|
Home Page
|
 Frequently Asked Questions What is a Growth Group?
A Growth Group is a home
fellowship made up of 10-16 people who meet weekly to share, study and
support one another. A trained facilitator and host lead each group. An
average meeting lasts for an hour and a half, followed by light
refreshments. How Important are Growth Groups? At Christian Center of Salem, Growth Groups are the hub of our ministry. They are the place where the real ministry of the church takes place as we study God’s Word, while supporting and sharing our lives with one another. We believe that meeting together on a regular basis is time well spent. Our aim is to be a church of small groups, not a church with small groups. Therefore, it is our goal each year to have at least 80% of our adults involved on a weekly basis. When and Where do they Meet? Growth Groups meet on various nights of the week in homes throughout the Salem/Keizer area. Most evening groups meet from 7-9 p.m. The daytime groups meeting times vary. Some groups meet at the church on Wednesday evenings to accommodate those who have children in our midweek Kid’s and Student Ministries programs. How Long do they Last? Each Growth Group session lasts 8-10 weeks. We have Fall, Winter and Spring Semesters. At the end of each semester, you will have the choice of staying in the same group, trying a new group or even taking a break. Most groups will stay together throughout the entire year. Growth Groups do not meet mid-June through August. What is the Required Commitment? Joining a Growth Group requires a 8-10 week commitment to attend weekly meetings and do the homework ahead of time. Obviously, allowances are made for sickness, vacation, work conflicts and other special events, but not much more. This commitment is the key to a strong Growth Group. You have the first three weeks to attend the group to make sure it’s a good fit for you. What will we Study? The studies are based on the previous Sunday’s message. These “sermon-based” Growth Groups are built on what is called a “Lecture-Lab” model. Imagine the Sunday message as a “lecture” on Christian living, and the Growth Group as a lab where you get to roll up your sleeves and discuss how the weekend’s message works in real life. Each week there will be a series of Bible passages and questions on the back of the sermon note sheet to study before the meeting. It will usually take about 20 minutes per week to complete the homework. What does it Cost? Few things in life are free and Growth Groups are no exception! The cost of Growth Groups is the cost of commitment. During the first meeting, each group will complete a “covenant” together. This simple form helps each group discuss their priorities and commitment. Part of that commitment is the promise to attend each week and to complete the homework. You have the first three weeks to decide if your group is a good fit for you. When you join a Growth Group, you’re promising to attend and be prepared each week. It’s this commitment that makes Growth Groups work for you and everyone else in the group. We realize that it is a big commitment, but it only lasts for 8-10 weeks. At the end of each semester, there will be a few weeks break in which you can choose to recommit for another quarter, try a new group, or take a break from Growth Groups altogether. What about Child Care? Growth Groups are for adults only. Exceptions can be made for nursing newborns, up to six months. We leave it up to each family to work out their own child care. Sometimes it works best for families in a group to share a sitter or to swap child care with another family who’s Growth Group meets on a different evening. We have child care available at the church on Wednesday nights (6:45-9:15 p.m.) for those involved in groups that meet on that night. How do I Choose a Group? When selecting a group, we strongly recommend you choose a group based on its leader-host team and station-in-life, rather than its location. Groups do best when members share a common station-in-life and other interests with their leaders, hosts, and other group members. In the end, you’ll find it’s worth the drive. Groups are divided into “Station-in-Life” categories: Singles, Young Marrieds, Young Families, Parents of Children K-6, Parents of Teens, Empty Nesters, Senior Adults, 20-Somethings, 30-Somethings, College, Intergenerational Groups, New to Christian Center, etc. Remember, these station-in-life groupings are intentionally kept fuzzy and are meant to help you self-select an appropriate group for you. They are not intended to box you in. If you have any questions (especially if you are new to Christian Center), please don’t hesitate to call the church, and we will gladly assist you. Keep in mind that it might take two or three groups before you find the perfect fit, but don’t worry, you’ll find it! How do I Sign Up for a Group? We offer sign-ups for Growth Groups during the Sunday service and online before each of our Growth Group Quarters begin. During our sign-up Sundays we will have brochures available with information on the groups that are offered as well as a “Quick Guide” inside the Sunday program. There are three sign-up Sundays before the beginning of our Fall Semester in September, our Winter Semester in January, and our Spring Semester in April. |