NCC Life Groups. Leader Orientation Manual

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1 NCC Life Groups Leader Orientation Manual

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3 NOTES TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from Pastor Nick Honerkamp....1 Philosophy of Life Groups...2 Why Life Groups?...3 Characteristics of Life Groups.. 4 The Engle Scale of Conversion Stages.. 5 Life Group Ministry Organizational Chart....6 Leadership Commitment.. 7 Life Group Leadership Honor Code Job Description of Life Group Leader Models of Life Group Ministry...10 Life Coaching. 11 Four Do s and Four Don ts What s Prayer Got to Do With It?...13 Important Dates to Remember Frequently Asked Questions Roundtable Activity Page New Covenant Church Statement of Faith Appendix: Confidentiality & Confidence Guidelines Confidentiality Policy Ministry Guidelines Life Group Website Guidelines Media Relations Publications...28

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5 MEDIA RELATIONS (cont'd) WELCOME Caution is indicated when dealing with parties or individuals who may have interests not in common with or divergent from the purposes of New Covenant Church. Be wise, but above all, be honest. Evasive words can cause people to want to look for more negative information regarding the church. Never say No Comment. That appears as though the church has something to hide. If it is inappropriate to discuss a subject or you don t have all the facts, say, We are looking into this situation. If it is a matter of confidentiality, as with a counselee, then just explain that. Treat people who want information with respect. Pray for favor with man and remember that you are a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. PUBLICATIONS All publications must be approved by the Life Group Pastor. Forms are available at the church office. All Life Group publications will be available in the display case in the foyer. Dear Prospective Life Group Leader, The Staff and I are delighted that you are considering becoming a Life Group Leader. We value very much every person that chooses to link arms with us and help us in the ministry and life of New Covenant Church. We view all of our Life Group Leaders as members of our ministry team and know that each one makes our work a little easier and adds strength and joy to the overall ministry of our church. Ephesians 4:11-14 NIV exhorts leaders to prepare God s people for works of service (ministry) so the body of Christ may be built up...in other words, our church is made up of many ministers and it s our role to prepare and encourage you in your ministry. As each of us does our function in the body of Christ, the whole body will become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13b) Welcome to the team! Pastor Nick and Staff 28 1

6 PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE GROUPS MEDIA RELATIONS 1. Being a member of a group is a primary way we exemplify godliness. There is no way to verify the work of His grace in us if we are independent of others; nor is there any way to demonstrate godliness to any other than God unless there is interaction with others. 2. The role of Life Groups is not exclusive. Seven Levels of Interaction Global Body of Christ Citywide Church Church Congregation Life Group Family Self J E S U S Eternal Life There are some people who will try to get you to stop at any one of these levels. As you go up the chart, the greater the revelation and the greater the breadth of impact. Life Groups are at the heart. Life Groups make those levels of interaction above and below work. This policy establishes guidelines for dealing with third party information requests, i.e., News Media, Law Enforcement Officers, Private Investigators, Social Workers, friends or relatives of New Covenant Church members. It is very important to be able to communicate to the public through the media. If New Covenant Church has a negative encounter with the news media, that could tarnish its reputation in the community and beyond. New Covenant Church must be prepared to present factual information at all times. Verbal and/or written communication from third party entities should be directed to the Associate Pastor with the exception of communication regarding an incident of sexual misconduct, which must be directed only to the Senior Pastor's or the Administrator s office. If someone calls requesting information, quickly connect him with the first available, designated spokesperson who is most qualified to respond to the questions being asked. Should the Senior Pastor, Life Group Pastor, or the Church Administrator be unavailable, the attorney of record for New Covenant Church, should be consulted prior to distribution of any written communication. Representatives of various official groups, i.e. the police department, a social services agency, or a representative of the court, may also contact the church in person. In all cases, legal counsel should be consulted before any employee allows access to church facilities and before releasing any church document. 3. Life Group Ministry in every area of the church. It is the purpose of New Covenant Church to promote healthy relationships through Life Groups which empower people for ministry. 2 27

