SET UP A CHRISTIAN CANCER DEVOTIONAL SUPPORT GROUP

 
 
 
 

Using Devotional Material With Questions, To Set Up a Support Group

Steps To Consider                                               by Jeanne Thormodson

  • Talk to your pastor.
  • Suggest it to the evangelism board as a link to outreach.
  • See if there is an interest.
  • If necessary, get approval at churches voters meeting.
  • Establish a leader that can handle the group. Note: This is better than floating leadership. Often Cancer free survivors  have energy for this but this is designed low maintenance with the idea that anyone could lead because materials are provided and all that's needed is to follow a similar structure.
  • Advertise it in the bulletin and church news letter as starting one month from now to create awareness.
  • Get a list of those in the congregation that have cancer and give them a personal written or phone invite.
  • Make sure location is well signed; "cancer support group this way",so no one need hunt when they come to the building.
  • get the word out at other local congregations and local oncologist offices with a flyer that includes a map.
  • Start twice a month and meet for around an hour and a half.
  • Get approval for special event sign to be put in front of church. The kind similar to advertising a Vacation Bible School event for children.
  • Leader should arrive early, signs put in place, and lights and AC turned on.
  • Room should be comfortable
  • Refreshments optional
  • Set a time limit on the group, perhaps an hour and a half, because cancer makes one tire easily, and those who wish to stay can always stay later after the group is dismissed.
  • Limit the size of the group to from 6-twelve, splitting at twelve into two groups so that everyone will have a chance to share
  • Talk to group members about being sensitive about the time considerations, allowing time to talk and share. See sample structure below.
  • Note: If a member is in crisis the leader needs to be sensitive and let them talk a bit and be prepared to make adjustments if necessary to any structure, but if possible, after the person has opened up enough, say that this is serious enough that it will take more time than we have so you (as a leader) would like to know if it would be possible to continue talking after the group ends or the next day between the leader and the one in crisis.


Sample structure


Greeting and Statement about what we are about (5min).
Opening prayer by leader (5 min).
Topic introduced (2 min) See Devotional name.
Scriptures read by member(s) of group (8min) On devotional page (you will need a bible).
Open discussion on topic or scriptures by members (30 to 45 min) Leader uses devotional questions at the bottom of the devotional to keep group going.
Ask for prayer requests and close with prayer(20-30min) this can be done by leader or in a round with leader closing if some people in the group might like to pray.

Thank people for coming.

The key to keeping this time table will be to caution people not to take too much time so that all may get a chance to share, and keeping the group small. This may mean that when a group reaches 10-12 people that it split into two groups and keep that pattern going.

Statement of rights to usage (let's keep it free)
All materials produced by Jeanne A. Thormodson retain her rights to use as she wishes and may not be modified in text or be added to, sold, bought, or used in any monitory way or be put in book or booklet form without her written and explicit permission and must contain this disclosure. ©