Leader Resources
Overview
The following is what you might call our "Bridgeway Small Group Ministry Handbook." The intent of this handbook is to provide an overview of what we’re trying to do with the Small Group ministry at Bridgeway Christian Church – our vision, purpose, goals, expectations for leaders, etc. This is a living document that will change as we grow and learn. Your input is welcome!
Our Vision
The Small Group Ministry of Bridgeway Christian Church exists to help us experience God’s love and transforming power as we worship Him, learn from His Word and apply it to our lives in intimate small group settings. Small groups are an essential part of our church identity and a fundamental part of our ministry. Our desire is to see everyone at Bridgeway get connected in small groups.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Small Group ministry at Bridgeway Christian Church is multifaceted:
The following is what you might call our "Bridgeway Small Group Ministry Handbook." The intent of this handbook is to provide an overview of what we’re trying to do with the Small Group ministry at Bridgeway Christian Church – our vision, purpose, goals, expectations for leaders, etc. This is a living document that will change as we grow and learn. Your input is welcome!
Our Vision
The Small Group Ministry of Bridgeway Christian Church exists to help us experience God’s love and transforming power as we worship Him, learn from His Word and apply it to our lives in intimate small group settings. Small groups are an essential part of our church identity and a fundamental part of our ministry. Our desire is to see everyone at Bridgeway get connected in small groups.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Small Group ministry at Bridgeway Christian Church is multifaceted:
- Connecting — Helping new people get connected to others in the church, and helping us all build deeper relationships with one another.
- Shepherding — Increasing our span of care and sphere of influence.
- Transforming — Learning and applying God’s truth to our lives.
- Training — Discipleship and accountability.
- Impacting — Focused on nurturing and equipping so we can, in turn, impact the world around us.
The Goal: Moving you closer to Christ, so you will become mature and complete in Him…
Colossians 1:28-29 (NIV) We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect [complete, mature] in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Small Group Leader’s Ministry Description
A Small Group Leader’s “Job Description” – the short version…
A Small Group Leader’s “Job Description” – the short version…
- Teach and facilitate your group.
- Shepherd, love, and care for your people.
- Identify and train a co-leader; mentor them so they can be ready to lead their own groups.
- Own the vision and share the vision to ‘spawn’ new groups so more lives can be impacted.
| What a small group leader should do… |
During Meetings |
Between Meetings |
| Gather – Invite current or potential members into community |
Build intimacy, transparency, and authentic relationships in the group |
Build friendships with existing group members and seek to invite new ones |
| Develop – Take each person the next step in spiritual growth or leadership |
Create a place where truth meets life |
Shepherd members and develop apprentice leaders |
| Serve – Complete ministry tasks together |
Plan and prepare for strategic serving opportunities |
Serve personally outside the group or serve together as a group |
From Building a Church of Small Groups, p. 136, by Donahue and Robinson.
Expectations of Small Group Leaders
As a leader or co-leader of a small group, you are like the pastor of a small church. People in your group will be looking to you as an example. It is therefore important that we live and conduct ourselves in ways that are honoring to God and encouraging to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Expectations of Small Group Leaders
As a leader or co-leader of a small group, you are like the pastor of a small church. People in your group will be looking to you as an example. It is therefore important that we live and conduct ourselves in ways that are honoring to God and encouraging to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Below are some of the basic expectations we have of all group leaders and co-leaders. This list is not exhaustive. It’s designed to give a flavor of the type of life and character we would like to see in our leaders.
- Growing spiritual walk
- Faithful attendance at Bridgeway’s worship services
- Active member of Bridgeway Christian Church (illustrates your commitment and accountability to the church)
- An example of good stewardship (giving of time, resources, finances, etc.)
- Responsive to church leadership (Pastors, Elders, small group leadership, ministry team leaders)
- Teachable – able to receive instruction, and also being a student of the Bible yourself
- Able to teach and shepherd others, and to genuinely care for those in your group
- Committed to keeping your small group biblically based/focused – God’s Word is our final authority
Small Group Leader’s Covenant
Below is a Small Group Leader’s Covenant. This conveys the type of commitment and character we are looking for in our small group leaders.
Below is a Small Group Leader’s Covenant. This conveys the type of commitment and character we are looking for in our small group leaders.
Recognizing that my leadership in a small group will impact the spiritual life and development of others, I commit to the following:
- I agree to regularly set aside time for personal Bible Study and prayer to keep myself spiritually fit.
- I agree to regularly attend and participate in the weekend worship services of Bridgeway Christian Church.
- I agree to set an example to others by giving financially to the Lord through Bridgeway Christian Church in a way that is prayerful, sacrificial, and regular.
- I agree to pray for and support the leadership of Bridgeway Christian Church and to be responsive to their guidance and direction.
- I agree to be teachable and be willing to learn from everyone.
- I agree to keep all communication regarding the church and its members above ground and will seek to resolve conflict immediately when it arises.
- I agree to keep a wide boundary in regard to male/female relationships. I agree not to counsel privately or meet privately with a member of my group of the opposite sex.
- I agree to avoid sarcasm and put-downs and use only words of encouragement to members of my small group (Eph. 4:29; Proverbs 26:18-19).
Accountability & Support Structure
Below is the accountability and support structure of the small group ministry at Bridgeway Christian Church. This structure will grow as our small group ministry grows and matures.
- Small group leaders – Responsible for the shepherding, teaching, nurturing of those in the group, and for training/mentoring the co-leader.
