Purpose
Crossroads Church has sponsored Home Fellowship Groups for the past two years. Up until now they have been conducted on an irregular basis. With the new schedule for Sunday Services, we are now in the position of strengthening this ministry as an essential component of our Church.
Simply put, the HFG ministry will provide opportunity for spiritual growth and friendship building in the context of conversations about the meaning of Scriptures and the Christian life, prayer for one another, and fellowship in a warm and informal setting. The HFG ministry will seek to incorporate all of the important aspects of Church life – Worship, Teaching, Fellowship and Evangelism (Acts 2:42+47).
Home Fellowship Groups are small gatherings of believers meeting in homes to experience closeness and intimacy in Christian fellowship. At Home Fellowship Groups we expect a vibrant work of the Holy Spirit. It is a place where believers actually talk to one another, being sensitive to each other and responding to one another in the love of Jesus Christ. Bonds of friendship will develop as believers become family to one another.
Home Fellowship Groups consist of more than just a Bible Study. They provide loving support by combining people and service.
Spiritual needs are met through prayer, and the ministry of teaching the Word. The Home Fellowship Group becomes a place where sincere interaction with other believers becomes life-changing! An important part of the Home Fellowship Group is empowering and preparing people by careful instruction in the Word. Once equipped with valuable spiritual tools and a deeper insight into God’s Word, they will then able to take the first steps towards outreach and evangelism.
Plan
On the first Sunday evening of each month, groups will meet in designated homes to be led in a brief time of worship in song, prayer, and discussion-based Bible Study, and conclude with a time for refreshments and fellowship. Each group will consist of 8-12 Members. Efforts will be made to invite visitors from outside the Church, and when a group nears the point of having 16 in regular attendance, two HFGs will be formed with half of the group being invited to begin a new group in another home.
Schedule
The meetings will be convened at the regular Sunday evening time, 6:00 p.m. After a brief welcoming time, the leader will engage the group in approximately one hour of worship, prayer, and conversation relating to a pre-selected Bible passage. A time of fellowship with refreshments will follow, with the full meeting ending no later than 8:30.
Format and Bible Passage or Topic
Generally, all HFGs will follow the pattern established, and discuss the Scripture prepared by the Pastor. Important guiding principles will be: participation, interaction, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and to one another. An effort will be made to involve every member, whether in singing, praying, discussing the Biblical text or providing snacks and drinks for the refreshment time. Care will be taken so that no one person dominates or is burdened by any of the ministry functions of the group.
Pastoral Leadership
The Pastor will provide leadership for this ministry. He will establish the vision and guidelines. In addition, meeting locations and Leaders will be assigned under his approval. He will provide or approve topics for group discussion. He will provide this leadership with the assistance and cooperation of the HFG Coordinator and with the support of the Deacons who will be assigned by the Pastor to attend specific groups.
HFG Coordinator
Appointed by, and working closely with the Pastor, the Coordinator for this ministry will oversee all of the month-to-month activities of the HFGs. He will:
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- Pray for, encourage, and coach the Leaders and Hosts in the fulfillment of their ministries;
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- After personal interview and/or visit, recommend to the Pastor potential Leaders and meeting places when either a change is necessary or additional groups are ready to form;
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- Within a week after each monthly HFG meeting, make personal or telephone contact with each Leader to inquire about the meeting just held, record Members’ attendance, and become aware of any needs or issues – he will help deal with these issues in consultation with the Pastor when necessary;
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- Schedule, convene, and lead a meeting with all Leaders and Assistants twice each year;
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- Keep the Church Office apprised of any changes in meeting locations so that a monthly Sunday Bulletin Insert may be updated;
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- Have a standing appointment with the Pastor to discuss matters related to Home Fellowship Groups.
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- The Coordinator will be invited to attend a conference/seminar related to this ministry.
