Basic Training: Preparation & Process
BASIC TRAINING: PREPARATION & PROCESS
The Preparation
Before starting a cell group, members must complete the training and meet the qualifications for cell group leadership. Then members may recruit persons (members and prospective members of New Life) to meet as a prayer group for at least four weeks and be commissioned as a cell group leader.
The Process
After making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and being baptized (if they are candidates for baptism), candidates for membership will complete the following courses and seminars and participate in the following retreats for their "Basic Training" for Christian discipleship and for cell group leadership.
Membership 101: Four Sessions of 1 Hour Each
These sessions will focus on: What it Means to Be a Christian, What is the Church, The Cell Church in the New Testament, The Cell Church Today, The Gift & Gifts of The Holy Spirit, The Ministry Gifts of Christ.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE SEMINAR: One or Two Sessions of 3 hours or 3 to 6 One Hour Sessions
This seminar will introduce participants to the origin, nature, and the purpose of Spiritual Warfare and help them to learn how to deal effectively with our spiritual enemy, Satan. Attention will focus on four of the fifteen satanic spirits found in the Bible: The spirits of Antichrist, Bondage, Depression, and Infirmity.
ENCOUNTER RETREAT: 3 hours basic or 4 hours with light lunch
This is a "breakthrough" retreat to help believers to "identify possible spiritual strongholds in lives, the causes of those strongholds, and how to get free from them and stay free." (The Encounter Retreat, p. 31)
Discipleship 201: Eight Sessions of One Hour Each
The first four sessions will focus upon the principles found in The Masters Plan for Making Disciple by Win and Charles Arn. The last four sessions will focus upon the principles found in The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman.
DISCOVERY SEMINAR: One Session of 3 to 4 hours or 3 to 4 One Hour Sessions
This seminar will help believers to identify their personality type, their spiritual gifts, and their basic purpose as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Leadership 301: Twelve Sessions of One Hour Each
These sessions will focus upon the following topics in preparing persons for cell group leadership. Establishing Core Values, Developing a Winning Attitude, Following the Leadership Style of Jesus, Managing Your Time, Learning to Communicate Effectively, Ministering to the Needs of Others, Handling Conflicts in the Cell Group, Laying a Biblical Foundation for Cell Ministry, Leading a Cell Meeting, Building Your Cell Between the Meetings, Mentoring Others through the "Principle of Twelve," and Understanding the Four Key Principles of Ministry.
CHAMPIONS RETREAT: One Session --- 3 to 6 hours
Participants will spend three hours in preparation for thie seminar by reading the material beforehand and three hours in the seminar itself discussing the material in preparation to function effectively as a Cell Group member and as a Cell Group leader. After this retreat, those who meet the qualifications for Cell Group Leadership and are ready will be able to start a new cell group. Cell Group Leaders will have regular monthly training sessions and periodic special training sessions with the pastor and will have the opportunity to attend other training conferences on cell church ministry.
Weekly Cell Group Meetings: One to Two Hours
Cell Groups will meet weekly for one to two hours (including fellowship time). Meetings will take place in homes or at some other designated place. Meetings are open to unsaved and unchurched relatives and friends --- and other unsaved and unchurched persons --- and they should be invited to each meeting. ONLY members and prospective members and friends who help us start this ministry may be a member of a cell group. Prospective Members are those who are unsaved, unchurches, and those who are looking for a church home. Cell Groups will have a fellowship period at each meeting or at least once a month. The time period for this fellowship should be predetermined by the cell group --- taking work schedules and other matters into consideration. Other fellowships and outings should be planned for outside of the regular Cell Group meeting time.
Weekly Prayer Groups: 30 to 60 Minutes or More
Prayer Groups may meet in a home, on the job, or before or after school or any other appropriate and convenient place. Prayer Groups are open to anyone and everyone who wishes to attend and participate in them. Prayer Groups meet for prayer and for mutual support and encouragement. Prayer Groups may include singing and reading and discussing a Word of Scripture as an act of worship as well as praying. However, most of the time should be spent praying for one another, for others, for prayer requests, and for situations that exist thourghout the world. Prayer time should begin with testimonies of answered prayers and thanking God for answered prayers. Note: All cell groups must begin as Prayer Groups and meet at least four times for at least one hour each time before becoming a cell group.
Monthly Updates & Training: Two to Three Hours
Cell Group leaders will meet with the pastor monthly for reporting, training, celebrating what God is doing in and through our cell ministry, worshiping and praising God, and for encouraging and supporting one another.
