Workplace Groups
| Let's talk! - At WorkMatters, we believe that face-to-face communication is what it's all about. It's the nucleus of the faith-and-work conversation. It's where God is served and people's lives are changed. Without question, the Workplace Group is the heart and soul - the basic building block - of the WorkMatters phenomenon. |
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Who Participates?
The target audience of WorkMatters is remarkably broad. We welcome the Christian, the Christ-seeking and the curious, as well. We treasure the opportunity to demonstrate the relevance and effectiveness of Christian principles in the workplace, and everyone is welcome to give this experience a try. The WorkMatters format is equally valuable to the CEO, the mail clerk and the factory worker. It's meaningful for the medical professional, the educator, the cashier and the telecommuter. It's all about living the Christian life in the place where you spend most of your life - in the place where you work.
Our typical participant is the "Sunday Christian" who may be searching for ways to strengthen his or her commitment to God from Monday to Friday. At the same time, there are many members who are new Christians and some who will discover Christ for the first time in the fellowship of their Workplace Group! Our goal is to positively influence the work lives and personal lives of our participants and, as a result, to extend that influence to others.
When and Where Do Small Groups Meet?
Workplace Groups usually meet weekly for one hour. Groups range in size from 4 to 10 people. They meet primarily in the workplace or in a location that is convenient and accessible for the participants. This is the focus that distinguishes us from other excellent programs such as Promise Keepers, neighborhood community groups and church-sponsored Bible studies. Generally, the challenges of the workplace take place in the workplace. That's why we choose to help you confront those challenges right out there in your world, not in the cozy confines of a home or a church.
How Do Workplace Groups Work?
Typically, each Workplace group has a mentor and a leader. The mentor is the sponsor of the group who assists the group in getting started and ensures that they have access to and information about the WorkMatters organization and its resources. The role of leader may rotate within the group over time, but initially, the first leader is the one who heads the group during start-up and facilitates the discussions at group meetings.
Confidentiality is a must, so that the discussions are rooted in trust. The composition of a group may be similar occupations, geographic location, or areas of interest. Many groups are employees within the same company, while others come from a variety of fields and backgrounds. Other groups include faculty, staff or students in a campus setting.
Each group has the flexibility to focus their curriculum and discussions on the areas of greatest interest for the members. We provide a Curriculum Guide that offers a range of subjects such as "integrating faith and work," "balancing life's demands" or "leadership issues," to name a few.
Start a Workplace Group
We are committed to training leaders. We believe that mentoring and encouraging the Workplace Group Leader is a vital component in the WorkMatters program. To a large degree, the group leaders control the level of success achieved in that group. Their ability to effectively plan and orchestrate meetings and provide follow-up and feedback between meetings is very important. Their success in recruiting new members and retaining current members is key as well. Finally, they are critical in drawing their group members to the semi-annual WorkMatters major events to "recharge their batteries" and connect them to the larger body of WorkMatters participants.
The "rules" for forming a Workplace Group are few and flexible - "where two or more are gathered in His name" is all that really matters. If you can envision a small group in or near your workplace, then let us help you shape that vision into an exciting new opportunity.
WorkMatters provides a comprehensive Workplace Group Startup & Curriculum Guide that walks each new leader and small group through the how-to's of successfully starting and growing a small group. It also provides a list of suggested books, videos and DVDs as curriculum ideas for your small group studies. Just click below for a copy of this guide.