Starting Point is a conversational environment where they can explore faith and experience community.

There are three extremely important aspects of this statement.

1. Explore faith. The first is to offer a forum for people to explore, investigate, survey, discuss, discover, experiment with, and examine issues of faith.

2. Experience community. The second goal is to provide a taste of community. Of course, long-term relationships will not fully form in just a few months. But in light of the discussions that take place and the common bond seekers, starters, and returners share, participants can experience the beginnings of authentic community. Ultimately, Starting Point is successful if participants want to continue exploring faith and experiencing community in a long-term small group setting.


3. A conversational environment. The third objective is to provide a conversational environment, not a teaching forum, an apologetics course, or a class on Christian theology. Naturally those elements may take place from time to time, but at its core, Starting Point is a conversational environment where discussion happens. Thus, Starting Point leaders are not teachers, but facilitators and fellow sojourners. In fact, we believe the language we use to describe the environment says so much about it. So we do not to use the terms teacher, student, class, or curriculum. Instead we use leader, group member, group, and conversation guide.