Finding the best studies for your Living Free ministry

In the last few blogs, we have discussed the fundamentals of effective Living Free ministry. Two key elements for the foundation are the core team and the timeline. Now it’s time to build some walls on the foundation. Since there are so many options for small group curriculum, consider asking yourself the following questions: What audience are you trying to reach? What needs seem to be presenting themselves?

If you have a vision of ministering to people with drug and alcohol issues, anger issues, or people with any other life-controlling behaviors, then Living Free has the right stuff. Living Free is designed to reach those who are outwardly struggling and those who are inwardly suffering from hidden emotional pain. Every Living Free study focuses on the Word of God as the source of all life-challenging and life-changing solutions.

Although many ministries focus on one or two recovery type Living Free topics, we believe our ministry model provides an effective structure for young people and adults to identify issues and then receive inner healing and hope through the many topics offered.

The Living Free Small Group Flow Chart will help you as you consider the needs of your audience. Click here to see this chart.

Strategy for Effective Living Free Ministry

Last week, we looked at building the Living Free Core Team as the foundation for the ministry. Now let’s look at the timeline of the initial groups and recommended strategy for building a lasting Living Free ministry in your church and community.

Many ministries jump right into our “recovery” subjects such as Stepping into Freedom or Anger: Our Master or Our Servant or one of our other specific topics. While every setting is unique, it is our recommendation that ministries using the Living Free Curriculum follow the small group flow chart. We will discuss this more in the next blog when we look into the many Living Free studies offered.

For now, let’s take a look at the step-by-step strategy of the first year of Living Free ministry. The following will show us the timeline of each element in year one.

Month One

• Participate in Living Free Video Training Select Core Team & establish a weekly prayer and planning time
• Order materials
• Core team goes through Insight Group

Months Two & Three

• Finalize members of the Core Team
• Prepare first Insight Group facilitator(s) and co-facilitator(s)

Month Four

• Divide responsibilities for ministry among Core Team
• Publicize upcoming Insight Group by all means available (pulpit announcements, bulletin, video, live testimony, etc.)
• Launch first Insight Group

Click on read more to see more of the Living Free strategy timeline.

Building a Living Free Core Team

As stated in the last blog, over the next four weeks we will be discovering key elements in every successful Living Free ministry. Even if you have been a part of Living Free ministry for several years, take a look at each one of these elements and see if you need a little tune-up. This week, let’s take a closer look at the core team.

It is important for churches and parachurch organizations to make the initial Living Free video-based training available to the entire body of believers. It can be promoted as Lay Leadership Training or Focused Discipleship Training. After the church or parachurch organization has conducted the training, the pastor or lead lay person can select a group of individuals to assist in the Living Free ministry, or many times these individuals will rise up after the training.

These individuals will be called “the Core Team” and will lead groups as facilitators, pray for one-another, and spread the word about the ministry. Some important qualities to look for when selecting core team leaders are:

• An obvious love for God by their actions and words
• A passion for helping others
• Compassionate
• Good listeners
• Faithful and dedicated

It is exciting to know that after the initial training, people will be able to identify weak areas in their lives and be able to change through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As in the construction of a building, the foundation must be deep and wide to accommodate the load. The most effective Living Free ministries have taken the time to build their leadership first, and that usually takes three to six months to develop leaders. Creating a core team develops leaders and multiplies the effectiveness of reaching those with life-controlling issues.

Click on read more to see a chart showing the Living Free Core Team infrastructure.

The Fundamentals of Living Free

Over the next four blog posts, we will be providing you with information on key elements of successful Living Free ministry. Whether you are a veteran of Living Free or a beginner, all of us can use a little reminder of the basics. We will be discussing the core team, the timeline, curriculum choices, and tips for facilitators.

Living Free is not for the weak or the short-timers. To become an effective life-changing ministry, there must be tenacity in the face of people who will tell you “it will never work in our church.” Most of the time those negative people would never welcome people who have life-controlling issues. Jesus always took time for those with life-controlling issues. Most every miracle Jesus preformed was done at inconvenient times and in unconventional ways from the culture.