Jesus didn’t just teach crowds. He transformed lives around the dinner table.

Throughout the Gospels, we see Him sharing meals with disciples, friends, strangers, and even people others had written off. Around those tables, He taught, encouraged, prayed, and built relationships that changed lives.

The early church carried that same rhythm forward by meeting in homes, breaking bread, and growing in faith together. Dinner Groups are built on that same idea. They create space for real connection and spiritual growth.

Brenna first walked into Hoboken Grace in 2022. During one of her first Sundays, someone sat next to her, struck up a conversation, and invited her to a Friday coffee meetup with a Dinner Group.

She ended up signing up for a Dinner Group that very week, but she will be the first to tell you she was nervous.

“Most of my reservations came from the unknown,” she said.

“I had grown up in the Catholic church, and to be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what a Christian girl was like. I was afraid of not fitting in.”

“It was scary walking into a group of girls who I assumed were already all close friends.”

But when that Friday came, everything changed.

“I met some of the nicest group of girls ever,” Brenna said. “They welcomed me in right away and made me feel like I belonged. I never could have imagined that initial invite would change the course of my entire life.”

Looking back, Brenna also sees how God used one simple invitation to bring her a friendship she never expected.

“The best part is, the person who invited me on my first day at Hoboken Grace is now one of my very best friends.”

Today, Brenna leads a Dinner Group of her own, a role she never expected to step into.

“God showed me through my community that it was exactly where He wanted me to be,” she said. “My friends encouraged me every step of the way, lifting me up and helping quiet the fears that I wasn’t qualified.”

For Brenna, one of the most meaningful moments comes at the end of each season.

“I find myself looking around the room in awe of all that God has done,” she said.

“I’m not only seeing spiritual growth in each person, but I’m watching real friendships form in just a few months. God shows up every single time.”

Dinner Group didn’t just give Brenna community. It deepened her faith.

“I love that every Tuesday night, time with God is already carved out,” she shared. “Every group looks a little different, but I always leave feeling closer to Jesus, whether it’s through prayer, scripture, or just honest conversation.”

And it’s not just her own faith that’s grown.

“The way the girls in my group love, serve, and pour into each other constantly encourages me. It fuels my faith.”

Dinner Groups open for sign-ups on August 23, and Brenna has one simple encouragement if you’re on the fence.

“Just take the first step. Let God handle the rest. I’ve never met anyone who regretted showing up. Let this community pour into you, and let God show His love to you through it.”

To get notified when groups open for the fall, click here.