REALIFE GROUPS
Realife Groups are our small groups where we want people to connect intentionally to grow spiritually. We believe that life-change happens best in the context of consistent relationships. Discovering and living out the God's plan for our lives was never meant to occur in isolation. In fact, we believe not being involved in vibrant community will result in a road block to our spiritual growth. Below you will see specifics about how to get connected. Please let us know if you have questions.
Realife Group FAQ: click HERE
01 - Matt & Tiffany Buss
Tuesday Evenings in NE Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Aidan (4), Asher (2)
Hometown: Born in Austin
Occupation: Fire Insurance surveyor
Favorite Movie: Braveheart
Favorite Music Artist: Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Book: Harry Potter series
Favorite Web Site: busskids.blogspot.com (shameless, I know).
Favorite Pastime: Spending time with my wife and kids.
Favorite Place to Travel: Oddly enough Las Vegas with Tiff.
Favorite Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:6-7
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: watching people grow in their faith and love of God.
Something Random: I lived in Germany for 3 ½ years when I was a kid.
02 - Jeff & Jamie Armstrong
Wednesday Evenings in NW Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Kyle (12), Anna (8), Ben (6)
Hometown: Austin, TX
Occupation: Account Manager with Sequel Data Systems
Favorite Movie: Saving Private Ryan
Favorite Music Artist: None.. I like several Texas Country artists
Favorite Book: Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose
Favorite Web Site: Drudge Report, ESPN
Favorite Pastime: fishing, skiing (water and snow), and coaching my kids
Favorite Place to Travel: Germany
Favorite Bible Passage: Romans 12:1-2
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Developing deep relationships with others.
Something Random: I don’t like being tied down with single answer questions like “What is your favorite book”… and I used to be a farmer.
03 - Greg & Kathryn Meece
Wednesday Evenings in West Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Jeremy (26), Nathan (24), Ben (19), Deborah (15)
Hometown: Los Alamitos, CA (G), Never lived any where longer than 3.5 years growing up (K)
Occupation: Software Test Engineer (G), Nurse Home Visitor for first time, at risk Moms and their Babies (K)
Favorite Movies: Gattaca, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Galaxy Quest, Schindler's List, Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, Groundhog Day, 12 Monkeys, The Princess Bride, many more! (G), Foreign films and Old Movies (K)
Favorite Music Artist: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (G), Casting Crowns, Water Mark, Leeland (K)
Favorite Book: Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul -J.P. Moreland (G), From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya (K)
Favorite Web Site: str.org (G), http://www.incourage.me/, http://www.elisabethelliot.org/devotional.html, and of course Facebook (K)
Favorite Pastime: Hiking or casual bicycling; spending time with my wife (G), Being with my family (K)
Favorite Place I’d like to Travel to: Ireland (I've never been even though I'm half Irish!) (G), Fiji, Australia, Ireland, India (K)
Favorite Bible Passage: Philemon 1:6 (G), Philippians 3:7-10 (K)
Favorite Part Of REALife Group: Seeing God develop real character and growth in people as they encounter His word and its application in His body (G), Learning to Listen to the Lord through others as well as learning to listen to His heart for others as we experience life change together (K)
Something Random: I have met or encountered numerous celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Devito, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Willis, Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey (G), My Dad taught me to sail a boat by myself at the age of 12 in Puerto Rico (K)
04 - Steve & Dawn Orand
Thursday Evenings in NE Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Nick and Austin ( Both grown and out of the house-married))
Hometown: Fairfield, Texas
Occupation: owner of a machine shop
Favorite Movie: Jeremiah Johnson
Favorite Music Artist: Bob Dylan
Favorite Book: Tom Sawyer
Favorite Web Site: Fox Business
Favorite Pastime: Riding on a Harley
Favorite Place to Travel: Colorado Rockies
Favorite Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:13
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Getting to know people well and sharing life stories with them, supporting one another
Something Random: Steve and Dawn enjoy great meals and having intense conversation on many topics. As parents of a thirty year old and a 27 year old son, they have been empty nesters for a long time. That’s a lot of life to look back on and laugh about. Dawn works with Steve at the machine shop in Round Rock. She is an information junkie who loves to read, follow politics, go to the theater (mainly for musicals), and cook Cajun food.
05 - Jordan & Ashley Wonderly
Thursday Evenings in NE Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Payton (1yr)
Hometown: Georgetown
Occupation: Supervisor for Farmers Ins.
