These groups exist to provide a safe place; a place of community, a place to find relief, rescue and freedom from life's tough issues.
Support groups are small groups of people (ideally 6-8). Free! Recovery support groups begin with a main teaching theme for both men and women (soon to be a downloadable filmed session) followed by mixed issue single sex support groups. Each group is facilitated by ideally two leaders and the theme of the session, plus practical biblical application, is highlighted throughout the support group.
Each participant is given the opportunity to relate to topic of the day to his/her daily life/struggles. The group participants are encouraged to listen well to each other. It is not a discussion group. Advice giving is not encouraged as this can be confusing for a participant. Reflecting back on a key verse may be useful. God’s Word, and the insight from anther’s story, become the encouragement and advice. Prayer is offered near the end of the session.
Do you have friends, family members and/or people in your church community struggling with addictive issues or life-controlling habits?
Do you want to help your church community, or even yourself, improve their wellness and well-being?
Do you want to help cultivate biblical change and freedom in the lives of your church community?
Then a support group ministry might help. Your church community can then find people with similar struggles who are uniting to combat those life debilitating habits and behaviour through shared experiences and wisdom!
- These support groups are ‘talking platforms’ where your church community can learn more about others and themselves as each one explores shared struggles, especially in the light of a daily journey in Christ and the concept of biblical freedom is emphasized throughout.
- These support groups offer Face to Face and Online opportunities for meeting and discussion.
- These support group members share similar life experiences of controlling habits or behaviours, like addictions to gambling, alcohol, drugs, porn and or other emotional controlling feelings like anxiety, self – hatred, fear, etc.
Support group benefits:
- Support groups are moderated by groups leaders who have empathy and offer pastoral support.
- Group leaders are trained and or have been through or are going through similar experiences. (Free! provides training for group leaders).
- Support groups provide a safe space to explore more about life controlling behaviours!
- Support groups seek to combat loneliness and isolation
- Support groups provide a vocabulary (language) to express and understand addictive and life-controlling issues.
- Support groups create spaces for identification and mutual support.
- Through shared experiences participants gain more control over their lives to overcome personal life- controlling behaviours.
- Participants learn new skills and ways to manage their personal issues.
- Participants can discover new avenues for specialised and professional help
- Support groups can help provide a safe, non-judgmental place for participants to share, often for the first time.
- Support groups can help reduce stress, anxiety, secrecy, the sense of loneliness and shame.
