Q: How does Cove Church define a community group (C-Group)?
A: Community groups are small groups of approximately six married couples or six to eight individuals of the same gender that meet in someone’s home for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. They are for adults of all ages, stages of life, and spiritual maturity. Most community groups are formed as people meet and connect at C-Link. In addition, each group has an element of service that keeps the group focused beyond their own needs.
Q: What is the C-Group “Blend” that I see in the Worship Guide?
A: The “Blend” is the amount of emphasis that each group puts on the 4 elements of the group experience (Fellowship, Bible Study, Prayer and Service). Each group has all 4, but may put more emphasis on one are over another.
Q: Why does Cove Church do community groups?
A: We believe that it is in the context of intentional relationships where significant life change takes place best. Community groups are the place where real life and real issues are discussed. This is the environment to celebrate the successes and good times of life and comfort one another in the tough and disappointing times. It is a place to be encouraged, equipped and challenged to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Q: When do community groups meet and how long is each meeting?
A: Each community group decides when and where it wants to meet. Most groups meet at least 3 times a month, and the majority choose to meet on Sunday afternoon or evening. All of our community groups meet in group members’ homes. Each group determines how long the meetings will last, but the average is 2 hours.
Q: How long does a community group last?
A: Each group determines the duration of time that they will meet. We have seen that most groups have a life span of about 24 months. Our Coaches work with each leader to assess and determine the best time to wrap up a group. On occasion, groups are able to make it past the 24 month mark.
Q: What is Cove Church’s process for connecting people into community groups?
A: The primary way we connect people into community groups is through C-Link. We publicize C-Link during our Sunday services. Throughout the year, cards are available at the C-Groups information table for people to fill out when they inquire about joining a group. Those who complete a card are contacted by a staff member or volunteer to answer any questions they may have about the C-Link process.
Q: What is C-Link?
A: C-Link is a two-hour event where people meet and connect with others in their area and stage of life to start a community group. New groups are asked to initially commit to meeting together for six weeks. They spend that time getting to know each other and doing a short Bible study. At the end of the six weeks, group members decide to either continue with the group for an additional twelve to twenty-four months, or wait and join a different group at another time.
Q: What criteria does Cove Church use to place people in community groups?
A: Typically people looking to connect to a new community group for the first time use the following criteria:
- Stage of life (married with kids, married with no kids, married empty nesters, single males or single females, men’s groups or women’s groups)
- “Blend” of the C-Group (Fellowship, Bible Study, Prayer or Service)
- Day/night of the week
Q: What’s the next step for people who get connected into a community group at C-Link?
A: The group typically decides at C-Link the time and location for their first meeting. Group leaders leave the C-Link that night with contact information for everyone in their group.
Q: Does Cove Church offer group opportunities for people in special situations, such as single, divorced, deceased spouse, unbelieving spouse, etc.?
A: Group seekers are able to choose a group that best fits their desires and stage of life. Their options are married groups, singles groups, men’s groups (with married and single men) or women’s groups (with married and single women). However, if we created multiple, affinity-based choices for groups, it would require us to find leaders for these different types of groups. We believe those multiple options would actually be more challenging to manage and more confusing for the average unconnected person.
Q: How do groups choose curriculum?
A: The first source of tension for new groups can often be around curriculum. We ask all new C-Groups to use the “Starter Six” to focus on building the foundation for the group. After the first study is complete, our leaders have access to www.groupcurriculum.org, which is an online resource that gives them over 200 different choices as well as ratings and feedback from other leaders. In addition, we encourage many of our C-Groups to use the “Sermon Notes’ curriculum that is designed to be a follow-up study to each weeks sermon. They also have the option to contact their Coach to assist them in the selection process.
Q: How do groups add additional group members?
A: We encourage group members to look at their existing relationships first(friends, neighbors, etc.). After that we encourage them to go to C-Link or contact their area assimilators.
Q: What makes Cove Church’s groups model unique from others?
A: Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of our model is the closed group structure. We believe relationships take time to form and anything that gets in the way of the group building relational capital with one another works against this goal. (If a group loses members along the way, they are free to add new couples or individuals if everyone in the group agrees). We also limit the size of our groups.
Q: What is Cove Church’s process for making sure that community groups stay “closed”?
A: Once a group has finished its six-week starter period, the members who choose to remain in the group sign a covenant agreeing to keep the group closed unless all members of the group agree to add additional members.
Q: What is the purpose of the covenant and is it really necessary?
A: The Community Group Covenant is a tool used by the group members to establish expectations and manage the group for the duration of its life cycle. Its use is essential because most problems that groups face are due to unmet expectations.
Q: How is childcare reimbursement provided for community groups?
A: We offer childcare reimbursement for any member of an active community group. Parents arrange for childcare, and we provide childcare reimbursements at a predetermined rate. Reimbursement is provided for a maximum of 4 children for 4 hours. The member of the group will pay for the childcare and then submit a request form to be reimbursed.
Q: What is Cove Church’s process for recruiting and approving leaders?
A: Our primary means to identify potential leaders is our apprenticing process. Part of the responsibility of leading a group is executing the leader essential ‘Replace Yourself’ by identifying a leader apprentice within the first 6-9 months of a group. Once the apprentice is identified, he or she still must be approved to lead by the C-Groups Coordinator. The approval process for group leaders includes:
- Completing a group leader application
- Being a member of the church
- Meeting with the C-Groups Coordinator for an interview
- Committing to ongoing development, beginning with a one-time community group leader orientation before starting the group
When making the decision whether or not to approve someone for leadership, the candidates are evaluated in five key areas:
- Character – Is this person in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ?
- Competence – Does this person have the skills and experience to lead a group?
- Culture – Does this person embrace the mission, vision and strategy of the church?
- Connected – Is this person connected to the church through membership?
- Chemistry – Is this someone with whom you’d like to be in a group?
Q: How do leaders choose and prepare an apprentice?
A: Leaders should choose people who could replace them. The best way to prepare apprentices is to include them in every aspect of facilitating and leading the group. In looking for an apprentice, we ask leaders to look for those who have the four C’s (character, competency, culture, and chemistry) to lead a group.
Q: How does Cove Church get groups to multiply?
A: We get groups to multiply by continually casting vision to our leaders, who in turn continually cast it to their groups. We also encourage leaders to identify and equips apprentice.
Q: How does Cove Church train leaders?
A: We offer our leaders multiple training opportunities:
- Turbo Training: A six week intensive training for prospective and new leaders that covers the fundamental of leading an effective group. Each session is taught by one of our C-Group Coaches.
- Three One-on-One meetings (1 per trimester): Coaches meet with each leader individually at least three times a year.
- Team Huddles: Quarterly meetings with the Coaches and other leaders in that team to discuss, evaluate, pray and learn.
- re:group: re:group is a large training environment held in the fall where group leaders and apprentices gather together for a day of worship, teaching (large group), smaller learning communities covering a variety of relevant topics, and encouragement.
Q: Who do leaders contact if a problem or question arises that they can’t answer?
A: Group leaders have a Coach assigned to them that helps them walk through any challenges their group may experience.