Favorite Movie: Saving Private Ryan
Favorite Music Artist: Mutemath
Favorite Book: Mere Christianity
Favorite Web Site: IGN.com & iTunes
Favorite Pastime: mountain biking & video games
Favorite Place to Travel: Switzerland
Favorite Bible Passage: 1 Thes. 5:16-18
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: building relationships & digging into the Word
Something Random: I could watch soccer all day long
06 - Larry & Gina Allhands
Wednesday Evenings In NE Round Rock
Open Enrollment
07 - Kurt & Dionne McBride
Thursday Evenings In NW Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Jacob (9), Emma (5)
Hometown: Springfield IL (K); Houston TX (D)
Occupation: RRPD Detective (K); HCBRR Admin Assistant (D)
Favorite Movie: The Outlaw Josey Wales (K); Can't really pick just one (D)
Favorite Music Artist: Stevie Ray Vaughn (K); This changes weekly, but right now I would have to say Zac Brown Band (D)
Favorite Book: The Corps by WEB Griffith (K); James Mitchener's Texas and the Twilight Series (D)
Favorite Web Site: Google (K); Can't live without my Google Reader (D)
Favorite Pastime: Exercise, Hangin' with the family (K); Stamping, Baking, Biking (D)
Favorite Place to Travel: Disneyworld (K); I would have to agree with Kurt, but I also love France (D)
Favorite Bible Passage: Romans 13:4 (K); 1 Peter 1:6-7, the first scripture I ever memorized (D)
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Getting different perspective's and Mexican Potluck (K); getting to talk through real issues with others (D)
Something Random: Unlike Jon Lamb, I can speak fluent French (D); I can't even speak fluent English (K)
08 - Shawn & Amy Wills
Thursday Evenings In West Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Abby 8 Mia Margaret 2 Fisher 1
Hometown: Fort Smith, AR
Occupation: Software Sales
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Music Artist: Chris Rice
Favorite Book: The Notebook
Favorite Web Site: Coast to Coast AM
Favorite Pastimes: Golf /Fishing
Favorite Place to Travel: British Isles
Favorite Bible Passage: Hebrews 4:12
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Relationships and Discussions
Something Random: Amy and I both grew up in AR and went to school at Baylor but we had to travel all of the way to Wales before we ever met.
09 - Kevin Carmack
Friday Mornings In NW Round Rock
Men's Group
Kids: Kiahna Carmack
Hometown: Houston
Occupation: Case Manager/ Student ACC
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titians, Gladiator
Favorite Music Artist: Lacrea (reach records), Kirk Franklin, Smokie Norful, Hill Song, The Katina’s
Favorite Book: I don’t really have a favorite, but I’m currently reading “Humility True Greatness" by C.J Mahaney
Favorite Web Site: Wade o Radio Show
Favorite Pastime: I love hanging out with my daughter (She keeps me going), watching college football LET’S GO OU!!
Favorite Place to Travel: One day I plan to travel to Jamaica
Favorite Bible Passage: Isaiah 41:9-10
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Being real and getting know others.
Something Random: Real men wear pink
10 - Dottie Hall
Thursday Evenings In East Round Rock
Ladies' Group
Spouse: Mike Hall
Kids: Mike Hall Jr.(wife Becky grandkids, Andrew, Tracy and Loren), Tony, wife Priscilla) Travis (soon to be married to Marisa)
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Occupation: District Textbook Coordinator, RRISD
Favorite Movie: I like the Hallmark Channel and all the feel good movies
Favorite Music: I like Christian music. It is all I listen to
Favorite Book: The Bible! For pleasure reading, I like mysteries
Favorite Web Site: www.facebook.com (lately)
Favorite Pastime: I like to woodwork, making mosaics, making jewelry, quilting, sewing, having coffee with a friend, traveling with my husband
Favorite Place to Travel: I was blessed to go to Greece
Favorite Bible Passages: Phil 4:8 and Phil 4:13
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: I love the friendships that come from ReaLife group. Something Random: I have been married 37 years! I have worked for RRISD for 27 years and I have lived in the same house for 32 years. Maybe that means I don’t like change!
11 - David and Amy Grunow
Thursday Evenings In SE Round Rock
Open Enrollment
12- Roberto & Mary Trevino
Spanish Speaking Group
Kids: Rob (38), Milinda (35), Román (33)
Hometown: Corpus Christi, TX
Occupation: School District Administrator
Favorite Movie: Officer and a Gentleman
Favorite Music Artist: Aretha Franklin
Favorite Book: Bible
Favorite Web Site:
Favorite Pastime: Bicycling (Roads & Trails)
Favorite Place to Travel: Hawaii
Favorite Bible Passage: Mark 10:27
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Fellowship
Something Random: Joyfully married for 39 years!
