The Faithful Format
We need a model where the Care Ratio is more like 1:10 instead of 1:200. One trained leader working with 10 members: a small group. We are attempting to do this through what we call "a Small Group Lifestyle Church." We are asking and training every area of the church that is willing to make sure that four key things are happening in their group: worship, fellowship, nurture and service We get these from the model of the early church in Acts 2:42. We call it "The Faithful Format."

Small groups exist naturally in people's lives. How many people do you consider to be your close friends? Probably 4 to 10. But many of these relationships do not deal with spiritual needs or concerns. How many of your friends ask "Where is God at work in your life?" or "What can I pray about for you today, this week?"

The key is to implement the biblical model — the Faithful Format into the system, so a trained leader can help a group of 10 or fewer to care for one another. This system has the potential for sustained care and growth no matter what the numbers. At every entry point into your church, spiritual relationships will be built. Our goal is to get new members and current members connected relationally, somewhere in the life of the church where weekly or at least monthly, someone is asking them two key relational questions: "How are you today?" (Then listen) and "What can I pray about, for you this week?" (Then pray during the week!)

To help a church to transition from a 1:200 Care System to a 1:10 Care System, there are three specific "sub" keys to this model: Prayer (the Spiritual Key), Jethro (The Organizational Key), and The Faithful Format (the Process Key).

(1) The Spiritual Key: Prayer (Mark 9:29, 11:24)

The first thing I needed to learn was that this transition was not just an organizational refocusing, but initially a Spiritual Battle. After doing some reading on the invisible world and prayer, I asked eight people who believe in the power of prayer to be Intercessory Prayer Partners for me and the ministry of the church on a daily basis. And I also asked that they keep one another in prayer.

Next I took a few days away to try to clear out "my stuff" so I could hear "God's stuff" in regards to the ministry I was called to take part in. This time of listening was invaluable. It gave me a focus and a direction or "first steps." Whenever I feel like I'm not sure what's next, I take a day away at a nearby retreat house to try to hear where God is going next, so I can get on board!

A weekend visit from Lay Witness Renewal gave a good number of our members a sense of the possibilities of God's guidance in small groups with the focus on prayer, one another and God's will for our lives. Prayer became central in all of our meetings. Not only do we start our committee meetings, staff meetings, group meetings, choirs, etc. with prayer, we close by asking people to share prayer requests (generally in 2's or 3's) and then together we say the Lord's Prayer as our closing. By starting and ending in prayer, it's as though God's arms are encircling our time together.

Later we started a Prayer team that meets each Sunday to pray about 20 minutes before the worship service begins for church concerns and our goals. And with their direction, we mailed out Table Prayer Cards asking the entire congregation to pray for our two church goals: to Grow Spiritually (love God) and to Grow Numerically (in Reaching Out to others).

(2) The Organizational Key: Jethro (Exodus 18, Luke 10:2)

When Jethro came to visit Moses he suggested Moses deal with the over whelming needs of the people by organizing them in groups of 1:10. In his book, Prepare Your Church for the Future, Carl George describes the "Jethro model" in more detail. While we give Jethro credit for helping to organize a large group of people, Jesus used the same method when he was building a Ministry Team from scratch. Peter, James and John seem to be his initial group and leaders. The rest of the 12 could have become the leaders for the 72 (Luke 10:1, 17) and some of the 72 for the 120 (Acts 1: 15). The early church was ready for the 3000 that came on Pentecost Sunday because they had 120 trained leaders ready to respond to the new believers. (Was Jesus motto: If I build it' God will send them?)

William Beckham (The Second Reformation, p.201) says it this way: "Christ has not called us to build a church of thousands, but to let Him form His Base Congregation of 120 around us. Inherent within one Base Congregation of 120 to 200 upper room Christians is the essential infrastructure to he a church of a thousand or tens of thousands. No other structure is required. Simply multiplying the mechanics and dynamics of that congregational unity can result in unlimited growth. "

For "unlimited growth," I would read "unlimited disciple-making and ministry" potential! That's because I see small groups as the primary training ground for people to realize, practice, affirm, and use their God given gifts. As they take those gifts out into the world, they have a backup team to pray, encourage, and support them in whatever form of ministry God calls them to. Structurally, we have group leaders who train apprentices, coaches who encourage and support up to 5 leaders and a coordinator who supports the coaches and suggests ways for them to help their group members.


(3) The Process Key: The Faithful Format (Acts 2:42)

The early church had times of Prayer (Worship). Fellowship, Listening to the Apostle's Teachings, and Breaking Bread together. Gabe Fackre (The Christian Story, W.B. Erdmans Pub., 1978) helped us to see these activities as marks of the church: Worship, Fellowship, Nurture and Service. In the church we tend to set aside specific locations for each of these activities, one for Worship (Sanctuary, Chapel), for Fellowship (Social halls and kitchens) and Nurture/Teachings (classrooms) and Service is hopefully happening in the community and the world.

Instead of separating these activities into different locations, we are trying to combine them all in our covenantal life together. Whenever people gather as a group within the life of the church, they are encouraged to implement the Faithful Format.

Now all meetings model our awareness of where we've come from and where we're going. (John 8:14, 13:3). Secondly it takes into consideration the needs of people: They Belong (Worshipping God Together), They are Understood (Fellowship Time), They Understand (Nurture /Agenda Time) and They have Hope (Service Time of prayer). We've noticed that both individual psychological needs and group social needs are met when we follow this process. We've also noticed that our meetings don't seem to take so long and people seem to get along better.

By using the "Faithful Format," committees are beginning to become more group like. That is, there is an intentionality about caring for and praying for one another. Thanks to Jesus' method of Leadership Development, the early church was ready for it's Pentecost. Will we be ready for ours?

Tom Burlington is [was!] the Associate Pastor for Church Development and Support at First Church of Christ in Unionville CT. He can be e- mailedat104077.425@compuserve.com. [Address at time article was written.]

Current e-mail address is: tburlington@macconnect.com