A Gentle Push: Craig Douglas Says Yes to Life Groups

Sometimes saying yes to something new takes a little courage—and sometimes it takes a gentle push.

For St. Michael’s member Craig Douglas, the invitation to lead a Life Group arrived at just the right moment.

Craig and his teenage son, Gray, have been part of St. Michael’s since 2024. But the story of Craig becoming a Life Group leader really begins with his late mother, Mary Carmyn Neely, whom Craig describes as “a vivacious, beloved, and thoroughly accomplished woman, with a deep and unshakable faith.”

As Craig prepared to deliver his mother’s eulogy at her memorial service in May, he spent time talking with family members and reconnecting virtually with some of her closest friends and colleagues from throughout her life.

Again and again, he heard about the small groups his mother had led at her church.

“One of the things I heard about time and again was her work in what we would call Life Groups at her church,” Craig said. “She led a handful of them over the years, and the women in them talked about how enriching those experiences were.”

Those groups became places where people built lasting friendships, learned from one another, developed networks of support, and strengthened the life of the church.

And, Craig added, “They also laughed a lot and had a blast together—Mom was a fun pusher.”

Then, just a few weeks after his mother’s memorial service, Craig received an email from St. Michael’s asking him to consider becoming a Life Group leader.

His first reaction was some trepidation. But almost immediately, something else happened.

“In the same moment, I heard the word ‘yes’ pass my lips out loud in an otherwise empty room,” Craig recalled. “I couldn’t tell if it was my voice or Mom’s, but I knew it was what I should do—with that gentle push from her spirit.”

And so Craig said yes.

As St. Michael’s launches Life Groups, Craig knows that joining one may feel a little uncertain for some of us. That's part of trying something new. But he also believes something meaningful can happen when people are willing to take that first step.

“This is something new,” Craig said. “We may not know exactly how it will unfold, but I suspect that it will go pretty easy once we get up and running. St. Michael’s is full of great people of great faith, and we’ll have a lot of good times along the way.”

And perhaps Craig inherited some of his mother's instinct for spotting the people who know how to bring others along.

“I look around on Sunday mornings and see a lot of ‘fun pushers.’ You’re easy to spot. So come join us!”

Craig hopes Life Groups will become places where friendships deepen, faith grows, and a large congregation feels a little more like family.

“Our clergy and staff leaders have created this terrific opportunity for us to strengthen each other’s lives and make our congregation more of a family in and of itself.”

Sometimes community begins with something as simple as saying yes.