Life Group Stories: Jim and Sandi Rives

Life Group Stories
by Jim Rives

Sunday School has always been a significant part of my life, and it always will be. It’s a big part of how the Holy Spirit works among us… and on me. But I think Life Group is a much better name, so I’ll use that here.

I have a vivid memory from when I was five years old and in my class at our Methodist Church. Today, I appreciate the loving care someone took to paint that ugly plumbing pipe in the middle of the basement room, and then attach hand-made twigs and paper leaves to make it look like a tree. Someone invested a part of their life into my life just to give me a better atmosphere for learning about Jesus. What a subtle but sweet way to plant tiny seeds to encourage life in the Body of Christ and for a future Dawson Life Group member and leader.

Thirty-five years ago, after spending 18 years teaching Dawson's youth, my wife, Sandi, and I were asked to lead a Life Group of sweet young married couples who had lost two sets of leaders to other churches. Before they “let me in,” three of the guys in that class insisted on interviewing me. They were kind, but grilled me resolutely. After covering subjects like teaching priorities and style, I found out that what they mainly wanted to know was if we were staying. God matched us up. Members of that class grew in number and in active service at Dawson, the kind of growth essential in a healthy church.

A few years later in 1993, I realized we had added only one new couple in the last two years. After some focused prayer, I felt a call to start something new. Our group was strong, so we knew that they would be fine. With Alta Faye Fenton set to take over the teaching, Sandi and I left that beloved group to start a Life Group for young married couples new to the Birmingham area.

God never stops working. A few of those amazing Life Group members soon left to serve and lead in other areas of Dawson, ably meeting ministry needs and making room for new people. That next year with Alta Faye, they added eight couples, while seven new couples joined our new Life Group. With 30 additions to the Dawson family in one year, we all felt that God had led us to where He wanted us.

That “interview” Life Group is still going strong and is active. It is led by two men who were in that original group. (You know who you are, Lee and Lance.)

Today, after 50+ years in Life Groups, Sandi and I are enjoying the Spirit-filled dynamics of our sixth new class: a wonderful multigenerational Life Group that God put together in 2019. We began with 10 people anxious to reach out and grow—one couple each in our 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. We are now 47 single and married adults who range in ages 35 to 80. God’s still working.

Dean Thornton is a co-teacher. He and his wife, Tracy, grin and claim to this day that I “kicked them out” of the Life Group we started in 1993, and “made” them go teach in College. Well, we’re back together in a Life Group and now Dean’s my teacher. There you have it…

The CIRCLE of LIFE GROUPS.

Jim Rives has been married to Sandi for 57 years, and followed her to Dawson after their wedding. He loves teaching Language Arts and Bible Study at The Learning Center and is very active in the Music & Worship Ministry.