Our Values
This team has been meeting since the fall to oversee all aspects of developing the small group ministry.  As the Development team has been meeting, we borrowed the Three Musketeers’ motto, “All for one, and one for all,” and gave it a new spin, “All for ONE (Jesus), and ONE (Jesus) for all.”   This enhanced motto expresses two core values that we hope everyone involved with this vital ministry will embrace…

Value # 1: All for One!

We are all working for the glory and honor of our Great Triune God.  We are setting personal agendas aside, and by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, we are asking God to make His agenda clear for the small group ministry.

We are asking God,” How, where, and when do You want me to serve?  We are leaving our selfish tendencies at the foot of the cross and saying, “Your will, not mine. Your glory, not my fame.  Your honor, not my praise.”

We are leaving the darkness outside the church and choosing to “put on” Christ . . . by allowing the Holy Spirit to develop in us a sincere love and affection for God and our fellow believers.

“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator . . .therefore as God’s chosen and holy , and dearly loved people clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility . . .and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:10, 12, 14

Value # 2: One for all

We are embracing the truth that the ONE True God, who has filled us with His Holy Spirit, is for us, and by His power will form authentic community in our midst.  We rest not on our own power or manufactured strategies, but on God alone to do this work.  Our belief and prayer is the same as Paul’s in Ephesians 3:16-21 . . .

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Work Groups
The Development team has formed the following work groups to accomplish the task of developing the small group ministry.

Curriculum – This work group, led by Jane Putnam, gathered many curriculum samples for exploratory leaders to puruse, assisted in developing the Exploratory Leaders training notebook, developing a format and structure for discussion questions to be published weekly to supplement the Sunday morning message for use in the small groups, and is working on gathering materials for our small groups to use next year.

Small Group Leader Training Group - This group, led by Doug Valchar, is working on developing the materials, structure and format for training all our small groups leaders.  Currently this group is working through the books, Leading Life Changing Small Groups and Coaching Life Changing Small Groups and Hearing God.

Communications – This group, led by Andrea Capuyan, has been working to outline a communication strategy, so in every medium we provide attractive, accessible and clear information promoting the distinctive ministry of Bethany Community Church, specifically in the small group setting. The hope is keep us all connected by keeping us informed of all that is happening in our faith community.

People Tracking / Data Management- This group, led by Cindy Hammons has been working to develop and enhance our ability to keep track of people from their first point of contact with the church to seeing them find a home in our church.  They have been learning about ACS our church data program, designing excel spreadsheets for our exploratory small group leaders to use.  Their hope is to “leave no man or woman behind!”

Discipleship / Evangelism – These work groups are still forming, so look for further communication on what these groups will be doing and who will be leading these groups.