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Biblical Equipping:
God's Word in Your World
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Nuts & Bolts Issues for Small Group Leaders
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Price: $49.95
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Laying the Foundation
with Care:
Memorial Presbyterian Church
Begins ChristCare Group Ministry
When seven members of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland, Michigan, attended the Equipper's Training Course in April 2005, they began the fulfillment of a long-cherished vision for the congregation's spiritual growth through small groups. Today, their ChristCare Group Ministry is reaping the harvest from seeds planted much earlier.
The Right Ministry, Not the Right Time
The congregation's journey toward ChristCare began early in 2002. In writing the congregation's mission and vision statements, the Committee of 60 at Memorial Presbyterian saw the need for small group ministry. Bernie Van Dort, a member of the committee and the chair of the Congregational Care Committee for the Board of Deacons, discovered the ChristCare Series while checking the Stephen Ministries Web site.
She was impressed. "I realized that we didn't have to invent a system for our small group ministry because Stephen Ministries had already done it with ChristCare," Bernie said.
And the system looked to be a great fit for Memorial. "I discovered that, with the four activities, each ChristCare Group can be tailored to the spiritual styles and needs of the group," Bernie said. "No matter what the group's focus or purpose, all group members gain a sense of belonging and grow spiritually.
"As part of the Committee of 60, I brought up ChristCare as the answer for small group ministry. But our congregation was in transition at that time, and we didn't have a senior pastor," Bernie said. "I was enthusiastic, but the church wasn't ready then. It wasn't the right time."
Even so, Bernie kept the idea of ChristCare alive. That fall, with permission from Stephen Ministries, she led a group of nine through Beginnings to give them a taste of ChristCare. The excitement grew.
Building a Sound Foundation
In September 2003 Dr. David Pierce arrived as senior pastor, and the vision for ChristCare Ministry at Memorial Presbyterian began to take shape.
"I am a trained Stephen Leader and had been involved in Stephen Ministry for a long time," Dr. Pierce said. "I already trusted Stephen Ministries for leadership, organization, theological integrity, Biblical understanding, and its ecumenical focus. I had read about ChristCare and then heard more about it when I attended the 2000 Leader's Training Course in San Antonio. The title caught my attention immediately. I can't imagine a better name for this ministry."
In August 2004 Memorial hired Karen Banaszak as director of Christian education and small group ministries. "I'd heard of Stephen Ministry but wasn't familiar with ChristCare," Karen said. "When I began researching it, I was very impressed.
"By September, we were talking seriously about ChristCare. I sat down with Dr. Pierce and we came up with a proposal for financial backing. I went to our Session and worked to convince them that ChristCare was what we needed. I also did presentations about ChristCare for the governing bodies of the congregation. I was very comfortable recommending it because of its organization. Everything seemed to be covered."
A Strong Beginning
In April 2005, a team of seven from Memorial attended the Equipper's Training Course in St. Louis. The ETC confirmed their enthusiasm for ChristCare.
"By the time the seven of us got there, we had already done a great deal of research about ChristCare. We were thoroughly sold on it," said Dr. Pierce.
"During the first few days at the ETC, we felt overwhelmed at times. By Thursday, we were on fire and positive. By the end of the week, we wanted another week."
Back at Memorial, the Equippers Team worked very intentionally to get ChristCare off to a strong start. "We wanted to make sure we had the support of the congregation, so we proceeded slowly and carefully," Bernie said.
Their solid preparation helped. "We had plowed the ground well before we went to the ETC," Dr. Pierce said. "Our congregation was ready to welcome the Equippers home. In our case, the idea didn't have to grow along with the program. The idea was already there."
The Equippers invited the other pastoral and senior staff members to join them as they experienced Beginnings. Then the Equippers organized their team, assigned job descriptions, and wrote their Equippers' Covenant.
They also worked hard to energize the congregation, publishing newsletter articles and even involving the Committee of 60 in a ChristCare Group experience. "Several congregational informational meetings, a dedicated sermon to the small group focus, and planned 'leaks' about the meaningful fun we were having all created an environment of expectancy for our leader recruitment," Dr. Pierce said.
Training Group Leaders
The next step was to recruit and train ChristCare Group Leaders. After identifying gifted candidates, Equippers sent each a packet of materials, then followed up with phone calls to explore each person's interest in serving. Candidates attended an informational meeting, submitted an application, and went through a selection interview.
The results were tremendous--twelve leaders began group-based training in fall of 2005. "We had to have two initial concurrent leader training groups, and we already have enough interest to start another round of training as soon as we finish with the first two," Dr. Pierce observed.
Training has been a great experience for Equippers and group leaders alike. "Seeing our trainees come together during their training is a phenomenal process to watch," Karen said. "The community that forms is a wonderful experience. In the setting of our congregation--a large church serving snowbirds and families who relocate often--they are finding a place to become part of the congregation."
Coming to Fulfillment
When ChristCare Groups begin this fall, the journey will take a new turn. "It will be wonderful to see how the work we've done these past four and a half years benefits our congregation," Bernie said.
"I see the enthusiasm for ChristCare growing," Karen said. "I see nothing but good ahead for this ministry at Memorial Presbyterian.
"For congregations considering enrolling in the ChristCare Series, I think the most important steps are prayer, thinking about the needs of each member of your congregation--and not about the number of groups you want to have--and recognizing the thoroughness and adaptability of ChristCare, which addresses all the big questions you may have."
Memorial Presbyterian is living proof that a clear vision for small group ministry and careful planning provide a strong start for ChristCare.
"Let this be a ministry that comes in the front door," said Dr. Pierce. "Be patient. This process doesn't happen overnight. Remember that the experience of Christian community is what holds a congregation together."
