Priority #1 Knexions!

There are at least 59 references in the New Testament where we are commanded to love, encourage, forgive, bear with, carry burdens, and provide mutual support for one another that imply gathering in small groups. Jesus knew and stressed that importance and the effectiveness of meeting in small groups that Midpark calls Knexions. He choose twelve disciples to live three years with while on earth. He ate, taught, rested, travelled, and “Lived Life Together”. All as an example of how we are to order our lives today as believers and to model what the church was to look like. 

In order to accomplish this and fulfill the intention of what the church is ideally suppose to be, HOSTs are vital. In this issue we want to outline five essential things that must be done by HOSTs that will accelerate the journey toward a healthy fully functional biblical Christian experience.

1. Accept responsibility for your group. As a HOST you are motivated and committed to exercise the gift of leadership in your life. But we all have distractions and issues that come up that take the energy  out of us and out of working to ensure that our Knexions Group is successful. Responsibility is rooted in being “response-able” or the “ability to respond”. This means taking the initiative and making sure we follow up even when we don’t feel like it. Doing this will reap great rewards, communicate to others our support, and lead to great satisfaction.

2. Establish goals for your group. Nothing creates motion in an individual like having goals. They are the fuel to accomplish those things we want to do. When as a HOST you are feeling bogged down and lacking motivation, sit down and prayerfully begin to write down some very simple and practical goals. Goals must be S.M.A.R.T. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time sensitive. 

3. Be available for individual and group mentoring. Lance Armstrong wrote a book about his achievements in bike racing. His title for the book was appropriately called, “Its not about the bike”. Sometimes our passion is focused on precisely what we think we need to do. That is lead a Bible study, facilitate a prayer meeting, organize an outdoor adventure, assist in a self-help group, etc. But God’s bigger picture is that He wants to work through a HOST beyond what we do but the time and attention we give to those he has entrusted us with. So a HOST pays attention to the needs of individuals in a group that may need a part of yourself more that the work of the Knexions Group. 

4. Join in the coaching and training being provided by Midpark. As a HOST you are doing more than doing a Knexions Group. You are addressing an even bigger picture  than the small group. You are extending yourself as a servant to other people’s spiritual development. This can be taxing and challenging as all care giving is. Midpark has developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure that HOSTs are properly taken care of. Each HOST has a Section Leader and a Zone leader. They are a HOSTs life line to confidentially confide in and draw encouragement and guidance. 

This is the first place a HOST should go. If you don’t know who that person is call the church office and find out who you are to go to. Midpark also conducts training of all sorts to enhance personal growth, train in how to’s, and create a safe place. Remember Midpark is a place of community and commitment. Regular attendance to the Sunday Celebrations, participation in the HOST training sessions, and registration to the CCN seminars and the like are vital to your success. 

5. Become an accountable HOST. Midpark is a “permission granting” organization and not a “permission withholding” one. This means our intention as leaders and pastors is to help HOSTs discover their spiritual gift and find a place to serve others with it. Midpark’s way of saying this is that we want to “remove obstacles” in your way to do what God has called you to do. God believes in you and we do to! Accountability is a key biblical concept that allows us, through respect for leadership and submission to supervision, that ensures a strong learning community. Midpark has established some very small and minimal requirements for HOSTs of Knexions Groups. It is important to be aware of them and to adhere them. 

Remember, “We get to do this!”