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HopeKeepers:
Steps to Start
a Group
Wondering
where to begin if you're starting to feel
the calling to start a HopeKeepers Group?
You've come to the right place.
To
the right you will find a 1-hour podcast
by Rest Ministris founder, Lisa Copen,
that is worth listening to. And below
you will find steps to go through to starting
finding answers to your questions.
Just
follow these steps and download the information
packet to share with your church or community
of friends.
Order
the Information Packet- for
$5: It includes the 13-page information
packet, Rest Ministries brochures,
articles, our tract, brochures,
the promotional Rest Ministries
DVD, and other items that are
helpful in sharing with your pastor.
COMING SOON
Steps
to Starting a Group
Step
1
Step
2
Think
about it - Pray about it.
Pain is never fun, but pain with purpose
is so much easier to live with. We encourage
you to consider starting a group in your
church or community and becoming a "wounded-healer."
We encourage you to pray about it and
talk it over with your family
Consider
reading the posts on our archived
HopeKeepers leaders message board.
Other leaders share the ups and
downs, and their passion about HopeKeepers
and what God is doing! And be sure
to sign up for the HopeKeepers
Leaders group in the Sunroom.
You don't have to be a leader already
to join and participate. You can
just ask questions or "listen
in."
Step
3
Step
4
Download
our free HopeKeepers
Info Packet ; it is a zipped
.pdf file. If you have any troubles,
let
us know and we will drop a
hard copy in the mail to you.
READ
2 example proposals people have
written for their church about the
HopeKeepers program. Ex
One | Ex
Two
Browse our new page
of resources for HopeKeeper
leaders to learn more about leading
a small group, exchange ideas and
information, ways to publicize the
group, get support, archives of
hk Bulletins for leaders and more.
Decide
if you want this group to be a
part of the church that you are
attending. A group doesn't have
to be a part of a church. You
can read more about this here.
Order
the materials. Read about
our complete HopeKeepers
Start-Up Kit for churches. This
kit will provide you with Bible
studies, a training manual on the
specifics of chronic illness ministry,
drama skits for your church, 10
newsletter subscriptions, and much
more, including books, a tape, a
CD Rom of 1000 resources.
If
you are approaching your church about
this option, be sure to let them know
how valuable such a ministry will
be in the church and use your personal
experiences as examples.
If your church chooses not to order
the HopeKeepers Start Up Kit, you
can order materials individually. We
recommend the following materials:
These
materials and the HopeKeepers' Info
Packet will lead you through the "Am
I really prepared to do this?" questions,
the practical things to keep in mind
when organizing such a group, and
the theological issues that you may
encounter and how to address them.
(People are often hesitant to lead
such a group, feeling, "What would
I say if someone say, 'Why is God
doing this to me? Why aren't some
people healed?' etc.")
Lisa
Copen, our founder, wrote a
few of the above books because she
was unable to find any resources
that directly addressed chronic
illness ministry within the church. We
highly recommend them. You will
feel prepared to lead such a group
after reading these materials.
Most
churches will be happy to pay the
small amount necessary for these
materials. Although we are non-profit,
we have not received enough funding
to distribute these resources free
of charge. Thanks for understanding.
Step
6
Contact
Rest Ministries to register as a HopeKeepers
group. We like to keep in touch
with you so that we can better understand
the needs of the chronically ill,
and what other programs and resources
you desire. We will follow up in time
to see if you have noticed changes
in your church since you began the
ministry and outreach. [Registration
form - .pdf file]
You can network with other churches
and find out what is working best
for them. As our ministry grows,
you'll be glad to be a part of the
HopeKeepers ministry, a large network
of churches, dedicated to addressing
the personal needs of those dealing
with illness, 33% of your congregation.
on any page to tell your friends! 
Download
the Information Packet
