LIFE GROUPS 101

What are Life Groups?
Life Groups is our name for small groups in ELEVATE YouthMinistries. These small groups consist of about 6-10 students and 2 Adult Youth Leaders.

Why are Life Groups so important?
The goal of Life Groups goal is to bring our students together on a regular basis so that they may experience unity and connection to each other, hoping that in the end it will draw them closer to the whole ELEVATE student community.

When are Life Groups?
Life Groups meet on a regular basis (typically weekly). Sunday Evenings are set aside for Life Groups, however many groups meet on other evenings during the week. The time period for a life group is mandated by its Adult Youth Staff Leaders and the students involved.  Most of all, this time must be consistent from one week to the next.

Where are Life Groups?
Life Groups meet all over the greater Nashville area. From the homes of students and leaders, to rooms at church or in local café’s, there is not a wrong place for a Life Group to meet. The requirements for Life Group locations are as follows: (1) Groups are approved to meet at location each week for approximately 1 hour. (2) Groups will have the ability to have a general discussion without being consistently interrupted by outside events. (3) Groups must meet in a location that allows them to add an open visitor’s chair each week, to provide a natural healthy avenue for growth.

Who is involved in Life Groups?
Life Groups are facilitated and hosted by approved Adult Youth Leaders and are attended by students plugged into ELEVATE YouthMinistries. Other student attendees include a student that knows someone who is involved in the ministry and comes as a guest, new students to ELEVATE trying to find their place to plug in, and/or one time visitors that may be here on vacation .

How do Life Groups Work?
Life Groups are a time of Student Led, Adult Youth Leader facilitated discussion.  Discussion time must be founded off of one of the following processes; study of a book of the Bible (i.e. Romans), an approved devotional (i.e. My Utmost For His Highest), or an approved book (i.e. Datable, Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, Love is the Killer App, The Wounded Spirit, etc.). Each week students are encouraged to overview that week’s topic, discuss as a group, relate it to their real lives, and then pray over one another for the week ahead. We encourage Life Groups to hang out before and after their actual group time, but to be sure to be very protective of that hour of study with one another.  This ensures that Life Groups is a very healthy part of their discipleship process.