- Co-leaders/apprentices – Each group leader should have a co-leader/apprentice whom they are training. The apprentice would be trained and equipped to either lead the group at some point down the road or to lead another group that is born out of the parent group.
- Hosts – A small group may be hosted by someone other than the group leader. This gives those with the gift of hospitality (who aren’t necessarily teachers/group leaders) the chance to use their gifts and their homes for ministry, and it allows the group leader to focus on teaching and shepherding the group and training the apprentice.
- Ministry Team Leaders – Responsible for providing guidance over a specific area of ministry, such as Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Family Ministry, etc. If you are leading a small group within a specific ministry area, then the Ministry Team Leader for that ministry should be your first go-to person when you have questions or issues.
- Small Group “Coaches” (Future Job Role, not yet implemented at Bridgeway) – Responsible for providing guidance and encouragement to the small group leaders. Currently the Ministry Team Leaders at Bridgeway function in this capacity; others may be enlisted to help as the ministry grows. Usually, one coach would oversee 3 to 5 small group leaders. Coaches would visit the small groups on a rotating basis, and would meet one-on-one with the small group leaders once per month to provide feedback, additional training, help answer questions or resolve issues, encourage and pray with the group leaders.
- Small Group Director – Oversees, coordinates, and provides a cohesive strategy for the church-wide small group ministry. Promotes small group ministry awareness and involvement to the church as a whole, and provides training, assistance, and encouragement to those in small group ministry leadership. Is accountable to the pastors and Elders for the small group ministry.
- Pastoral staff & Elders – Provide additional oversight and guidance and help resolve issues that may potentially impact the larger church body.
Small Group Promotion & Communication
Below are some of the vehicles we will use to get the word out regarding the small group ministry, to let people know what groups we have available, how they can get plugged in, and what God is doing in the groups.
Below are some of the vehicles we will use to get the word out regarding the small group ministry, to let people know what groups we have available, how they can get plugged in, and what God is doing in the groups.
- Small Group Ministry Web Site – this Small Group area of our Bridgeway web site.
- Produced and maintained by Mark Henkel.
- Small Group Ministry Brochure – a tri-fold brochure with overview information on small group ministry and a listing of key information for all small groups. This brochure is available at the Welcome Center in the church lobby, and it will be included periodically in the church bulletins.
- Produced and maintained by Mark Henkel.
- Small Group Ministry Emphasis Weekend
- Usually on the 3rd weekend of the month we will have a special sharing time up front in all the church services, about 5 minutes long.
- We can do interviews, have testimonies from small group leaders or participants, or special announcements. The focus is on how God is using small group to impact lives, and to encourage people to get involved.
- Small Group Ministry Table (in church lobby)
- Provide small group brochures and fliers and a sign up sheet to get more information.
- Staffed by a small group leaders to help answer questions.
- Frequency: Usually once per month on the Small Group Ministry emphasis weekends.
- Bridgeway Newsletter
- Periodic articles regarding the small group ministry in general, or highlighting a specific area of the ministry.
- Small group leaders and participants can submit their own articles or testimonials, either directly to the editor or to the small group director.
- Church Bulletin – Occasional inserts or notices can be placed in the bulletin to highlight different needs or opportunities with small groups.
- Small Group Leader’s email newsletter
- Periodic email update to all small group leaders/co-leaders.
- Provides updates on current small group events, training opportunities, etc.
- Requests group leaders to provide updates regarding their group information.
Still in the works…
- Church-wide Small Group email newsletter
- Targeted for the whole church.
- Similar to the Women’s Ministry monthly email update, except it would contain info on all of the groups and perhaps other related ministries or events.
IMPORTANT:
Keep Us Informed of Changes
As the small group ministry continues to grow at Bridgeway, it is all the more important that we have open lines of communication. As changes in your group occur (such as changing nights or locations, taking a week off, etc.), you need to inform Pastor Mark () in a timely manner. Please let us know by the Tuesday of the week before the change occurs, in order for the small group brochure, web site, or bulletin to be updated in time for the weekend. To help us improve our communication, we will be sending regular reminders to all group leaders via email. Please respond with any changes or simply say ‘No change’.
As the small group ministry continues to grow at Bridgeway, it is all the more important that we have open lines of communication. As changes in your group occur (such as changing nights or locations, taking a week off, etc.), you need to inform Pastor Mark () in a timely manner. Please let us know by the Tuesday of the week before the change occurs, in order for the small group brochure, web site, or bulletin to be updated in time for the weekend. To help us improve our communication, we will be sending regular reminders to all group leaders via email. Please respond with any changes or simply say ‘No change’.
Please Check Your e-Mail!
Much of the communication we will be doing among the small group leaders is done via email. This assumes you regularly use and check email. Please make a habit of checking your email regularly if you don’t already, and respond promptly. If you don’t use email, please let us know so we can contact you by phone, or smoke signal, or whatever method works best for you! Thanks!
Much of the communication we will be doing among the small group leaders is done via email. This assumes you regularly use and check email. Please make a habit of checking your email regularly if you don’t already, and respond promptly. If you don’t use email, please let us know so we can contact you by phone, or smoke signal, or whatever method works best for you! Thanks!
Comments, Questions, Suggestions, Ideas?
We’d love to hear from you. Please contact Pastor Mark () with any input or questions you may have regarding the Small Group Ministry at Bridgeway.
