Growing Disciples - moving on

This is just a final post, explaining that the work-in-progress of this current blog is ending, because the production of Growing Disciples programme has reached its climax - you can now purchase the resource from the Congregational Federation offices and it will be sent out from late July / early August.

So if your church hopes to use Growing Disciples, go to www.cfgoingdeeper.wordpress.com - see the overview of the programme, see the order form which helps explain how your church could decide whether it is the resource for you, see the various options, and start using it - and remember to give us some feedback about what you do and what happens as a result of using it.

Thank you for your encouragement and support.
In hope and peace!
Graham

Getting Growing ...

We had the official 'launch' of Growing Disciples on Saturday 8th May, at the Congregational federation Assembly, and it was great to see a good number of people and churches showing an active interest.

So what should you do if you're interested?

1) A Sample booklet is now available, and will be sent to every CF church shortly, together with an Order Form
2) There is also a Question and Answer sheet, which answers several 'frequently asked questions' - a copy of this is available on the resource website - linked from this site - cfgoingdeeper.wordpress.com
3) There is also a flyer/covering letter, explaining what to do - but basically it's a matter of discussing it at Church Meeting, deciding if it's a resource which could help you (ask me any extra questions you have, by emailing growingdisciples@googlemail.com), and then ordering an appropriate number of packs (£5 per person) from the Congregational Federation offices (take the link to the CF website from this site)
4) Although you can order packs from now, they won't be sent until July, as some of the materials and booklets are still in production, but we suggest your church could plan to use the programme from the autumn ...
5) Perhaps just start with Phase 1: Introduction (2 sessions) + Phase 2: Growing as a Learning Community (3 sessions), during the autumn season, and come back to the next phases in the new year? We are hoping to get 'advocates' for the programme in each CF Area, to help support churches and encourage them in the process - but it's important that each church works out the best way to use the materials in your situation.
6) So, see what you think ... ask for encouragement or support ... or just go for it!

Thanks for your interest and encouragement!

Ready ... steady ... grow!

Well, we're nearly ready for the official launch of "Growing Disciples".

Since I last wrote on this blog, we've had feedback from 9 church groups who piloted a sample of the materials, with some really positive responses, plus some very useful constructive criticism which we've been able to act on. The common themes, in positive terms, were these:

• it helped people to talk together, drawing a range of people into the conversation
• it felt timely, in the sense that churches were ready for something like this, to help them reflect on where they are at and to look to new possibilities
• it felt flexible, with people enjoying the creative resources as well as the discussions
• it seemed to draw people together, to build a sense of cohesion between one another
• it prompted churches to consider things they might otherwise have taken for granted, and to be more purposeful in their discussions and vision
  

In the light of all that we have learned through the pilots, we have made some changes, and improved the way in which we describe what the resource is for -

• it's focused on growing in relationship and purpose and confidence, rather than being for individuals and their knowledge
  
• it's focused on open questions, which stop people thinking they're supposed to be led to secret answers and enables a wider range of people to contribute to the conversation
• it's focused on being a resource to help different people develop the skills in leading discussions and creative activities
• it's focused on being ambitious (after all, the challenges we face cannot be addressed in '3 simple steps') so we are unapologetic about the comprehensiveness of the resource with its 15 sessions covering a wide range of issues in the life of our churches)
• it's focused on being flexible enough for churches to shape it to suit their situation, challenges and people - and we urge churches to make it their own!
  

We've produced a sample booklet (which includes one session), to be given out at the May Assembly. Also, the Phase 1: Introduction booklet will be available for people to have a look at - and Phase 2 will be shown on a laptop, so people can see how things are shaping up ...

Phases 3, 4 and 5 will be produced in the next couple of months - so churches can start ordering the packs, ready for sending out over the summer and using in the autumn!

So - ready, steady ... grow as disciples together!

Growing... growing ...

Again, it's been a while since an update. But things have progressed. We are part-way through the 'piloting phase', with 11 churches participating, each running two sessions - so we look forward to the feedback...

Also, in November, the Gofrit Leaders piloted three sessions at their leaders' weekend, and gave some very helpful and positive feedback - here is just a taste of some of the things they said:

• "I think it will help greatly. It's got the potential to be a really helpful resource ..."

• "Gets you to think about things you wouldn't otherwise consider."

• "Easy to use / understand."

• "Seeing change as a positive thing."

• "A useful tool - if everyone is prepared to participate."

• "Helps to see things differently, more positively, and with a goal."

• "It made us look at bible passages we hadn't looked at before."
  

And also, we now have the web-link for the site where the online resources will be located - see the Going Deeper link in the menu on the left. Gradually the resources there will appear, ready for the launch in May this year.