Starting a support group system in your church
By Manda Gibson
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"A support group is a very practical, simple yet strategic ministry, but like with any ministry you build, you have to lay a foundation."
Tommy Hilliker, leader of Saddleback Church's support group ministry
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When MaryAnn saw a post-abortion support group advertised in her church bulletin, she felt the emotional pain of her own abortion, which had taken place many years earlier. For six months she carried the bulletin in her purse. Each time the support group met, she drove to the meeting and sat outside in her car, asking God for the strength to go in. After six months, she finally did go in. Through the group, she found forgiveness, hope, and healing in Jesus. Today she co-leads a post-abortion support group at Saddleback Church.
"If I could describe all of my support group leaders in two words, it would be merciful and compassionate," said Tommy Hilliker, who leads Saddleback's support group ministry. "They are changed lives, and they are thankful for how God has brought them through some of their deepest hurts. That's why they want to give back and help."
A support group ministry is one of the easiest and most effective ministries a church can start, Hilliker said.
Support groups can exist to address issues ranging from dealing with the death of a child to how to live with HIV/AIDS. But no matter what they address, church-based support groups have a common purpose – to provide Christ-centered support for life's trials, traumas, and tragedies. (Related article: A Christ-centered approach to HIV/AIDS support groups)
And support groups are a ministry any church – regardless of its size or location – can start, both as a ministry to its members and an outreach to the community. Hilliker suggests a church do five things to develop a support group ministry:
1. Lay a foundation.
"A support group is a very practical, simple yet strategic ministry, but like with any ministry you build, you have to lay a foundation," Hilliker said.
To lay a firm foundation, a church needs to do three things:
Develop a foundation statement, listing the ministry's vision, mission, and purpose. Saddleback Church uses 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 as its foundation statement.
Identify the main groups within your church – like Sunday school classes, small groups, and recovery groups. Meet with the people leading the other group systems and discuss how you can partner together. "You're not trying to create a silo ministry; you're trying to create a ministry that works hand-in-hand with the other ministries," Hilliker said.
Imbed five core values of support groups into the ministry:
1. Provide a safe place of connection. (What happens in a support group stays in a support group – with the exception of life-threatening behaviors that a support group leader would need to report to proper authorities.)
2. Provide a place of cultivation that prepares people for God to work in their lives, allowing them to grow closer to him and each other.
3. Provide a place of commitment, where people eventually can find purpose in their pain by giving back in ministry.
4. Provide a place of compassion. "Compassion evangelism is an amazing event to watch take place," Hilliker said. "When someone comes out to one of our support groups, whatever they're going through, we want them to experience the love and compassion of Christ. People are literally loved into the Kingdom through compassion."
5. Provide a place of Christ-centered care. "Christ is our foundation, the core of what we do," Hilliker said.
2. Gain support of the senior pastor and other church leaders.
When Saddleback pastor Rick Warren gave a sermon on losing weight, he talked about the Lose It for Life support group, for people trying to lose weight. Overnight after his message, 1,200 people registered for Lose It for Life.
"That's the power of the senior pastor's support; it launches the group," Hilliker said.
3. Adopt a leadership training process.
At Saddleback, potential support group leaders complete a five-week training course. During the course, participants move from simply having a heart to serve to knowing everything they need to launch and lead a group. Using this process, Saddleback launched 35 new groups in a single year. Now Saddleback has 100 support groups and 165 support group leaders.
4. Develop a launch strategy.
A launch strategy should include plans for promoting the group, a timeline for when to start it, and details like where and when the group will meet.
Saddleback promotes support groups in around 15 different places – ranging from worship service announcements to announcements in local newspapers. They begin promoting the group about a month before it starts.
"Then you wait for God to bring people," Hilliker said.
5. Pray, and keep praying.
Support groups are challenging because they venture into people's deepest hurts, Hilliker said. And when you pray, you invite God into that process.
"A support group ministry needs to be bathed in prayer; it's vital to the success of the ministry," Hilliker said.
When Saddleback started one particular support group, no one but the leader showed up for the first couple weeks. Hilliker kept telling the leader to keep praying. Then one week two people showed up; soon there were five. Now the support group is going strong.
"You have to be willing to give the ministry to God and let him take it over because it's his ministry anyway," Hilliker said.
So now what?
Whatever a church's size, it's best to start with one support group, Hilliker said. Saddleback's support group system started with a group for parents of children with ADD – because that's what someone was passionate about.
A church should start with prayer, then evaluate needs in the church, and then look around for leaders with the passion to lead a group.
Once the first group is off the ground, a church should start preparing for others, Hilliker said.
"Really focus on developing a holistic support group system," he said. "Remember this is a ministry of the church that's an outreach. It's a way to love on the community. Your members will benefit from it and your leaders will grow from it; so start with one, but don't stay there."
As a church's support group system develops, the community often begins to recognize the church as a place to find compassionate care and practical help, Hilliker said.