7 LIFE GROUP WEBSITE GUIDELINES WHY LIFE GROUPS? The use of Internet technology offers us a very effective way to communicate information to and about Life Groups. In keeping with the life giving philosophy of ministry through New Covenant Church and its Life Groups, there are a few simple guidelines to aid Life Group leaders who want to develop a website to support their Life Group. Since these websites represent the body of believers who attend New Covenant Church, all such websites should be reviewed and cleared by your Associate Pastor before being activated on line. Websites developed to support New Covenant Church Life Groups should be life-giving in nature, avoiding the inclusion of any information or material that might misrepresent our church or the body of Christ in general. 1. Websites supporting a NCC Life Group should not sell products or conduct any type of business. 2. Websites should not include any defamatory language towards individuals, groups, or organizations. 3. Websites should not be used to express political opinions of the Life Group leader, or speak to issues on behalf of New Covenant Church, New Covenant Church Staff, or Pastor Nick Honerkamp. 4. Any description of the Life Group should identify themselves as a Life Group ministry of New Covenant Church. 5. Use of New Covenant Church graphics, namely pictures of staff members (especially Pastor Nick Honerkamp) should be done only with their permission in which case they should be placed as a file that cannot be copied. If you have other questions regarding the development of a website for your Life Group, please contact your Associate Pastor first. Using the Internet is another way NCC Life Group leaders demonstrate their creativity & innovation let s do it with care! What does the Bible say about relationships? Hebrews 10:25, Ephesians 5:21, I John 1:7 Our culture devalues PERSONAL relationships Everything God has done in our lives is unproven until it is refined and demonstrated in the midst of relationships. Rev. Ted Haggard I have strong reason to suspect that Christians sitting dutifully in church congregations, for whom going to church means doing a variety of spiritual activities, have been given resources that if released, could powerfully heal broken hearts, overcome the damage done by abusive backgrounds, encourage the depressed to courageously move forward, stimulate the lonely to reach out, revitalize discouraged teens and children with new holy energy, and introduce h o p e i n t o t h e l i v e s o f c o u n t l e s s p e o p l e. Connecting, by Dr. Larry Crabb Ecclesiastes 4: What is our purpose? To raise up people who know, worship and obey God according to the scriptures. To promote healthy relationships through Life Groups which empower people for ministry. 3. The question is Who will do it? Ephesians 4:

8 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE GROUPS MINISTRY GUIDELINES They meet weekly. They have three or more people attending regularly, including the leader. They develop and identify an assistant leader. It is a primary goal to develop group members into future leaders. Each meeting includes one or more of the following: Worship Prayer Bible Study Testimonies Unless specified, they welcome new people into the group at any time during the semester. They are supported and empowered by Associate Pastors. They encourage members to invite people who are outside the church. Life Group meets around a common interest, hobby, passion, education, etc. Fosters and develops long friendships (meet with people you like) It is a discipling, mentoring atmosphere. Each semester begins and ends a Life Group. People can choose to stop or change. In Life Groups people hear the wonders of God in their own language. (Acts 2) Life Group leaders always have the option of discussing with their Associate Pastor situations which they feel unqualified to address. While maintaining the confidence of the communication, the Church may decide to seek professional pastoral or other assistance in these circumstances. A few of the instances in which Life Group leaders should always communicate with their Associate Pastor include the following: 1. Child abuse 2. Credible threats of harm to others and self 3. Serious mental health problems including severe depression 4. Illegal substance abuse 5. Demonic possession. Life Group leaders and members should generally avoid communication with members of the opposite sex without another person present. If this type of one-on-one communication is essential, Church staff should be contacted. 4 25

9 CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY (cont'd) ENGLE SCALE OF CONVERSION STAGES The Church's Confidentiality Policy is subject to its Sexual Misconduct Policy, which requires certain individuals identified as "mandatory reporters" under the law to report knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse. Persons required to report such abuse, neglect, or circumstances include: Physician or surgeon (includes in-training ); Child health associate; Medical examiner or coroner; Dentist; Osteopath; Optometrist; Chiropractor; Chiropodist or podiatrist; Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse; Hospital personnel engaged in admission, care, or treatment of patients; Christian science practitioner; Public or private school official or employee; Social worker or worker in a family child care home, foster care home, or child care center; Mental health professional; Dental hygienist; Psychologist; Physical therapist; Veterinarian; Peace officer; Pharmacist; Commercial film and photographic print processor; Firefighter; Victim s Advocate Pre-Evangelism Born Again Discipleship & Formation Assimilation Spiritual growth is a process of stages. Primary goal of a Life Group: to move each person in your group one step to the right on the Engle Scale. In a free-market culture, the keys to people s hearts are felt needs and common interests. The more hooks you use, the more fish you ll catch, but the hook is not your purpose. If you have questions concerning possible child abuse, ask your Associate Pastor. If he or she is unable to answer the question, the Church will identify someone who can. The Church's Sexual Misconduct Policy also requires individuals to report sexual misconduct and harassment by employees, volunteers and agents of the Church. Please review the Church Sexual Misconduct Policy for additional details. 24 5