13- Robert and Drenda Young
Friday Evenings in North Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Collin (13), and Alexandra (22)
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Occupation: Chief Financial Officer, Field Asset Services
Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams
Favorite Music Artist: Mercy Me
Favorite Book: Come Thirsty-Max Lucado
Favorite Web Site: ESPN.com
Favorite Pastime: Playing Golf
Favorite Place to Travel: Scottsdale, AZ
Favorite Bible Passage: James 1:2-3
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: I love "doing life" with Christians that endeavor to strengthen each other's spirit through prayer, words of encouragement, and service.
Something Random: I wear aluminum foil on my head so aliens can not read my mind...only kidding...Miracles happen every day in front of our eyes. Did you see it?
14- Bart and Gina Bevers
Day and Location TBD
Open Enrollment
Kids: Zane (10) and Gracyn (2)
Hometown: Highland Park, TX
Occupation: Inspector General (Texas-HHS)
Favorite Movie: High Plains Drifter
Favorite Music Artist: Johnny Cash & REMFavorite Book: Snakes in Suits, by Paul Babiak, Ph.D. & Robert Hare, Ph.D.
Favorite Web Site: ESPN.com and weather.com
Favorite Pastime: Golf and Running
Favorite Place to Travel: Disney World and Destin, FloridaFavorite Bible Passage: John 16:8-11; 1 Thess 5:24
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Learning something about God’s personality and WHY He does what He does
Something Random: Played football at SMU during the Pony Express days (winningest Div. 1 team in the nation for 6 years, 1980-85).
15- Dana and Carole Tucker
Thursday Evenings/Location TBD
Open Enrollment
Kids: 2-married
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Occupation: Operations Manager, Printing
Favorite Movie: When Harry Met Sally, Brave Heart
Favorite Music Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
Favorite Book: The Reason for My Hope, Charles Stanley
Favorite Web Site: Foxnews, 321gold, Morningstar
Favorite Pastime: Hunting, Fishing, Outdoor Sports, RV Camping
Favorite Place to Travel: Mountains, National Parks
Favorite Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:11
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Seeing God’s word change lives
Something Random:
16- Hunter and Leigh Westbrook
Thursday Evenings in West Round Rock
This Group Is Closed At This Time
Kids: Kaden (1st Grade)
Hometown: Austin
Occupation: Business Development
Favorite Movie: Last of the Mohicans --or-- Band of Brothers
Favorite Music Artist: Stevie Ray Vaughn
Favorite Book: Holy Bible
Favorite Web Site: Google.com
Favorite Pastime: Scuba Diving
Favorite Place to Travel: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Favorite Bible Passage: Colossians 1:15-20
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Answered Prayers
Something Random: I dig Texas sports, authentic Mexican food, diving with sharks, and I’m Scotch-Irish.
17- Nason and Hayley Hengst
Thursdays in West Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Nason “Gunnar” Hengst, 3 months old
Hometown: Austin
Occupation: Real Estate Agent (N), Stay at home Mom (H)
Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting (N), The Notebook (H)
Favorite Music Artist: It’s hard for me to name one favorite….I like LOTS of different kinds of music, and LOTS of different artists…I probably lean most towards the singer/songwriter type. I love Joe Purdy. (H)
Favorite Book: Too many to name --- right now I am reading “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller & FLIP – How to find, fix & sell houses for profit. (N), The Glass Castle (H)
Favorite Web Site: Facebook!
