Getting Started with Growing Kids God's Way

Growing Families International is dedicated to the practical instruction of biblical principles in parenting. We believe that the family, within the context of the local church, is the God-ordained forum for this type of ministry, and as a result all of the curricula we offer are designed for use by the local church. The starting point for the establishment of any effective ministry is its leadership. Choosing an appropriate leader(s) and obtaining the support of church leadership is critical. We encourage the selection of leader(s) that are examples of faithfulness to Christ, to their family, and to their church and its leadership.

Setting up a Local Ministry
Step One: Become familiar with the material. The best way to do this is by participating in a Growing Kids God’s Way class. This will introduce you to the small group dynamics that have made the Growing Kids curriculum so popular around the world.

Step Two: If your going to use this in a church setting, explain your vision and plan to your church leadership. Provide them with samples of the workbook or the introduction tape for Growing Kids God’s Way. Allow them time to review course materials. If possible, provide your leadership with the name of another pastor who already has the ministry on going or the names of the GFI representatives in your area.

Step Three: Assuming you have your church leadership’s approval begin with a small pilot group of moms and dads. A pilot group is a hand-selected group of couples (by you and your church leadership), which will form your church’s initial leadership team for this ministry. (Characteristics of potential leaders are discussed later in this section.) This core group of couples will go through a complete 18-week Growing Kids God’s Way class, following the recommended guidelines. Keep this group small (5-8 couples), and give them the benefit of an informational meeting (see pp. 24 – 27) to help them prayerfully decide whether or not they will participate. Try to include key church leaders, elders, deacons, and pastors if possible.

The most important criteria for the couples who participate is a genuine desire to be better parents by going through the class. Additionally, the pilot class is the training ground for the development of additional leaders who will be needed to offer future classes to a broader spectrum of parents in the church. After completing the pilot class, the number of Growing Kids God’s Way classes you will be able to offer to the church as a whole will be determined by how many of the couples in this group believe God is directing them to lead classes.

How to Begin a Pilot Group
To begin this core group, choose the option below that best fits your church’s vision and circumstances. Remember to keep this group small (5-8 couples), and try to include key church leaders, elders, deacons, and pastors when possible.

1. Option One: Send out a lead couple to take the Growing Kids God’s Way class under experienced leaders Once they have completed the course, they will return to lead a pilot class of potential leaders from your church.

2. Option Two: You may borrow a trained leader couple from another church to lead your first pilot group. (We will see more of this as the ministry matures across the country. Churches with available trained leaders will allow them to assist other churches in beginning their ministries.) This option is also highly recommended when available.

3. Option Three: If there are no available classes in your area, you may begin the ministry by forming a pilot group within your own church, headed by a mature couple with a proven ability to disciple others. This couple should take the lead by pre-reading the leader’s guide and workbook before the class starts. It is recommended that they preview all of the videos before leading each class in order to help keep discussions focused on the current lesson.

4. Option Four: If there are no classes offered locally and no mature couples with leadership experience available, you can form your pilot group of potential leader couples with an iron-sharpening-iron mindset (Proverbs 27:17). One couple should take the lead by pre-reading the leader’s guide and workbook before the class starts and then hold the class accountable for homework and attendance.

Step Four: Introduce the Growing Kids God’s Way to the church. Most churches get so excited about the potential of this curriculum that they fail to establish an effective program. In an effort to get the message out quickly, they try to put as many couples into the first class as possible. Well-meaning church leadership may not recognize the importance of establishing a small group, discipleship format for their parenting classes.
The most effective classes will be those conducted in a small group, discipleship setting. Typically, the dynamics of a small group provide the opportunity for enhanced discussion and relationship building. Furthermore, this setting enables you as a leader couple to invest yourselves into the lives of your class members through your example, time, commitment, accountability, and love. Lifelong relationships are often developed in this “iron-sharpening-iron” environment.

What to Look for in a Class Leader
Potential leader couples will ideally have the following characteristics:

1. Active members of the church body.

2. Strong husband/wife relationship (1 Timothy 3:4-5). The couple is important here; we highly discourage a married person from leading a class without his spouse, or a single person from leading a class solo (a single person may want to co-lead with a couple). We also feel strongly that the husband must take the more active role in leading the class. This is for the benefit of the men in the class. Without the respect of the men, their participation will be minimal; without their participation, there will be no transformation in that family. The wife’s role in the discussions is important to bring out practical application and maintain a relationship focus.

3. Spiritually mature with evidence of consistent growth. There is no substitute for an intimate relationship with Christ in the leaders you select. Hearing Christ’s voice and following Him (John 10) is key to addressing all the challenges that will come to the Growing Kids God’s Way Leader.

4. Their children are characterized by obedience and self-control. (If there is no willing couple who exhibits this characteristic, you may want to temporarily waive this requirement and see how God will deal with this family through the experience of taking their first Growing Kids God’s Way class. The transformation in these families can be a tremendous witness and an inspiration to others in your church.)

5. Respected among men and women in the church. Respect allows discipling and mentoring. Leading the class is a team effort, and both husband and wife should be active in encouraging class members.

6. Humble desire to help other parents. They must have a servant’s heart.

7. Ability to communicate effectively. (Not necessarily eloquent, but able to express themselves and their excitement about the principles taught.)

8. Should be willing to take advantage of GFI leadership training. We strongly encourage all leaders to participate in the optional GFI Leadership Certification Program.