Class Format and Location
The following recommendations were developed in conjunction with local ministry teams and the collective wisdom of our National staff and ministry overseers.
1. We recommend a class time of two-and-a-half hours. Less time restricts class participation during discussions as well as the time for building deep relationships through fellowship. A suggested class format follows:
30 min. - Group Discussion of Homework & Questions
60 min. - Video or Lecture (avg. time)
30 min. - Refreshments, Fellowship
30 min. - Final Q&A and prayer (avg. time) (Note: many classes move the refreshments to the end of class to gain more time for questions, discussion, and prayer.)
2. Evening classes are the norm. Advantages and disadvantages of classes held in the home vs. classes at church are found below. The night and time of your class will depend upon your church community and leader availability. Monday or Tuesday nights have proven to be the best nights - Sunday nights also work well for many churches.
3. A small-group format where accountability is encouraged works best. Class size should be from 5 to 8 couples. This material does not work well in a Sunday School class, and we highly discourage its use in this format! Why? Sunday School class attendance is often sporadic, as is the commitment to homework. Most Sunday School classes only have one hour or less, and many of the Growing Kids God’s Way videos are close to an hour in length, leaving no time for discussion, homework questions, and relationship building. In our experience, churches that utilize Growing Kids God’s Way in a Sunday School class setting are generally disappointed with the outcome. They often realize belatedly that, while they may have given their parents information, they did not provide the relational environment necessary to see the information appropriated into their lives. The principle that God works through relationships in the Body is essential to success with this curriculum.
4. Each student should have his or her own workbook. In addition to the workbook, single parents should be provided with The Single Parent Supplement and blended families should be provided with The Blended Family Supplement. (Blended families are families who have unique relationships due to divorce and re-marriage.) The class leader should have the appropriate supplement to review to make sure homework is completed.
5. Plan on a time of fellowship and refreshments for each class. We highly recommend refreshments for every class! This time facilitates one-on-one encouragement. Reserving a time for refreshments and fellowship helps to deepen relationships within the class and allows for more openness and sharing during the discussion time. Experience has taught us that when classes follow the relational guidelines above, class members will enjoy strong accountability and lasting friendships. As a result the Holy Spirit will be at work to empower each family to apply this information. Please consider your class format prayerfully, and remember that many people will take Growing Kids God’s Way only one time - please give them the best chance at appropriating this material and developing relationships that the Lord will use to make eternal changes in their families.
Determine Class Location
Our experience is that classes held in the home form deeper relationships than those held at the church. The home could be that of the leader couple or could be a separate “host couple’s” home. Many churches use a combination of some classes in homes and others at church to accommodate their church family.
1. Meeting in Homes
Advantages to Meeting in Homes (children at their own homes with sitters.)
- Class relationships build deeper and faster (especially to host couple).
children go to bed on time and Mom and Dad do not have to rush home after class. - It can become a date-night for Mom and Dad (dinner out before class).Host couple can exercise the gift of hospitality to a greater degree.
- There is a greater freedom to remain after class and ask questions, without having to rush to pick children up from the nursery. If a leader couple’s children are at home and playing quietly in other rooms, this can be a great witness and encouragement to the couples in the class.
- Holding classes in a home may be less “threatening” to the un-churched than classes held at the church and may be an evangelistic aid.
Disadvantages to Meeting in Homes:
- The cost of babysitters for 19 weeks could deter some couples from taking the class.
- If the leader couple’s children are not yet brought under control, meeting in the leader couple’s home could cause distractions.
- If their home is the host home, there is more of a burden on the leader couple to prepare their home for guests each week. (Some see this as an advantage however- at least their home gets thoroughly cleaned once a week!)
2. Meeting at the Church
Advantages to meeting at a church:
- Childcare can be provided.
- Possibility of family meals at the church before class.
- Class times can coincide with children’s activities (i.e., Awana).
- Children can be taught the same principles Mom and Dad are learning in class. Please check with GFI for future information on a Babysitting Guide that accompanies Growing Kids God’s Way.
Disadvantages to Meeting at the Church:
- More impersonal atmosphere is less conducive to relationship building.
- If childcare is provided at the church, there may be less opportunity for fellowship after class, as couples will be pressured to pick their children up on time from the nursery. To offset this problem, we suggest that childcare extends 30 minutes past the end of each class. This works well if snacks are at the end of class.
- If childcare is provided at the church, this brings its own set of problems. Incorporate as much structure and organized activities as possible. Be aware that there may be conflicts if you have very young and much older children in the nursery together. Problems may also occur because of how different families have trained their children or not trained their children.
Hold an Informational Meeting
When the time comes to offer the class to your church family or community, we suggest you first hold an informational meeting to review the course content and class commitment. The purpose of this meeting is to separate those with a casual interest in biblical parenting from those with a heart for this type of instruction. You may want to hold more than one meeting if you plan on holding multiple classes. This will allow more husbands and wives to attend together and make a joint commitment.
Inform prospective class attendees of the cost of materials. Each church may set its own class fees based upon its expenses. On average churches charge anywhere between $40.00-$70.00 per couple or $20.00 to $30.00 per single parent to cover the cost of the Growing Kids God’s Way workbooks. For this class we strongly recommend one book per person, and not one per family.