10 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART APPENDIX CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFIDENCE GUIDELINES Nick Honerkamp Senior Pastor Karen Morgan Life Groups Pastor New Covenant Church believes in the importance of promoting accountability among believers and confidential relationships in which individuals and couples can explore God's will for their lives. Close Christ-centered relationships enable members to see God work in each other's lives. This increases faith. There is no way to verify the work of God's grace in us if we are independent of one another; nor is there any way to demonstrate godliness to others unless we interact with them. Accordingly, New Covenant Church encourages members, as part of the discipline of faith, to engage in healthy, supportive relationships with other members through Life Groups. Life Groups are an essential extension of the Church's ministry. Life Group Leader Rick Ingle, Marty Maltby, Michael Dietiker, and Melanie Robertson Associate Pastors Life Group Leader Life Group Leader CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY To ensure the growth and effectiveness of Life Groups, New Covenant Church adopts this confidentiality policy concerning communications between Life Group members and their leaders. Unless indicated otherwise, communications within Life Groups are confidential. Life Group leaders minister to the individuals they lead. They will not divulge the confidences of the group or its members except to confer, as needed, with other church leaders who will respect the confidentiality of such communications and, in rare circumstances, to protect children and others at risk of serious harm. The Church commits itself to preserve and protect the confidentiality of Life Group communications because confidentiality allows individuals to explore their failures, their aspirations, and God's love. 6 23

11 NCC STATEMENT OF FAITH LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT The Bible is the only inspired and infallible, authoritative Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16) There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (I John 5:7) In the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule for a thousand years. (John 1:1, Luke 1:26-38, Hebrews 7:26, John 2:11, II Corinthians 5:15, John 20:25-31, Acts 1:9, I Thessalonians 4:16, 17, Revelation 20:1-6) In the Blessed Hope, the personal return of Jesus Christ to receive His church. (I Thessalonians 4:16,17) That the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the blood of Christ. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation. (Titus 3:5) Water Baptism, immersion in water for believers only; identifying them with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19) The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer. (II Peter 2:24, James 5:14) The Baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4 is given to believers who ask for it. In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life. In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost- the saved to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting damnation. (Revelation 20) In Deliverance, the expelling of evil spirits in the Name of Jesus. (Mark 16:17) Communion, The Lord s Supper is a covenant meal for believers with the bread representing the body of Jesus Christ and the cup representing the new covenant in His blood. Laying on of hands is effective in setting aside people to perform specific duties related to ministry, in praying for the sick (James 5:14), the dedication of infants and the impartation of spiritual blessings. (I Timothy 4:14) The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of Jesus great commission. Every person who is born of the Spirit is an integral part of the church as a member of the body of believers. There is a spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1: 22, 2: 19-22, Hebrews 12: 23, John 17:11, 20-23) 22 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. I Timothy 3:8-10 QUALIFICATIONS Member of New Covenant Church Sincere, worthy of respect, and of a good reputation Tithe regularly to New Covenant Church Have a genuine desire to serve and minister to other people Able to seek the Lord in prayer on behalf of your group. Able to create positive group dynamics and deal with conflict resolution within the group ALL THOSE IN LIFE GROUP LEADERSHIP ARE ASKED TO AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING: 1. To fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the Job Description 2. To abide by the New Covenant Church Life Group Leader Honor Code 3. To embrace and teach Christian principles based upon God's Word as stated in the New Covenant Church Statement of Faith 7

12 LIFE GROUP LEADERSHIP HONOR CODE ROUNDTABLE ACTIVITY PAGE As an essential part of the New Covenant Church Leadership Family, you have a responsibility to develop and exhibit mature Christian behavior. This should be the basic premise of your desire to work in a Servant/Leader position here at New Covenant Church. While serving the Body of Christ as a Life Group Leader at New Covenant Church, you pledge to present a good appearance at all times. In both attire and behavior, you should strive to demonstrate Biblical standards in all situations. As Christians, the way we present ourselves to others is of vital importance to the way others perceive Christ. Our conduct should never be an embarrassment to Christ, but should exemplify the best qualities of a mature believer and Servant/Leader. Exemplifying the highest moral commitment, New Covenant Church Life Group Leaders are to maintain a disciplined life of Bible reading, prayer and fasting. We strongly encourage you to refrain from such things as profanity, smoking or chewing tobacco, gambling, indulging in much wine, other alcoholic beverages, dishonest gain, illegal drugs, pornography, sexual immorality, and all behaviors which might cause Christ to grieve and others to stumble. By providing an example in speech and action, we encourage others to grow in Christ and become Servant/Leaders themselves. This is a way of life measured by the heart and commitment of each leader in the New Covenant Church family. We should regard it as an essential part of our development, not as an imposition or restriction. Answer the following questions and discuss them around your table. Consider the feedback from others about your ideas. What is your Life Group idea? What are you going to call your Life Group? Who will come to your Life Group? How will you recruit people for your Life Group? When and where will you meet? Will you provide childcare? What will you do if no one joins your Life Group? 8 21

