Life Groups are small groups such as “men’s group”, playgroup or Bible Study groups. The basis of a Life Group is people committed to meeting with one another as a way of sharing and growing in their faith. The frequency of meeting is determined by the individual groups.
As the church grows small groups become an essential way of meeting and getting to know other people, being encouraged in one’s faith and given an opportunity of exploring one’s gifts and calling within the church. Life Groups are places which foster genuine care and interest in the lives of other church members. They are places where honesty, acceptance and trust can be fostered. They are places where people can share confidentially their fears, doubts and struggles and receive support and prayer.
For Life Groups to function in a healthy way they must always keep in mind the end aim which is to develop people into mature disciples’ of Christ. Most Life Groups will have a two year cycle during which time it is the role of the group leader to identify and train an assistant group leader. During the second year of a cycle the role of the group leader is primarily to supervise and mentor an assistant leader as they gradually take over the leading of the group. At the end of the cycle the expectation is that the group leader will leave the group (occasionally with some other members of the group) and form a new group while the assistant will become the existing group’s new leader and begin a new cycle.
In making the role of group leaders that of encouraging, empowering and equipping new leaders it focuses the group on its key objective of maturing people in their faith and helps individuals and the group as a whole reflect on discerning their spiritual gifts and challenging them to exercise those gifts within the life of the church. Life Groups are therefore committed to the vision and ministry of the wider church.