HFG Leaders
Each Home Fellowship Group will have a recognized Leader who has been approved and commissioned by the Pastor. This leader will be in charge of each month’s HFG meeting. He will:
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- Call members to gather in the designated room;
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- Provide for a brief time of singing (2-3 choruses led by an Assistant or Member – song sheets should be provided);
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- Give opportunity for an offering, either by passing a basket/dish or placing a designated receptacle on the refreshment table;
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- Lead the group Bible discussion and prayer time;
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- Pray a blessing before the refreshments are served; and
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- Encourage everyone’s departure at or near the agreed upon time.
Within each meeting, the Leader will view himself in the role of facilitator, particularly during Bible Study and Prayer times, always seeking to involve as many people as possible. Great care will be taken so that neither the Leader, Assistant Leader, nor any other Member of the group dominate the times set for prayer and discussion.
He will confer with the Coordinator following each meeting, sharing his assessment of the meeting and provide names of those who attended. He will keep some form of contact with the Host/Hostess and Assistant(s) for his group, making sure any problems or issues are dealt with, seeking the advice of the Coordinator when necessary.
The Leader, with the help of Assistants and Hosts, will pray regularly for the group Members, and be alert to special needs so that the Benevolence Ministry of the church may be able to assist, notifying the Pastor of any such needs. When group Members appear to be in need of Counsel, they will be referred to the Pastor. Leaders will see to it that there is no borrowing or lending of money between members of the group, nor any promotion of business opportunities or sales parties. Each group under the guidance of its leader will determine procedures for the caring of children if that is a need for that particular group.
It is expected that Leaders be men who have humbly submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, live a Christian life that is exemplary, and exhibit to the Members an attitude of servanthood. Leaders will develop a style of leadership that actively seeks to involve others in the various parts of the ministry, and they will demonstrate a keen interest in each Member of the group. When a Leader fails to perform his ministry according to the guidelines and expectations of the Pastor, he will be spoken to directly either by the Pastor or the HFG Coordinator (with the Pastor's full knowledge), and will be willing to relinquish responsibility without further process.
HFG Assistant Leaders
Each group will have one or two Assistant HFG Leaders. They will:
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- Make a concerted effort to be present for each meeting unless restricted by their work schedule or health problem;
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- Offer to assist the Leader and Host/Hostess in any way possible;
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- Join with the Leader and Hosts in praying for the group and its Members;
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- When helpful to the Hosts, the Assistant will assist with the calling of Members to remind them of the meeting time and location;
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- As needed, they will be prepared to take leadership of the meeting whenever the HFG Leader is required to be absent, or when the Leader chooses to use them.
The Assistant Leader will be viewed as being in training so that when a new HFG needs to be formed, the Assistant will be available for appointment.
HFG Host/Hostess
It will be expected that in each group the Host/Hostess will be someone other than the HFG Leader. This will allow Hosts to give full attention to their hospitality ministry. The Host/Hostess will:
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- Prepare the meeting room with sufficient seating and lighting;
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- Make an effort to be at the door to welcome each member as they arrive;
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- Arrange for and oversee the time for refreshments which will take place at the close of the meeting - please note that it is anticipated that only simple snack foods and drinks will be offered;
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- Make arrangements for other members to bring a food or drink item to put on the table - no Host will be expected to provide all of the food and drinks. Once a year, if the group so desires, there could be a full meal – at the close of this meal, Communion may be offered as approved by the Pastor.
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- Request first time members to sign the HFG Guest Book; and
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- See to it that the offering is returned to the church.
A back-up host home will be named for each HFG in case of vacation or illness.
HFG Members
For the most part, the membership of each group will be comprised of Crossroads Church people who live in the same general geographical area. Members will be asked not to move to a different HFG without having discussed with the Leader the reason for their change – he will then discuss the matter with the Coordinator and/or Pastor. If the desire for change is related to a real or perceived offense, the Member will be coached to resolve the matter according to the Biblical pattern (Matthew 18:15-17).
Members will be asked to bring an offering, contribute items to the snack table, and invite people from outside the church to visit the group. When appropriate, people who visit Crossroads Worship services will be invited to a designated group by a Leader, Assistant or Host, in consultation with the Coordinator. Every effort will be made to avoid any feeling of competition or rivalry between groups.