| Purpose:
To more closely model the pattern
of fellowship and community that was found in the 1st
Christian church as described in the concluding verses
of the second chapter of Acts.
Goal:
An environment of closeness and
Christian intimacy where confession, burden-sharing,
and caring are mixed with prayer, worship and devotion
– bringing members closer to God and to one another
in Love.
Strategy:
Skilled facilitators along with
volunteer hosts and hostesses prepare and arrange a
weekly event where the group gets together for devotional
and sharing.
Tactics:
Facilitator training and coaching,
a flexible curriculum of devotional material, and follow-up
mentoring when groups appear to be struggling. Group
size 6 – 14 adults.
Facilitator
Skill / Knowledge Sets:
Covenant Establishment and Maintenance
Group Discussion Facilitation
Group Dynamics
Dealing effectively with Disruptive Behavior
Leveraging mature Family Focus groups
as natural conduits for good works – benevolence,
visitation and community outreach.
Metrics How we monitor our success:
Weekly attendance statistics
reported to the elders. Quarterly “group-health”
reports to the ministry leader. Reductions in new member
attrition when linked to a small group. Increases in
member involvement as they support their small group’s
in- and out-reach efforts.
What a small group should not be:
While our groups may engage in
mutually agreed to accountability as a way to help a
member to overcome a sin in their life, they should
avoid becoming a discipling group focused only on accountability
sessions and/or interventions for specified behavior
infractions.
A designated visitation or
outreach group – this dilutes the intended ministry
to one another. It is inevitable though that as small
groups develop into the “image of Christ’s
love”, sharing the joy and love among themselves
will not be containable. As each group matures to this
level, many of their requests will be for their friends
and colleagues who also need the kind of relationship
that a small group provides. It is through this compelling
Love that others will be drawn to become a part of Christ’s
body at Parkside. |
Family
Focus Groups
