’Foundations’ – an exciting new initiative for the 20 and 30s
Foundations is a new project aimed at a generation of people in their 20s and 30s, to affirm God’s call in our lives and to reconnect us to the foundations of our faith.
The project is aimed at those that want to grow and share a faith that is biblical, mature, heartfelt, and risk–taking. It will unashamedly seek to teach and challenge us to develop Christian disciplines and characteristics that will saturate every part of our life and resonate with society.
Saturday 23 February 2013 sees the start of three related but distinct initiatives designed to continually develop our personal faith and mission to others:
Calling
A bi–monthly open gathering to encourage the personal discipleship of participants. Calling will be welcoming, informal, relational and interactive but also involve serious teaching and discussion on the disciplines of Christian faith. Calling will inspire and challenge us to develop spiritual disciples such as study, prayer, service, celebration, reflection and Sabbath. Calling is a ‘stand alone’ informal and on–going gathering on discipleship and participants can decide from it whether or not to undertake Character.
Character
A two–year process for those who want to develop the Christian characteristics of mission and leadership that influence every part of our work, social and church life. Character is a separate process that will start in September 2013 and attending Calling does not require you to attend Character. It will involve a commitment to attend ten meetings over two years to study, and then develop, characteristics such as righteousness, generosity, holiness, modesty, perseverance and humility. To benefit fully from Character participants will also be expected to undertake Counsel.
Counsel
An overlapping two–year process with Character whereby each participant meets with a mentor once a month. Counsel is a biblical model and designed to connect you with an older Christian who will walk beside you in your faith and informally guide, challenge and support you in faith and life. These mentors will also advise you in your mission and leadership role within the body of Christ.
Foundations is a place for fellowship but is not the local church. Its intention is to inspire and equip us within the local church and to build Christ’s church.
Foundations will begin with the first Calling in February 2013 in the Dock café, Titanic quarter. It runs from 7.30 pm –10.00 pm. Dates for 2013 gatherings are below:
‘Calling’
– Saturdays 23 February, 20 April, 8 June, 21 September and 16 November.
‘Character’
– Saturdays 19 October and 14 December.