Wednesday Evenings at 6:30p in the Great Hall

Imagine all the lessons Jesus needed to teach his disciples to equip them for ministry. Equipping the Saints, led by the Rev. Hillary Raining, is our modern equivalent; it is for leaders in the church AND people who may be curious about stepping up to leadership. This five-week course will include prayer and Bible study as well as practical ministry tips, like how to best use Realm (the church database). 

Classes take place on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm from September 16 through October 14. 

5-Week Course Outline

Session 1: Biblical Foundations for Small Group Ministry

• Topics:
  • Shared Leadership: Jethro’s advice to Moses (Exodus 18) on delegating responsibility to prevent burnout.
    
  • Concentric Circles Framework: Jesus’s approach to ministry engagement (the 5,000, 500, 70, 12, and 2–3 close confidants) and Luke 10:1–9.
    
• Practical Exercise: The African (or Lambeth) Bible Study Method—a 4-step approach involving reading, sharing insights, personal reflection, and prayer (practiced using Matthew 18:20).
  

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Session 2: Prayer, Discernment, and the Holy Spirit

• Topics: Incorporating prayer and spiritual discernment into ministry work and navigating times when adjustments are needed.

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Session 3: Leadership Skills

• Topics: Practical leadership principles, team structuring (aiming for at least 3 roles: a leader, an administrative helper, and a mentee/apprentice), and team care.

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Session 4: Administration Systems (Systems & Operations)

• Topics: Practical ministry systems training, including using parish software/databases (e.g., Realm) and utilizing church ministry forms.
  St. Columba’s Episcopal Church schedule request received with conflicts+

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Session 5: Physical Walkthrough & Operations

• Topics: A physical walkthrough of church facilities and practical guidance on operational logistics for hosting events/programs at St. Columba’s.