Thank you for leading an On the Way group.
If you need to ask anything don't hesitate to contact Andy at fishburnea@methodistchurch.org.uk
Your Role
Think of yourself as a guide, not a teacher. Your key responsibilities:
- Make space for honest conversation.
- Encourage participation—always optional.
- Keep the group focused and on time.
- Model openness and kindness.
Creating a Safe Environment
- Welcome everyone: Use names, make eye contact, and offer a warm greeting.
- Confidentiality: What’s shared in the group stays in the group (except safeguarding concerns).
- Respect differences: People bring varied experiences and beliefs—honour that.
- Equal voice: Invite quieter members to share, but never pressure anyone.
- Follow your church’s safeguarding policy.
- If someone discloses harm or risk:
- Listen carefully.
- Do not promise secrecy.
- Report appropriately.
Hosting Well
- Be time-aware: Start and finish as planned.
- Listen actively: Reflect back what you hear; avoid correcting.
- Handle tricky moments: If debate gets heated, thank people for sharing and steer back to the theme.
- Encourage curiosity: Remind the group, “There’s no wrong question here.”
Before the Course Starts
- Invite people to join—aim for 6–12 participants.
- Share the time and place for all sessions.
- Give everyone a copy of the journal:
- Ask them to read the introduction.
- Complete one of the first mini-adventures.
- Encourage journaling in the blank spaces.
- Describe the atmosphere you want:
- Safety
- Vulnerability
- Bravery
- Openness
- Listening and sharing
What You’ll Need
- A way to play course videos.
- Journals for each participant.
- A single-hole punch (for celebration ritual).
- Refreshments.
Session Flow (12 Main Sessions)
Each session includes:
Story Sharing (20–40 mins)
- Play the opening video (in the release version).
- Introduce the topic using the journal’s first page.
- Briefly revisit last week’s mini-adventures:
- Ask: “What did you notice? What surprised you? What did you journal?”
- Celebrate sharing by punching a hole in the back cover of each journal.
Bible (15–35 mins)
- Read the passage aloud or play the video.
- Use journal questions to guide discussion.
Big Idea (15–35 mins)
- Look at the sketchnote in the journal.
- Use journal questions for discussion.
- (Final version will include extra online resources for deeper exploration.)
Prayer (5 mins)
Use the provided prayer or invite spontaneous prayers.
Wrap-Up (5 mins)
- Share next week’s mini-adventures.
- Confirm time and place for the next session.
Session Thirteen: Ending Well
Plan another gathering after the final session.
This should be a celebration of the journeys of the people, so make it fun! If you can, include food and refreshments.
You might want to go to a special venue for this final celebration: a cafe, a pub, or a picnic if the weather is right. But check that everyone feels safe with this.
Make time for everyone to share how the course has changed them, and what that means going forwards for them.
If you are a part of a Methodist church, offer the chance to become a member of it, to carry on journeying in community with others.
Explore whether the group will want to continue to meet as a small group.