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Cultivating friendship by living out God's word together

Experience the joy of friendship, deeper understanding of the Bible, steady support during life’s greatest moments and biggest challenges, and countless opportunities to use one’s gifts for the church and community. Our life groups are centered around four rhythms creating a more holistic experience: share, study, support, and serve.

Share

We take time together to share what is happening in our everyday lives.

Study

We interact about the weekend message to learn and live it out in real life.

Support

We are there for one another with encouragement, prayer, and practical help.

Serve

We mobilize our time, talents, and resources to make a difference in our church and community.

You Belong Here

At Valley, Life Groups are a place where you can experience authentic community. Together we embrace our differences and live out God’s Word.

From young adults to retired seniors, there’s a Life Group for everyone – at any age and any stage in your walk with the Lord. Make new friends, grow deeper in your spiritual journey, and use your spiritual gifts.

Join the community at Valley!

Fill Out Our Interest Form

Life Group Leader Essentials

Essential Documents for Life Group Leaders

Commitment Forms from the Life Group Essentials Guide

Download the Commitment Forms found in the Life Groups Essentials Guide (includes Leader's Version)
Download Commitment Form

View The Message From Last Weekend

See List of Past Sermons and Watch Messages, View Notes, and Download Audio
View Messages

Life Group Leaders Essential Guide

Re-download the Life Group Leaders Guide you received at Life Group Leader Training
Download Booklet

2023-2024 Life Group Calendar

See Important Dates for Life Groups
Download Calendar

MANAGING YOUR ROSTER

How To Manage Your Life Group Roster Using Church Center
Download Instructions

4 Q's Document from the Life Group Essentials Guide

Download the 4 Q's guide to found in the Life Groups Essentials Guide
Download 4 Q's

TAKING ATTENDANCE

How To Take Weekly Attendance Using Church Center
Download Instructions

Life Group Additional Links

Additional Links and Resources for Life Group Leaders

Serving Opportunities at Valley Church and Valley Community Center

Check out ways for you and your Life Group to get plugged into Valley
View Opportunities

Care and Support at Valley

Resources for additional care and support for you or members of your Life Group
Care and Counseling Page

Life Group FAQs

What is a life group?

Life Groups are a gathering, typically made up of 10-16 people, who meet weekly to foster friendship through regular rhythms of share, study, serve and support.

When can I sign up for a life group?

Life Groups sign ups happen before our Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions. We will release a Groups Catalogue before each session of available groups to join. Want to be one of the first to be able to sign up? Fill out this request and we will make sure to notify you when the next Groups Catalogue is available!

How do I choose a life group?

Life Group Leader Biographies and sorting filters are designed help you search through our groups to find the best one for you. Once you find the right group, click on the group and click ‘Request to Join’ to notify the leader of your interest in joining their group.

When and where do life groups meet?

Most life groups meet on various nights of the week in homes throughout the greater Des Moines area.  To get a better feel of where current and new groups meet, use our neighborhood sorting filter or mapping feature when searching our Groups Catalogue.

What is the required commitment?

Joining a life group requires that you commit to your group through the next life group session.  Active attendance during meetings and participating in the various commitments of your group are key to a strong life group. If you sign up for a group and decide it is not a good fit for you, let us know in the first two weeks of a new session and we would love to help you find another.

What will we study?

Most of our groups are sermon based and discuss through the previous weekend’s message. There may be times where Valley encourages all groups to go through a different study material or your group desires to try something different for a season before returning to sermon-based discussions.  This is ok.

How do I become a life group leader?

All of our new life group leaders must have experience being a member of a group for at least a session and go through Leader Essentials Training before being considered as a potential leader.

Still have questions? Email our Life Groups Team at lifegroups@valley.church.

Life Groups Team

Nick Vander Zwaag

Director of Ministry Advancement

Sharon Woodward

Life Groups Assistant

Linton Lundeen

Pastor of Care & Counseling

Debi Lydic

Director of Women's Ministry

Diana White

Administrative Assistant