| Presenting Your Core Story at a
Congregational Event |
| The more members of your congregation who understand the
information gleaned from a Percept Context Report the stronger your support base for
future ministry plans. One excellent way of introducing them to your Core Story is at a
congregation-wide gathering. This may be following a covered dish lunch or dinner or at an
afternoon or evening coffee and dessert. Percept knows that conversation always goes
better with food! This design is a one hour, 20 minute session intended to either follow a
meal or precede the refreshments. A lay leader or the pastor may lead the process. An
additional person should be recruited to record the small group responses on newsprint. If
possible, you may wish to recruit some small group leaders who are familiar with the Core
Story and able to keep the conversation moving so that all the questions are addressed. |
| Materials needed: a copy of the Core Story for
each participant (plus a few extras), at least one copy of the Context Report, newsprint
and markers |
|
 5
minutes |
| After a welcome and an opening prayer, distribute copies of the
Core Story. Remind those present of the process used to gather the data , the study area
boundary and the congregational survey. Explain that the Core Story was prepared as a
narrative summary of the Context Report. Inform them that the full Context Report is
available for any member wishing to see the raw data. |
|
| 10
minutes |
| Ask participants to individually read the report |
|
| 30
minutes |
| Divide the participants into groups of no more than six to discuss
the following questions: |
| 1 |
What surprised you in our Core Story? |
| 2 |
What did you find most encouraging? |
| 3 |
What did you find most challenging? |
| 4 |
What are one or two things you believe our congregation
should explore doing as a result of reading our Core Story? |
|
|
| 30
minutes |
| Ask each group to report first on question one, then on question
two, etc. Ask for the answers to be brief so that there is time to hear from everyone.
Questions one, two and three should go very quickly. The answers to question four should
take longer. The answers to question four should be recorded on newsprint for future
reference. |
|
| 5
minutes |
| If the data gathered will be used in a particular way, share that
with the participants (i.e. the church board will share it at the leadership retreat,
etc.) Thank the members for coming and close with prayer. |
|
