Right now, we are looking for people to Host groups in their homes or at church. We want to have enough hosts so that EVERYONE – that’s 100% of our congregation – can be in a small group study. That means we need a lot of hosts! Will you consider hosting a group for the Campaign?
Here’s what it takes to be a host: (more…)
“And not because we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success comes from God.”
2 Corinthians 3:5 (NLT)
Pray that God will provide unity among leaders and ministries in our church, as they give their time and adjust their schedules to meet deadlines.
Pray that God will provide the energy, time, and endurance for all tasks to be done in preparation for the 40 Days of Community.
Pray that God will provide the needed volunteers to make each campaign event successful.
Pray that God will provide our church with all of the material resources needed to facilitate this campaign.
Pray that God will hear the prayers that have been placed on the Prayer Chain.
“Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God’s infinite grace and power. All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer.”
R. A. Torrey
This coming Lenten season we will be having a spiritual growth campaign called 40 Days of Community at our church. This campaign is designed to answer the question, “What on earth are WE here for?” The events of the campaign will give us opportunities to not only learn about why God calls us to be connected in community with each other, but why it is also important to serve our community together. One of the most exciting aspects of this campaign is the opportunity to do a service project in our community with your small group. For six weeks the small groups will gather in homes or at church, watch a weekly video teaching session and review and discuss our 40 Days devotional book. Then you will take action on what you are learning by doing a community service project together.
Right now, we are looking for people to Host groups in their homes or at church. We want to have enough hosts so that EVERYONE – that’s 100% of our congregation – can be in a small group study. That means we need a lot of hosts! Will you consider hosting a group for the Campaign?
Here’s what you DON’T need in order to become a Host: (more…)
This study is geared to Christians and helping Christians deepen their community with one another. But one particularly attractive feature of the small group experience during 40 Days of Community is the group mission project. Many people – Christian and non-Christian alike – are drawn to doing something worthwhile to help in their community. You can tell people about our church mission project. This may be the perfect way to include your unchurched friends in your group, enabling them to experience the joy of serving others, and giving them a first-hand glimpse into what real Christian community is all about. Now, if the Lord lays someone on your heart to invite to your entire six-week study that is a non-Christian, INVITE THEM! We will provide you weekly coaching emails to help you adjust your discussion time to accommodate the unchurched perspective.
We are interested in impacting men and women for eternity, whoever they are. Work hard to fill your home and you will be a significant part of this extraordinary campaign that will spiritually transform this community!
Because this campaign is focused on our community, we encourage you to simply invite your Christian relatives, neighbors and co-workers, people you already know in your community. Perhaps you have a casual relationship with the people who live in nearby homes, condos, apartments, etc. Maybe you have been looking for a safe way to have a spiritual impact in your workplace. There may be Christians in your life who haven’t attended church for some time who need to be invited back into community with believers.
We will also provide each host with the names of people who sign up for a 40 Days of Community small group that live in your area. The hosts can then extend an invitation to these people to attend the 40 Days Small Group sessions. You could enlist a co-host or a friend to help you with these calls.
We can also assign people to be in your group, if that is preferred.
If you have to miss a group meeting, simply ask someone else in your group to host and facilitate the evening. If you need a church member to lead the discussion for that evening and you don’t have one in your group, email the host hotline (link at right).
Anyone with a TV and VCR or DVD can be a Host, but you must be a member in order to lead the discussion that follows the video teaching. You may join the church before the 40 Days
of Community Campaign by attending a membership class. If you are not able to become a member, we will pair you up with a church member who will be the discussion leader for your group.
We are SO grateful for your gift of six weeks. When your commitment is over, each Host needs to personally decide what his or her role will be with the group. It is our hope that some Hosts will choose to continue with their new groups. If that’s not your plan, we hope you will help the group select a new leader and find a new place to meet. This is why it’s a good idea to share leadership during the six weeks.
As the Host, we are asking that you open your home or meet at church with this new group for six weeks. We ask that you show the video teaching each week and help the group work through the curriculum that has been provided. As a part of 40 Days of Community, you and your group will plan to do a project together where you serve our community. We also hope that you will pray for this new group.
We suggest inviting between 15-30 people. Then, after the first night, let those in your group invite some of their own friends. In our experience, about half of those who say they will come will actually come. An optimum number of people to have in a small group is 8-10, but if more show up, that’s great! Your study guide will coach you to “sub-group” a larger group for discussion and prayer. If you have less than eight people, that’s great too! Sometimes the most meaningful connection happens in groups of three or four.
