Support and Discussion Groups

An essential part of “Renew” is discovering the power of relationships and support in community. Because of this, we move directly from our large group service to small groups that facility many of our needs for renewal. These groups will meet from 6:45 – 7:30. Specific groups are based on both the needs of attendees and the availability of trained leadership.

We plan for three basic types of “Renewal” groups:

Recovery Support Groups

This group is for men struggling with Chemical and/or Substance Addiction, Sexual These are gender specific groups that apply the 12 Steps of Recovery to various forms of addiction issues. Examples of these may be alcohol and chemical dependency, sexual integrity, food abuse, and codependency support groups.

Emotional and Mental Health Support Groups:

These groups apply many of the principles of 12-step recovery to issues such as depression, post traumatic syndrome, abuse victims, and grief and divorce recovery. Most of these are also gender specific.

Bible discussion groups:

These discussion groups will be based on further study of the biblical passage and sermon material presented in the large group service. Special attention will be on the spiritual growth and practical life application.

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Guidelines

To ensure that "Renew!" is a safe place, the following five guidelines are followed in all small groups:

• 1 - Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings. Limit your sharing to three to five minutes.

• 2 - There is NO cross talk. Cross talk is when two individuals engage in conversation excluding all others. Each person is free to express his or her feelings without interruptions.
• 3 - We are here to support one another, not "fix" another.
• 4 - Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements. What is shared in the group stays in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
• 5 - Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.

Step Study

Renew uses the Twelve Steps and its related Scriptures as the Biblical model for living your life. A Step Study is a personal journey through each of these steps in a confidential group led by a facilitator who has completed a study. These groups usually form as leadership and need is available. Step Study meeting are gender-specific but not issue specific and meet on different days than the main “Renew!” program Sunday evenings.

Group leaders may choose between The Life Recovery Workbook or Celebrate Recovery’s four participant workbooks. The group is open for newcomers to join until the group reaches the fourth step, when the group is closed for the duration of the steps.

When you finish the study, you will have worked your recovery issues through each of the Twelve Steps. A Step Study is a long-term commitment (9 - 12 months) to the members of the group. We do follow strict guidelines to keep the group’s trust (See recovery group guidelines below)

“Renew!” strongly encourages the use of a sponsor and accountability partners when working these steps to recovery.

Be sure to watch for announcements in Large Group Services or printed material regarding information about the beginning of Step Studies.

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Guidelines

To ensure that Renew! is a safe place, the following five guidelines are followed in all small groups:

• 1 - Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings. Limit your sharing to three to five minutes.
• 2 - There is NO cross talk. Cross talk is when two individuals engage in conversation excluding all others. Each person is free to express his or her feelings without interruptions.
• 3 - We are here to support one another, not "fix" another.
• 4 - Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements. What is shared in the group stays in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others.
• 5 - Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.