DNA Group Facilitator
Welcome!
Welcome to our online DNA Group Facilitator Training Hub! This page has been designed to help encourage and equip those interested in facilitating a DNA Group at Mercy Hill. To make things as streamlined as possible, we've organized this on-ramping process into five simple steps . . .
Catch the Vision
Before we really get going, you might find it helpful to begin by re-familiarizing yourself a bit with the overall vision and ultimate goal of DNA Groups at Mercy Hill. For this, we suggest you simply take a few minutes to peruse the DNA Groups page on our website.
"Disciples of Jesus are to be busy making disciples of Jesus."
Get Trained
Below, you'll find our online crash course! There are five parts for you to make your way through at your own pace. We recommend aiming for at least one part per week, but you might just set aside an afternoon and knock them all out : ) Here are a few things you need to know before you begin:
Download the Manual: The first thing you'll want to do is download the DNA Group Facilitator Manual. In this manual you'll find notes for each part of the course as well as additional resources to help you along (if you'd like a hard copy, just let us know).
Help Us Help You: After completing each part, please click the corresponding button and let us know: (1) that you completed it, and (2) if you have any questions so far pertaining to the material and process. This lets us track with you through the course and offer assistance where needed.
Let's Meet Up: When you have finished the last session, we will reach out to schedule an in-person meeting so we can answer any questions you have, help you craft your vision, provide you with additional resources, and get your new group up and running!
Follow along in the Facilitator Manual!
Part #1: A Vision for Discipleship
Disciples of Jesus are to be busy making disciples of Jesus. But do we even know what this means? Do we even know what discipleship is? When we consider the idea in light of the whole of Scripture we come to see that discipleship to Jesus has as its end conformity to his image. It is the God-ordained process by which we are renewed in the very image we had long since marred.
(To skip the review, start at the 11:45 mark.)
Follow along in the Facilitator Manual!
Part #2: Unpacking the Definition
“DNA Groups are smaller groups of committed people who meet on a consistent basis to Discover, Nurture, and Apply Christ together until He is all in all.”
(To skip the review, start at the 10:40 mark.)
Follow along in the Facilitator Manual!
Part #3: A Biblical Model for Change
There's a model for change and renewal put forward in the Bible that stands behind and informs the way Discovering, Nurturing, and Applying Christ really work. It's been called the "Three Trees" and it comes from Jeremiah 17:5-10.
(To skip the review, start at the 7:45 mark.)
Follow along in the Facilitator Manual!
Part #4: Guiding Principles
As we move closer to the practicals of facilitating a DNA Group, we want to provide you first with five guiding principles that will set you on the right track: (1) God’s Agenda for Our Lives Is Change; (2) The Vinedresser Is Always at Work; (3) Your Situation Is for Your Sanctification; (4) The Heart of the Person Is the Heart of the Matter; and (5) Good Questions Are a Great Start.
Follow along in the Facilitator Manual!
Part #5: Getting Practical
“DNA Groups are smaller groups of committed people who meet on a consistent basis to Discover, Nurture, and Apply Christ together until He is all in all.”
"Silence before God is a return to our place in the universe. It is saying without words: 'You are God, and I am not.'"
Find Your Folks
Prospective DNA Group Facilitators will need to prayerfully go about trying to "find their folks." For this, there are a few options open to you:
Church Website: After successfully completing the Crash Course, your group will be added to our list of groups online. If you prefer, we can make the church aware of it and invite people to enroll or contact you if interested.
Personal Invite: You may prefer to find people for your DNA Group by way of personal invite. That is a great way to go and likely the most effective. It's fine to invite those you already feel close to, but consider others who might really need a group like yours to plug into!
Leader Assistance: You may find it helpful to talk with an elder or other Mercy Hill leader. We can try to make connections for you, communicate through our various channels, etc. (whatever you feel comfortable with). Don’t hesitate to reach out!
"We must not read the Word of God and let it run in one ear and out the other as water runs through a pipe. We must instead draw it down into our hearts as if it were rain percolating into soil."
Get Started
After you have found your folks, it’s time to get started! For this we have two resources we want to provide you with (you can also find them near the back of the DNA Group Facilitator Manual):
The Starter Checklist
All throughout the process of preparing to facilitate, you’ll want to be thinking and praying through a number of things. Your final conclusions will likely develop and even change as you gather your group and discuss matters with them, but it is important that you at least have some initial ideas concerning the items that follow:
- Plan: What do you think God wants you to do with the group meeting time? Should you utilize one of the frameworks or something else?
- Frequency: How often should you meet?
- Location: Where will you meet?
- Time: When will you meet?
- Duration: How long are we committing to this group before prayerful re-evaluation? Are we open to carrying on together after this “checkpoint” if the Lord so leads?
- Members: How are you planning to “find your folks” (see above)—church website, personal invite, leader assistance, etc.? Who is the group for—men, women, dads, moms, married couples, new parents, students, youth, skeptics, seekers, etc.?
- Status: Would you like your group to be closed or open to new members joining? How many members do you hope to have in total?
The Starter Studies
The following two studies are completely optional. The goal here is to give you a sense of how you might structure your first two meetings as a group. Feel free to use, adapt, or disregard these studies as you feel led.
"In our reading of the Bible there will be times where we will become suddenly, even surprisingly, aware that we are no longer merely reading words on a page, but are, in fact, sitting in the very presence of God!"
Follow Jesus Together!
Now that you have a smaller group of committed people who are willing and wanting to meet on a consistent basis, you are ready to begin Discovering, Nurturing, and Applying Christ together until he is all in all. Enjoy the adventure!
Take Your Next Step . . .
Wherever you're at in your journey with Jesus, it would be our joy to help you take the next step!