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"We had been stuck at nine small groups for two years. After we had your ministry come and do this teambuilding day two months ago, we've grown to 12 groups. Right now, four of our groups are in the planning stages of birthing new groups and we'll be at 16 groups before long. Thanks for your help!"
—Anson Nash, Associate Pastor,
Padre Island Baptist Church, Texas
Upward, Inward, Outward, Forward is unlike any other small group seminar or conference. This workshop concentrates on preparing your small group or cell group members to work together in a team environment. The strategic planning that we offer will give them a framework for a lifetime of relational ministry to others.
When you bring the core members and leaders of your group together for this fast-paced day, they will learn the importance of Jesus living and expressing Himself in the midst of their group. They will discover four essential dynamics for a small group or cell group to be healthy and effective. They will then work as a group to make plans to focus on and improve each of these dynamics in their group. And, they will learn to cooperate with Jesus as He moves in their midst reaching through them to others. It’s a powerful day!
Upward to God:
Your group members will take their intimacy with God to a new level! They will learn that prayer and devotion provide a basis for ministry and hold all of the other dynamics together, making them powerful.
Inward in Community:
Healthy small group life is more than a once-a-week meeting and fellowship is more than a pot-luck meal! Your group members will come to understand and develop strategies to enable real Christian community that ministers deeply and reaches out.
Outward to the Lost:
Your small groups or cell groups will leave the workshop with a solid strategy to reach the lost for Jesus. The power of group member relationships and planned, scheduled events make all the difference!
Forward in Discipleship and Leadership Development:
Your group members will be involved in activities that will challenge their thinking and provide them a new vision for discipleship and leadership. You do need more group leaders, don’t you? We thought so!
When your groups participate in Upward, Inward, Outward, Forward, each group will leave the workshop with a 4-month plan of their own design. They will spend time in prayer seeking God’s guidance, and revise their plans as necessary to integrate into your church’s schedule.
- This workshop is designed for the core members of small groups as well as the leaders and interns/apprentices. (In other words, the focus is on moving members into assuming responsibility so as to effectively take a lot of ministry burden off the shoulders of exisitng leaders.)
- Sixty percent of the day is spent in group planning time, prayerfully making plans for the next 90-120 days of group life.
- The four basic dynamics of a healthy group are covered: prayer, community, evangelism, and leadership development.
- The day exposes your whole small group or cell group ministry to the reality and need to plan strategically to succeed as a team to achieve the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
Time Requirements:
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., typically scheduled on a Saturday when no other church activities will conflict with participation. (It really does take a whole Saturday to teach all the sessions and give the groups enough time to make plans.)
The additional session integrating the four directions into meetings can be taught, but adds one hour to the day.
Other Recommendations:
We highly recommend that you provide child care and a box lunch for your groups. This will increase participation and save time for everyone involved.
Best time to schedule this workshop:
Any time of year is good, but we have found that September and January are the best months for small groups to do some strategic planning.
How to Bring This Training to Your Church:
E-mail our office by clicking below or call our office at 1-800-735-5865 to discuss open dates.
Pricing Information:
1. Cost associated with hosting this event is $950 for the presenter's honorarium, plus the cost of the presenter's travel, lodging, and meals. (Some churches add a Friday evening session with coaches and group leaders for a Q&A time with the presenter, which is an additional $350.)
2. Purchase one Upward, Inward, Outward, Forward Workbook for each person attending and provide each group attending the event.
3. Purchase one Blessing List for each group represented (these come in ten-packs) OR, supply poster-sized piece of butcher paper and markers for each group on the day of the workshop.
Questions? Don't hesitate to contact us! This is our most-popular event and we criss-cross the country each year doing them in local churches for a reason—there's nothing like it found elsewhere for small groups.
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