"Your church becomes a light in the community, a safe house for people to come," he said.
For more information about and to see a list of Saddleback support groups, click www.purposedrivenchurch.com
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
COMING CLOSE TO YOU
I sensed a strong move of spiritual awakening and Kingdom responsibilities this present age which we live in. The atmosphere is already choked up with uncertainty and fears; it is becoming beclouded with grossed darkness that life presently is becoming more frustrating by the day in nearly all walks of life.
Within this environment, there glory and wonderful light coming so close like never before from a source that is associated with peace, love, assurance, security and prosperity. And much, it is associated with life abundance and eternal.
This glory is approaching so fast hence the gross darkness taking fast hold on the entire universe. This glory is the knowledge of Jehovah's Kingdom, which has within it the provisions for every need in life.
This is what the Path Founder's Ministries is sent to bring you by teaching you the foundation and principles of the Kingdom.
The coming close to you of the ministry is the coming of this new move of God's knowledge about Him, His kingdom, you and your responsibilities on how to function and maximise your place in this present age.
This year, God is taking us by hand in leading and providing us divine instruction on how to make the kingdom real in every aspect of our life. We are set to rule in the midst of darkness. We are set to shine forth in the present of gross. We are glorying in the darkness that is presently buffeting the world because it is meant for our revealing to the world who the kingdom citizens are.
Join this emerging group in putting the world and its kingdom where they should be in God's plans.
Within this environment, there glory and wonderful light coming so close like never before from a source that is associated with peace, love, assurance, security and prosperity. And much, it is associated with life abundance and eternal.
This glory is approaching so fast hence the gross darkness taking fast hold on the entire universe. This glory is the knowledge of Jehovah's Kingdom, which has within it the provisions for every need in life.
This is what the Path Founder's Ministries is sent to bring you by teaching you the foundation and principles of the Kingdom.
The coming close to you of the ministry is the coming of this new move of God's knowledge about Him, His kingdom, you and your responsibilities on how to function and maximise your place in this present age.
This year, God is taking us by hand in leading and providing us divine instruction on how to make the kingdom real in every aspect of our life. We are set to rule in the midst of darkness. We are set to shine forth in the present of gross. We are glorying in the darkness that is presently buffeting the world because it is meant for our revealing to the world who the kingdom citizens are.
Join this emerging group in putting the world and its kingdom where they should be in God's plans.
Monday, January 5, 2009
LIVING THROUGH THE YEAR
Special thanks and praise is ascribed unto Our God for taking us thorugh the year 2008 with all itsl challenges and blessings. The fact that we are now in 2009 testifies to the marvellow work of our God.
Reality cannot be beaten. We are no longer hoping for 2009. We are not dream of or wishing for 2009. We are NOW in it, with all that we have, planned and dreamt of. So, welcome to the reality of 2009.
I want to give you a special, profound and important requisite to live successfully this year 2009. The requisite is Divine Direction.
Divine direction is all you need to being this race, continue in this race and ultimately to finish it. Until you are directed by Divinity, you will amount to nothing. When God takes over the steering of 2009 for you, then you are sure wanting nothing and lying down in green pasture.
Psalms 23 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valeey of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever" (verses 1 to 6).
It takes divine direction - God's leadership over your life, for you to walk thorugh the year unhurt and sweatless. It takes directing you to make the most of the year.
Don't be deceived that this year wil not bring its challenges. As a matter of fact, this year has a lot of challenges. But when God becomes your shepherd, all the challenges and enemies of the year agianst you will be taken care of by God himself while you sail through as if nothing has happened.
You need God to direct you on every aspect of your life through out the year. Don't take 2008's directions for this year's. No, 2008 and 2009 are not the same. They did not start the same day.
BENEFITS OF DIVINE DIRECTION
1. The Presenc of God.
When God becomes your shepherd that give you direction, you enjoy His divine presence. Our text says "For thou art with me". This is divine presence. A shepherd don't lead form another place. Anywhere you see the herd, you find the shephed. When He leads, He abides with the led.
2. Divine Assurance
David said, "Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (in this year). 'Surely' speaks of assurance, certainty, what must and shall happen, without doubt or confusion. You see, beloved of God, I know how this year would end for me because I am under divine direction. May you come under His direction in Jesus' perfect name.
3. Divine Provision
When you walk in divine direction, you enjoy divine and inexplicable privisions. When Jesus led the multitude to the desert in His crusade, the multitude, though were very hungry, did not look for what to eat for themselves. Jesus did. Before Philip brought the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, the Scripture says, "For he himself knew what he would do" (John 6: 6).
The shepherd knows where the provisions are in this 2009. Following His directions bring them cheaply to you. No matter how tough the year may be to others out there, for everyone that follow divine direction, the rock will gush out water for them.