Favorite Pastime: Reading, Cigars, Coffee, Taking Hayley out, Basketball (N); Reading, taking baths, taking walks with my little man, going out to dinner (Chuy’s) and movies with Nason (H)
Favorite Place to Travel: Europe if we’re talking BIG vacations, Washington DC if we’re talking “medium” vacations and South Padre Island if we’re talking small vacations
Favorite Bible Passage: Joshua 1 or all Proverbs (N), Psalm 139 (H)
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Hanging out with great friends (N),I love getting involved in good, in depth discussions, hearing different people’s perspectives, and learning new ways to think about things (H)
Something Random: I am an only child (N), I love to watch clothes while they are in the washing machine. Not sure if that’s “random” or if it just makes me sound crazy (H)
18- Jon and April Lamb
Tuesdays in West Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: None
Hometown: Tonganoxie, KS (J); Oklahoma City, OK (A)
Occupation: Ph.D. student (J); teacher (A)
Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride (J); girly movies (A)
Favorite Music Artist: Beirut, Cake, Nickel Creek, and despite my better judgment, John Mayer (J); Christmas music (A)
Favorite Book: Wild at Heart, King Lear, The Brothers Karamazov (J); Never Work Harder Than Your Students (A)
Favorite Web Site: espn.com (J); brainpop.com (A)
Favorite Pastime: Running and reading (J); watching Food Network (A)
Favorite Place to Travel: England (J); home (A)
Favorite Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:20 (J); Jeremiah 29:11 (A)
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: The colossally awkward silence between a question being asked and someone answering it (J); potluck (A)
Something Random: When people ask me if I speak French, I say yes, but when they proceed to say something in French, I realize that I do not, in fact, speak French (J); my computer is from 2001 (A)
19- Todd and LaDonna Baxter
Friday Evenings in Southeast Round Rock
Open Enrollment
Kids: Meagan (9)
Hometown: Windsor, NY
Occupation: Manager System Engineering - ERCOT
Favorite Movie: Right now I am pretty fond of “I am Legend”
Favorite Music Artist: Red, Kutless, Fireflight
Favorite Book: Mere Christianity
Favorite Web Site: Wiki
Favorite Pastime: Gaming, Gardening and Working out
Favorite Place to Travel: Forests, Mountains, Beach
Favorite Bible Passage: John 13:34 - A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Social interaction
20- Greg and Deborah David
Day and Location TBD
Open Enrollment
Kids: Rachel (16), Rebekah (14), Benjamin (12), Sarah (10), Josiah (8)
Hometown: Granger, TX
Occupation: Critical Systems Team Manager-FLUOR Enterprises
Favorite Movie: We Were Soldiers (G), Faith Like a Potato (D)
Favorite Music Artist: GLAD (the acapella project)
Favorite Book: math(G), education(D)
Favorite Web Site: wickipidia, brouse for news
Favorite Pastime: pt with family
Favorite Place to Travel: The Hill Country
Favorite Bible Passage: God being our atonement, God making us into a new creation
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Uplifting each other
Something Random: "ESSAYONS!!!" Encourage one another to live Godly lives
21- Scott McBroom & Sheila Jordan
Thursday Evenings/NE Round Rock
Singles Group
Scott-
Kids: 2 boys: Riley (14) and Ryan (11)
Hometown: Great Falls, MT
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer
Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, The Big Lebowski
Favorite Music Artist: Third Day, U2
Favorite Book: Bible, Blue Like Jazz
Favorite Web Site: Facebook
Favorite Pastime: Spending time with my kids
Favorite Place to Travel: Montana, Chicago, Paris
Favorite Bible Passage: 2 Tim 1:7
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Connecting with others as we grow in faith.
Sheila-
Kids: None, Yet
Hometown: Earth, Texas, don’t laugh!
Occupation: Database & Communications, Spanish Instructor
Favorite Movie: To Kill A Mockingbird
Favorite Music Artist: Rich Mullins
Favorite Book: Redeeming Love, Pillars of the Earth
Favorite Web Site: The Pioneer Woman, Footnotes2Stories, Central Texas Gardner
Favorite Pastime: Learning, Teaching, Gardening, Music, Travel, Cooking, Reading
Favorite Place to Travel: Anywhere Spanish is the native language!
Favorite Bible Passage: Right now, Psalm 27 and Ephesians 5:1-2
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Laughing, praying, eating, and serving together!
22- Kevin Carmack & Lauren Lacy
Tuesday Evenings/Location TBD
Singles Group
Kevin-
Kids: Kiahna Carmack
Hometown: Houston
Occupation: Case Manager/ Student ACC
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titians, Gladiator
Favorite Music Artist: Lacrea (reach records), Kirk Franklin, Smokie Norful, Hill Song, The Katina’s
Favorite Book: I don’t really have a favorite, but I’m currently reading “Humility True Greatness" by C.J Mahaney
Favorite Web Site: Wade o Radio Show
Favorite Pastime: I love hanging out with my daughter (She keeps me going), watching college football LET’S GO OU!!
Favorite Place to Travel: One day I plan to travel to Jamaica
Favorite Bible Passage: Isaiah 41:9-10
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Being real and getting know others.
Something Random: Real men wear pink
Lauren-
Kids: Jeff 14, Jayden 10
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Fitness Coordinator, Personal Trainer
Favorite Movie: My Cousin Vinnie
Favorite Music Artist: Casting Crowns, David Crowder
Favorite Book: Currently, "A woman after God's own heart"
Favorite Web Site: Facebook
Favorite Pastime: Going to the movies with popcorn and milkduds
Favorite Place to Travel: Seaworld
Favorite Bible Passage: James 1: 2-4
Favorite Part Of Realife Group: Getting real and staying in check with each other