cliquey, and I didn’t want that,” Natasha said. “But the way Mrs. Peggy explained Life Groups to me, it didn’t sound cliquey—it sounded like a family.”
To find the right Life Group for her, Natasha went online and read about the different groups that Bellevue offered. Little did she know Mrs. Peggy was a leader of a women’s group.
“I saw that Mrs. Peggy was a leader of a Life Group, and I remembered that when I met her she was so awesome and kind,” Natasha said. “I thought, ‘Why not join her group?’”
By walking in obedience to God, Natasha was able to find a community that she could be poured into and give back to.
“In my Life Group, everyone is real—there is no shame; you can share things, and people will pray with you,” Natasha said. “But most importantly, they’re going to love on you. I don’t even know how to articulate the feeling—I just love being there, and I just love them. And it’s not a one-sided love. It’s a real love.”
Oftentimes the enemy can trick us into thinking we have to do life alone—he tells us that no one would want to help us carry our burdens. That lie and the fear of rejection cause many people to shy away from joining a Life Group. However, here at Bellevue, nobody walks alone. We’ll save you a seat and always give an outstretched hand.
You have a place here! Stop by the Groups Expo in the East or West Lobby after Sunday morning worship on August 18, or text “GROUPS” to 901901.