4. Divine Lifting
You also enjoy divine lifting when you remain under divine direction. When He led Jacob, he became a city set up on a hill. "For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness: he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eyes... So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. He made him ride on the hig places of the earth..." Deuteronomy 32: 9 -10, 12 - 13
5. Divine Protection
Divine direction shields you form the plagues, plots and devices of the enemies. Divine direction positions you as the apple of God's eye. And you know, there is no one that can touch the apple of His eyes. Under divine direction, Israel became the apples of God's eye (Deuteronomy 32: 10). Under divine direction, your enemy remains powerless and hopeless and in all frustration watch you sitting on the table the Lordhas prepared for you.
As you aling yourself for God leading, I see this year producing beyond your wildest imaginations in Jesus' name
Stay blessed.
Reality cannot be beaten. We are no longer hoping for 2009. We are not dream of or wishing for 2009. We are NOW in it, with all that we have, planned and dreamt of. So, welcome to the reality of 2009.
I want to give you a special, profound and important requisite to live successfully this year 2009. The requisite is Divine Direction.
Divine direction is all you need to being this race, continue in this race and ultimately to finish it. Until you are directed by Divinity, you will amount to nothing. When God takes over the steering of 2009 for you, then you are sure wanting nothing and lying down in green pasture.
Psalms 23 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valeey of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever" (verses 1 to 6).
It takes divine direction - God's leadership over your life, for you to walk thorugh the year unhurt and sweatless. It takes directing you to make the most of the year.
Don't be deceived that this year wil not bring its challenges. As a matter of fact, this year has a lot of challenges. But when God becomes your shepherd, all the challenges and enemies of the year agianst you will be taken care of by God himself while you sail through as if nothing has happened.
You need God to direct you on every aspect of your life through out the year. Don't take 2008's directions for this year's. No, 2008 and 2009 are not the same. They did not start the same day.
BENEFITS OF DIVINE DIRECTION
1. The Presenc of God.
When God becomes your shepherd that give you direction, you enjoy His divine presence. Our text says "For thou art with me". This is divine presence. A shepherd don't lead form another place. Anywhere you see the herd, you find the shephed. When He leads, He abides with the led.
2. Divine Assurance
David said, "Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (in this year). 'Surely' speaks of assurance, certainty, what must and shall happen, without doubt or confusion. You see, beloved of God, I know how this year would end for me because I am under divine direction. May you come under His direction in Jesus' perfect name.
3. Divine Provision
When you walk in divine direction, you enjoy divine and inexplicable privisions. When Jesus led the multitude to the desert in His crusade, the multitude, though were very hungry, did not look for what to eat for themselves. Jesus did. Before Philip brought the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, the Scripture says, "For he himself knew what he would do" (John 6: 6).
The shepherd knows where the provisions are in this 2009. Following His directions bring them cheaply to you. No matter how tough the year may be to others out there, for everyone that follow divine direction, the rock will gush out water for them.
4. Divine Lifting
You also enjoy divine lifting when you remain under divine direction. When He led Jacob, he became a city set up on a hill. "For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness: he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eyes... So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. He made him ride on the hig places of the earth..." Deuteronomy 32: 9 -10, 12 - 13
5. Divine Protection
Divine direction shields you form the plagues, plots and devices of the enemies. Divine direction positions you as the apple of God's eye. And you know, there is no one that can touch the apple of His eyes. Under divine direction, Israel became the apples of God's eye (Deuteronomy 32: 10). Under divine direction, your enemy remains powerless and hopeless and in all frustration watch you sitting on the table the Lordhas prepared for you.
As you aling yourself for God leading, I see this year producing beyond your wildest imaginations in Jesus' name
Stay blessed.
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Thursday, January 1, 2009
WELCOME TO 2009
I want to specially welcome you to this glorious year 2009.
This is very spectacular in nature and in its uniqueness. The Lord impressed in my heart that He is going to cause to have divine relocation in every areas of our lives. He said, He wants to lead us through this year because He wants to relocates us to our place of divine appointment.
Thank God for what you had and where you were last year. It is nothing to be compared to the place God is divinely relocating you.
I want you to this precious year of the Lord.
Specifically, nine (9) represents maturity. When pregnancy has reached the ninth month, it is due for delivery. So I know from my inner man that this year brings you to the maturity stage where you will take delivery of your divine blessings.
Congratulations.
This is very spectacular in nature and in its uniqueness. The Lord impressed in my heart that He is going to cause to have divine relocation in every areas of our lives. He said, He wants to lead us through this year because He wants to relocates us to our place of divine appointment.
Thank God for what you had and where you were last year. It is nothing to be compared to the place God is divinely relocating you.
I want you to this precious year of the Lord.
Specifically, nine (9) represents maturity. When pregnancy has reached the ninth month, it is due for delivery. So I know from my inner man that this year brings you to the maturity stage where you will take delivery of your divine blessings.
Congratulations.
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