“The sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 CSB (summarized)
How precious are friendships to the soul. When life throws a curveball, good friends can offer hope and renew your spirit. For Bill and Sandy Hackett, staying in the same Life Group for the past 50 years has shown them that life really is more fruitful when done together.
Over the years, Bill and Sandy have seen the growth of Bellevue—not only the building but also the community. When they first came to Bellevue they were seeking a place of godly counsel and wisdom, but little did they know they would also find to last a lifetime.
“Bellevue has that feeling of family, of connection,” Sandy said.
Bill and Sandy first began attending Bellevue in 1986, but they didn’t start getting involved until 2004, when they decided to try out different Life Groups. They came across Charlie Brand’s Life Group on their fifth visit, and the rest is history.
“After that Sunday, we didn’t have any questions about which group we were joining,” Bill said.
“Charlie Brand was a wonderful Bible teacher,” Sandy said. “It didn’t feel like a lecture class—he was that approachable.”
From the first day they joined, Bill and Sandy saw their Life Group continue to grow. Eventually they had to start meeting in smaller groups to accommodate the large number of attendees. Sandy loved this change because she felt more connected and involved through the small groups.
“The whole class would get together once in a while, but with a small group you get to know people on a deeper level,” Sandy said. “You’re able to have people who will check on you, who will go out of their way to make sure you are being poured into. That’s something you can’t really get anywhere else.”
Being able to cultivate those relationships allowed for lifelong friendships to take root. And when times got hard, Bill and Sandy knew they had people to call on.
“In 2007 Bill was out mowing the yard, and I got a call that he was in the emergency room because he had been attacked,” Sandy said. “We never found out whoever attacked him. But Bill was bent over, and someone or something hit him over the head. Luckily a car came by, saw Bill in the driveway, and went to notify our neighbors. We never got that person’s name and never saw them again, and I really believe it was an angel.”
While Bill was in the hospital, Bill and Sandy’s Life Group rallied around them to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
“Our class just overwhelmed us with everything we needed,” Sandy said. “Even though I really didn’t need food, they wanted to feed me, they came and mowed our yard, they made sure that if I needed someone to stay with me, I would have someone to stay with. We just saw an endless amount of love poured onto us.”
Being able to grow older and go through trials with their Life Group has provided Bill and Sandy with deeply rooted friendships they wouldn’t have if they had not been faithful in attending a Life Group. They have not only found friends to get them through the hard times, but they have also been able to create many wonderful memories.
“Now that we’re older, we don’t go out as much,” Sandy said. “We’ve been part of Bellevue for so long that this group is really our social life. We travel together, go out for a meal sometimes. We’ve gotten so close to the people in our group.”
Doing life alone isn’t something that’s a part of the Christian walk. Throughout the Bible, it is clearly stated that joy and wisdom come when doing life with fellow brothers or sisters in Christ. By reaching out and joining a group, the Hacketts found a community that not only showers them in love but builds them up in the way of the Lord.
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–10a.
You have a place here! Learn more about Life Groups at bellevue.org/groups