Community Groups is the name for small groups at Western Hills that work on fulfilling all 5 purposes that God has given the church: worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and missions
Here are some FAQ’s about Community Groups for you if you’d like to know what it takes to start and/or host one:
Q: Do I need to be a Bible expert to become a Community Group Host?
A: Definitely not! The most important things that you need are a desire to serve the members of your group and to grow in your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When you take this step of faith, through prayer, God’s Holy Spirit will give you what you need to be an effective Host. Western Hills has many video curriculums available that provide expert teaching to your small group. Your host responsibility is to facilitate the discussion around that teaching using provided resources.
Q: What are the requirements to H.O.S.T. a Community Group?
A: A H.O.S.T. must be a member of Western Hills Church or commit to becoming a member within 60 days.
Q: What are the requirements to be a Community Group Leader at Western Hills Church?
A: A leader must have completed CLASS 101 and met all membership requirements.
A leader must commit to completing all remaining CLASSes (201, 301 and 401) within 18 months.
A leader must complete Leader Training-1 and agree to implement the Leader Values on the Leader Application.
A leader must be able to answer that there are no problems with the following areas:
- Leader must not have current habitual struggles or moral issues (drugs, alcohol, cohabitation, etc.) that would bring shame on the name of Jesus Christ or on Western Hills Church.
- In addition, there must not be any current marital struggles (e.g. infidelity, separation, divorce in process, etc.)
- Finally, the leader must support Western Hills Church’s Statement of Faith without any reservation or addition.
Q: What do I need to do to become a member of Western Hills Church?
A: You need to have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, be baptized by immersion at Western Hills Church or another church of like faith and practice, completed Membership CLASS 101, and have signed our membership covenant that is available when you have taken CLASS 101.
Q: How do I get help?
A: Every Community Group host has a pastor assigned to them who is your point of contact to Western Hills’ Community Group community and is the source of help, information and resources to help you.
Q: What Community Group resources are recommended and where can I get the materials?
A: We have a wide range of small group studies available and recommend that in between major Church spiritual growth campaigns that your group select studies that meet the needs of those in your group.
Q: Are Community Groups all required to study the same material?
A: We ask each group to select what they want to study from the library of curriculum that Western Hills’ Elders have approved and based on the interest of its members and their spiritual maturity. If your group wants to do something beyond what’s on the pre-selected list it simply needs to be reviewed by the Elders to ensure it is in alignment with Scripture.
Once a year we ask all groups to study the same material associated with the Spiritual Growth campaign we commit ourselves to for 40 days.
Q: How can I get more people into our Community Group?
A: You and the members of your group should invite unconnected people you meet at church, your friends, neighbors, co-workers and family to join the group. This is the best way to get new members in your group. Pray before you invite someone new. Ask God to soften his or her heart and then step out in faith and make the invitation.
You must also make sure your group is listed as “Open” and that you have communicated that to the Maturity Team.
Q: What do we do when we finish a study?
A: Have a party and celebrate the time you have shared together as a Community Group. Affirm those that leave and assure them of your prayers. Invite them to return to the group at anytime. Schedule your next meeting with those that will be continuing, decide on the study that you will do next, and move on ahead.
Q: How should our group handle childcare?
A: First, make childcare a top priority in order to make it happen. If there are people who can’t afford childcare, those who can help need to step up to help out. Another thing is that you want to rally together. You might be able to get a sitter to watch the kids in one part of the house while the group meets in another room. You may even try to rotate people out of the group to take care of the children. There are many childcare options. These are just a few. More are listed in your Leader Training-1 curriculum.
Q: How do I raise up leaders?
A: This is a process where your group members can help with small tasks and functions of your Community Group. Based on their giftedness, rotate leadership and have members lead a sub-group. They can host when you are out of town and then they can be released to do their own group should they choose. Encourage your Community Group members to attend Western Hills’ Leader Training-1 so they can more effectively develop as hosts.
Q: Do we use husband/wife leadership teams?
A: Yes, we do. We find it very beneficial to have both the husband and wife lead in small groups. Each one brings different gifts to the leadership position. They each fill in and compliment the other.
Q: Do we have women leading groups with men in them?
A: Yes we do. We have women leading groups based on the biblical principle that the Pastors have given them the authority, so they are under the covering of that authority to lead that group.
Q: Do you suggest that Community Groups meet once a week?
A: The short answer is “yes,” we recommend once a week as the ideal frequency for a small group to meet. But, we also acknowledge that groups that meet every other week can still be effective as long as they use other mediums to provide ongoing care, nurturing and leadership development of the group.
