Renewal Small Group Ministry

Vision Statement

The small group ministry exists to nurture and mature members in the context of intimate community and to serve as a place where new members can be brought into the church and introduced to Christ.

Purpose
  • To provide shepherding care to church members through mutual ministry and small group leaders
  • To be an atmosphere in which gifts are discovered and exercised in the group and the church at large
  • To create an additional context in which Scripture is studied (Truth/Life intersect), members pray (for each other and for the church) and worship together
  • To serve as a door through which visitors and those who do not know Christ can visit and experience the Church and its community
Tangible Goals
  1. Broad Small Group participation:
    • 80% of attendees are involved in a small group
  2. Effective ‘Pastoring’
    • Every member in small group has someone w/ in the group intimately aware of their life situation and spiritual progress
  3. Small Group Multiplication/Growth by Cell Division
    • The total number of small groups increases by 25% annually
Ministry Method
  1. Broad Small Group participation:
    1. Coordinated effort between Welcoming and Small Groups
      1. Each small group should designate at least one or several members in the group who volunteer to stand at or near the Welcoming Table each Sunday
      2. Welcoming Cards that are marked for an interest in joining small group should be submitted to Small Groups Elder and followed up with within the week
      3. Small Group Leaders and members should be trained to introduce new comers to other small group leaders and members according to the group that may best fit the need of the person
    2. Highlight Small Groups in the Bulletin and on the Web
      1. Information on joining a small group should be made clear on both the Bulletins and the Web: location, times and leaders contact information
  2. Effective ‘Pastoring’ in Small Groups
    1. Leadership Development is a vital part of an effective Small Group Ministry. Therefore a considerable amount of time will be spent on Leaders Training and Development
      1. All new leaders will undergo a training period of at least one year. From September to May, relevant topics in leading Small Group will be taught. These meetings will be on the first Tuesday of every month. The Small Group Leaders Manual will be the main resource and guide for the training.
      2. The topics covered during the Training correspond to the purposes of small group: Shepherding Care (Group Dynamics, Care, Correction, Counseling, Knowing members-gifts/personality), Worship (leading Prayer and Bible Study), and the principle of the Open Chair (being mindful of non-believers, praying for and welcoming)
      3. New leaders will also be assigned a Coach who they will meet with at least once a month for accountability, feedback and further training. Coaches should also visit and observe the groups led by these leaders for accountability and feedback.
      4. For those who have already undergone the one year training (through the manual), they will meet at least once a month with Coaches for accountability, feedback and further training.
      5. Coaches will meet quarterly with the Small Groups Elder for assessment, feedback and accountability.
  3. Small Group Multiplication/Growth by Cell Division through Apprenticeship
    1. Leadership is not only the key to effective pasturing but the number of groups will also depend upon the number of leaders. Therefore, the leadership must grow in both quality and quantity. In order to meet the shepherding needs of a growing congregation, new leaders need to be raised continuously. We will seek to foster this through Apprenticeship.
      1. During the course of leadership training, leaders will be trained in how to identify and raise an apprentice who will eventually be an independent leader.
      2. The projected time period for this process is from 12-18 months.
      3. At some point before they assume leadership, all apprentices must undergo the Small Group Leaders Training
      4. Coaches will regularly ask about a possible apprentice and offer assistance with the development of the apprentice

(September 9, 2007)
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