Mobilizing a Support Group Army

"We need consistent time, relationship, and shared-strength with people who can complete our sentences." - Jayne Schooler

Problem:

• People are suffering alone, without intimacy or strategy to heal from past wounds and navigate future struggles. Relational unhealth is the greatest barrier to societal health.

Solution:

• The Body of Christ, in tandem, hosts support groups for all populations to meet all needs.

  • Greater Dayton: 240K followers + 1,400 buildings = 11,000 slots/week to host groups.

Mission:

• Catalyze a Support Group Army throughout the Body of Christ:

  • (# in existence in Greater Dayton/Goal)

  • Single Moms (1/20)

    • Single Dads (0/5)

  • Domestic Abuse Survivors (1/10)

    • Domestic Abusers (1/4)

  • Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families (1/10)

  • Grief (22/22)

  • Spiritual Leaders (0/15)

  • Marriage (1/12)

    • Divorce(9/10)

    • Divorce for Kids (1/5)

  • Poverty (Employment) (0/5)

  • Addiction Recovery (15/30)

  • Total Needed: 85 Groups; Mobilize 1,200 people out of 240,000 followers = .5% of followers

    • 170 leaders/organizers

    • 100-400 facilitators

    • 450 cooks

    • 450 childcare

Strategy:

• Map all existing support groups by demographic and schedule.

• Interconnect like-focused support group leaders. Assess strength and needs.

• Create a support group gap-analysis: demographic, place, and time.

• Create goals around for each demographic based on needs of population.

• Assess latent congregational interest in leading/hosting support groups and other ministries based on demographic. Goal: all followers find their highest and best role.

• Mobilize Body of Christ into roles:

  • Organizers, facilitators, cooks, childcare workers, etc.

• Continually assess and meet needs of support group leaders and facilitators.

• Share support group map and metrics with anchor institutions and front-line workers; School Districts, Children's Services, Courts, Police, ADAMHS Board, Hospitals, Community Mental Health Agencies, etc.

In the United States, starting in the 1980's, we have had a sharp decline in "social capital". We lack bonding-capital (with those who are similar to us and bridging-capital (with those unlike us). We must restore the communal social fabric. We need spaces where we can foster both, thus the need for massive city-wide ecosystem of support groups.

(ideas adopted from The Connected Life: The Art and Science of Relational Spirituality and Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community)