13 NOTES JOB DESCRIPTION OF LIFE GROUP LEADER RESPONSIBLE TO: Associate Pastor PURPOSE STATEMENT: To promote healthy relationships through Life Groups which empower people for ministry. PREREQUISITES: 1. Attend the initial Life Group Leadership Orientation 2. Complete and meet the requirements of the Life Group Leadership Application RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Attend regularly scheduled leadership training. 2. Pray for and coordinate Life Group meeting to include one or more of the following: Worship, Prayer, Bible Study, &/or Testimonies. 3. Pray daily for your authority and for everyone on your Life Group roster. 4. Be a life coach to your Life Group members, developing them into future leaders. 5. Provide a supportive atmosphere in which Life Group members are able to discover and develop their spiritual gifts. 6. Identify and mentor assistant leaders in order to enable them in their ministries. 7. Maintain unity by representing the philosophy of ministry and theology of New Covenant Church. 8. Be open to coaching from your authority and provide highlights and concerns about your Life group regularly. 9. Unless specified, welcome new people into the group anytime during the semester. 10. Encourage members to invite people who are outside the church. REQUIREMENT: Church membership and six months regular church attendance. 20 9

14 MODELS OF LIFE GROUP MINISTRY NOTES Traditional Model: Pastor/Ministers >> to parishioner going through crisis Free Market Life Group Model: Pastor(s) >> equips NCC Leaders who minister to someone or persons in need. Life Group leaders/members are co-laborers with God and the 5-fold ministry team. Your capacity to develop healthy relationships will enhance your ability to minister or to receive ministry in times of need. Note: Men should minister to men and women to women. Couples may minister to a single person. Periodically reviewing the three levels of ministry will keep you from getting in over your head in any phase of ministry. You will be an able provider of pastoral care because according to Philippians 4:13 because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. THREE LEVELS OF MINISTRY LEVEL ONE: Life Group Leaders and Assistant Leaders do the ministry at this level. These are situations every believer is equipped to handle. LEVEL TWO: Associate Pastors do the ministry at this level. LEVEL THREE: Involves consultation of Senior Pastoral Staff

15 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIFE COACHING 15. Do I have to attend a lot of meetings? No! We try to be very sensitive about your busy schedule. We do not schedule unnecessary meeting during the semester. The Associate Pastor will contact all leaders, usually at the beginning of a new semester. In addition, we may schedule one leadership training meeting where you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills and learn from other leaders. Your Associate Pastor may invite you to attend a meeting to fellowship with other leaders in your zone and discuss specific training topics that apply to your type of Life Group. One function every Life Group Leader will fulfill sometime during the course of a year is life coaching. The basic coaching that you will be doing will not include giving advice or direction but will be a process of sharing Scripture, prayer and encouragement to those who are facing problems and emotional conflicts. Life coaching helps a person become the person they want to be in Christ, by focusing on Jesus and the Word of God. Before one is able to even have the opportunity to coach, relationships must be established. Availability, consistency, and a sincere interest must first be communicated. These factors play a major role in developing trust. Trust is the key that will open the doors for life coaching to take place. Once an individual feels safe with another, he or she will begin to open up and share his or her problems and frustrations, thus allowing the "other" to become a life coach. Often, people will get answers to their own problems from the Holy Spirit as a result of honest, open sharing. As a Life Group Leader, life coaching is on a peer basis and not on a professional level. The greatest part of your role within life coaching is to provide a non-threatening relationship and environment in which your Life Group people can feel free to communicate with you. Within that communication, the effectiveness comes when the person is allowed to begin to resolve their problem with the aid of your listening skills and empathy. What qualifications does a life coach need? 1. A close relationship with Jesus and the Word of God. 2. A desire to be involved with their people. 3. The ability to accept people where they are. 4. The ability to maintain a level of confidentiality. 5. Effective listening skills: a. Open posture b. Attentive expressions. c. Good eye contact. d. The ability to empathize; place yourself in the position of the other person. e. Understanding the type and depth of the problem

