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Through the Valley...with Christ adapts the Small Group Ministries
Guidelines for its faith sharing projects and activities.
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All churches have small groups...The primary purpose of small groups
is faith formation and disciple making...When we speak of small
group ministry, we may think of a collection of groups within which
we can integrate and connect all our church members and constituents
to help them have a sense of belonging to the larger congregation.
In that context, many of the groups' purposes would be relational,
social, recreational, or interest-based. It is vital to help people
in the congregation feel they are welcome, known, valued, needed,
and cared for...yet small group ministries is more than that...
Small groups are
places where persons gather on a regular basis for study, worship,
prayer, fellowship, and accountability. Persons in small groups are
engaged in relevant, meaningful discussions. All persons in a small
group accept that they have a role and a responsibility for being
active participants in the group. Small groups extend hospitality to
newcomers by reaching out to others and intentionally incorporating
them into the life of the group.
Diana L. Hynson, Small
Group Ministries, © 2004 by
Cokesbury. Used by permission. |
Presently, the
ministry supervises five small groups : The United
Methodist Campus Ministry and The United Methodist Students Movement
at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines; The Kayumangging
Manlalakbay Fellowship Fund; The United Methodist Cooperative
Learning Systems, Inc. (Parents-Teachers Fellowship); and the UTS-Theological
Education by Extension (Taytay UMC Center);
Small Groups
participants are encouraged to join a basic membership course based
on the Book--The Way of Pilgrimage--published by Upper Room Books.
"The purpose of this small group guide is to create settings in
which people can respond to God's call to an ever-deepening
communion and wholeness in Christ--as individuals, members of a
small group, and part of a congregation or larger faith community."
To join,
CLICK CONTACT US.
To read lessons,
CLICK HERE and
KEY
IN YOUR PASSWORD. |