Q: What are effective ways to get Community Group members involved in bringing seekers on a regular basis?
A: We would suggest, that if a person is asking that question that they may want to lead a seekers group that would be targeted for people that may want to know more about Christ or are open to asking questions or to express doubts, so that there can be a positive open forum. But one of the most effective ways we have found is for someone to champion Missions and Evangelism in the small groups. This would help give a voice to that very need of honoring the open chair and bringing seekers to your group. Also we found that although a group may be doing a study, a seeker can also gain benefit just from the relationships and being around other believers in a group.
Q: Are the 5 purposes carried out over the life of the group and not necessarily each time the group meets?
A: That is correct. You want to take a snapshot of your group over a two or three month period to see that there is health and a balance of the five purposes. So, a group need not do all five of the purposes at every group meeting. A key role of the leader is to see that the five purposes are balanced “over time” and to place emphasis on areas where the group needs to grow.
Q: My group is dying, what do I do?
A: This is where connecting with your assigned pastor is important. Your assigned pastor will be able to help you diagnose what is happening and recommend changes or training that could help you as a leader, and help your members as well. A common vision and mission and agreement on how your Community Group is to function is required for success as a continuing small group. If different people in your Community Group have different needs, or ideas, than what your small group is doing, it may be time for them to move on and find a group that will meet their needs. There also may be value in you taking a break from the group or go to other groups.
Q: How many groups or ministries should I be involved in?
A: The answer to this question is contained in your answer to how much time you have to do ministry effectively? We have found that people do one primary and one secondary group or ministry the best. Life stage and family responsibilities will help to determine how many ministries you can do, i.e. an empty nester will have more time to devote to a ministry than a young family with multiple children. We encourage Community Group leaders to be sure they are involved in a Community Group or ministry where THEY are being fed spiritually. It is only out of the overflow of what God is doing in your life that you will have the stamina and heart to serve others. For example, Pastor Karl has been in the same Community Group for many years with his wife where both of them are “regular members” of the group and get to participate like anyone else.
Q: How do people move from one group to another, or do they?
A: Yes, we have found over time that people do move from one group to another. It is important that you let people have the ability and the flexibility to move to another group. It’s important that the leaders understand that meeting the members’ needs is the primary concern, even if it means they find another group. We encourage leaders to remember that not all people grow at the same rate, or have the same needs over time. It is healthy for people to seek a group that meets their needs at the time.
Q: When should my group meet?
A: Groups meet at the time, place, and day of the week that best ministers to the needs of the groups. Whether it’s 5 a.m. on Fridays for a men’s group, Sunday night for a couples group, or Tuesday night for a ladies group. If you are starting a new group, you should choose the time and place that is convenient to you the leader, then people who can meet your schedule will be attracted to your group.
Q: How do we prevent Community Groups from breaking up family unity?
A: No ministry should take priority over the family. If it does, then they are out of sync with God’s will. We need to help people see the value of the family.
Q: How long should the average Community Group meet?
A: A typical Community Group meeting is one and a half to two hours. However, it is unique for each group, depending on the type of group, and should be worked out by agreement of the group members in the process of developing the Community Group Agreement that covers what will be done and how it will be done in your Community Group.
Q: How should time be divided in Community Group meetings?
A: This is up to the group host and why the host is so important. The host is able to determine where the group is in the five purposes and what they need to be doing. We suggest that the leader take a snapshot about every two to three months to see that health and balance is brought into the group over time.
Q: Should Community Group hosts only invite people from Western Hills Church to attend?
A: That is totally up to the Host and to the group. The point is to seek God prayerfully about who to invite. Welcoming unbelieving neighbors, coworkers, friends and family into your group is a great way to see lives changed for eternity.
Q: We have a small house or apartment or condo, can we still host a LifeGroup?
A: Sure, all you have to do is say you are full or you can subgroup into smaller groups in several areas in the house. Sub-grouping can actually be more fun for everyone, but it’s really up to you.
Q: What is the format for Community Groups?
A: People connect in new small groups consisting of 3 or 4 up to 16 people who provide love, support, friendship, connection and spiritual strength. The format is an informal and comfortable 1½-2 hour gathering at the home of a Host. Participants are comprised of people from our church, as well as friends, neighbors, relatives and coworkers who are invited to join in the adventure. Most groups are guided through the study series using DVD programs and study guides.
Q: Do you have a Community Group question not answered here?
A: Send your question by email to Pastor Karl.