16 FOUR DO S OF A LIFE GROUP Integrate any combination of the following: 1. Bible Study 2. Prayer 3. Worship 4. Testimonies FOUR DONT S OF A LIFE GROUP Integrate any combination of the following: 1. Business 2. Offerings 3. Unapproved Speakers 4. Make contacts on behalf of New Covenant Church FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 10. What about requirements for my Life Group? The requirements line on the Life Group Directory Form is a place for you to identify either the limitations for being in the group (i.e. men only, ages only, etc.) or to identify materials that are required (i.e. $10 workbook, Bring your Bible, Required gear for safe rock climbing etc.) 11. What are black out dates? These dates only apply to Life Groups who meet on campus. When we are hosting a conference or preparing for Easter or Christmas productions there are dates when Life Groups cannot meet on campus. In addition, Life Groups meeting on campus cannot meet during the weeks between each semester. It is best to find an alternative meeting place during the black out dates. 12. Can I recruit people to be in my Life Group? Absolutely! Life Groups are made up of friends. So, start telling your friends about your group now! 13. Who is my Associate Pastor? When there is a chain of command in place, no one has to be overwhelmed with the work of the ministry. Before the semester begins you will receive the name and phone number of your Associate Pastor. The Associate Pastor is a seasoned leader who oversees several Life Groups each semester. Their job is to support you in ministry. We have specifically asked them to be in contact with you each week; not to check up on you, but to make sure that you have the help you need. 14. When do Life Groups begin and end meeting for the semester? The beginning and ending weeks of each semester will be announced

17 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT S PRAYER GOT TO DO WITH IT? 7. When should my Life Group meet? That s totally up to you! Keep in mind that people are looking for a Life Group that fits their already busy schedule. Decide which day and time of the week you want your group to meet. Potential members will pass over groups where this is not completed. 8. Where should my Life Group meet? Your living room, community room, local coffee shop, office cafeteria and neighborhood parks make excellent places for Life Groups to meet. (Make sure that you follow proper protocol for securing space at your place of employment, community rooms, etc.) If location means the difference between you being able to lead a group or not, then you have the option to meet at New Covenant Church. Simply write New Covenant Church in the location blank found on the Life Group Directory Form. Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. 9. What about childcare? This single issue will keep many out of the Life Groups. If you are targeting families with younger children, then you have to address the childcare issue. Option 1: Many Life Groups have found a reliable teenager who will come their home to provide childcare while they meet. Parents can pay this person directly. It is acceptable to have a kitty for the group to help subsidize the cost of childcare. This needs to be managed with integrity. Take care in selecting a childcare worker, as you are putting children under their watch. Option 2: Other Life Groups simply rotate this responsibility among the participants in the group with different individuals or couples doing this each week. Let someone in your group manage the scheduling of this rotation. Life Group ministry starts with you. 1. To be effective, you have to have been affected. 2. To be poured out, you have to be filled up. 3. To share Him, you have to know Him. 4. To lead people to Christ, you have to know where He is. 5. To fulfill His purposes for your group, you have to know what those purposes are. Prayer is the foundation. Find out what God s vision and plan is for your group. 1. Dedicate yourself to His purposes. 2. Dedicate your group to His purposes. 3. Ask Him where you fit in the plan. 4. Prepare your heart to receive His direction. Prayer covers, protects, and enlightens. Spiritually prepare the environment before they arrive. 1. Humble yourself. 2. Pray over the house or room. 3. Invite the presence of the Holy Spirit. 4. Ask God to work in the hearts of those He is calling to be there. 5. Ask God to prepare their hearts to receive what He wants to impart. 6. Pray that the Scriptures read will come alive in their hearts. Prayer is a connecting point for ministry. Offer an opportunity for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in people s lives. 1. Make ministry available. 2. Ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment. 3. Ask for His compassion. 4. Ask for His eyes, ears and heart. 5. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. 6. Involve everyone when possible. 7. The pressure is on God

18 IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Semester Beginning and Ending Dates: IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER 1. So, what do I do next? Whether or not you plan to lead a Life Group next semester, complete the application materials today. 2. What about the reference letters and forms? Give a reference letter, reference form and NCC return envelope to three references (not including family) preferably including one ministry supervisor (i.e. previous Life Group leader, pastor, etc.) They need to be returned directly from your references to NCC within two weeks. 3. When will I find out if I m approved to lead a NCC Life Group? You will be contacted informing you of your approval of leadership. If you are not approved, we will let you know what items are missing in your application process. 4. What happens once I am approved to become a New Covenant Church Life Group Leader? Finalize your idea for your Life Group and fill out the Life Group Directory Form. You can use the hard copy included in your application packet and drop it off at the church office. 5. What should I name my Life Group? Make sure that the name of you Life Group communicates clearly what your group is about. Clever names that don t tell the potential member what your group is about will get passed over. 6. How should I describe my Life Group? Be concise. Limit your description to 500 characters