Good $ense Ministry  | |
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Good $ense Budget Course
Leader's Guide
Step One - Providing the Community of Christ Foundational Message
A Disciple's Generous Response
Introduce the six principles of
A Disciple's
Generous Response. This provides the context within which Good $ense
ministry will be most meaningful for Community of Christ members and friends.
Resources include PowerPoint presentations and
information about tracts (A Disciple's
Generous Response,
Tithing,
World Mission Tithes) and the book
Becoming
a Generous Disciple--Six Principles to Live By that explore personal
generosity and financial stewardship as an individual's response to God's grace
and love.
Step Two - Introduction to the Willow Creek--Good $ense Web
Site
Learn more about Good $ense at
www.goodsenseministry.com
(Willow Creek).
Key orientation and support sections of this Web site include
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Step Three - Creating the Audience
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Offer this ministry "for and with" the
congregation to include members, friends, family, neighborhood, community, and
other churches
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This class is for everyone--not just people in debt
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Reach out especially to offer this to young adults and
others who are not currently active with the church
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It will nearly always be best to offer a separate class for
high school and college students.
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Invite seekers and others without a church home
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Encourage married and committed couples to attend together
or at least complete the pre-work together
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A separate session could be created for pre-marital
counseling
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Step Four - Ordering Resources
All resources are conveniently available directly from Willow Creek. See
"ORDER HERE" instructions below.
1. The
Freed-Up Financial Living Ministry Leader's Kit—$79.99 (discounted
price)—contains the Freed-Up Financial Living Teaching DVD curriculum along with
many other materials to help build your stewardship ministry and develop its
leaders and volunteers, including:
- The entire six-session Freed-Up Financial Living Teaching DVD containing
all teaching and supporting drama videos in a simple plug-and-play format
that allows the content to be experienced without the need for an up-front
teacher.
- Three copies of the Freed-Up Financial Living Participant's Workbook
- Quick-start guide
- Promotional materials
- Ministry Implementation Guide
- And more!
The curriculum outlines biblical essentials on earning, giving, saving,
spending and reducing debt, while providing practical tips to help participants
achieve their own financial, personal, and spiritual goals, and is easily
adaptable for use in seminar, small group or even individual use settings.
2. The following resources can be ordered individually:
ORDER HERE: Online at
Willow Creek or
call 1-800-570-9812 in the United States.
NOTE: Orders placed by the Mission
Center are eligible for a 20% discount. The Willow Creek membership
number will be provided to the MCFO. Orders can be mailed to any
location requested. All purchases must be made with a credit card.
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Team teaching has significant benefits.
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Consider the pros and cons of a one-day versus
multi-session class.
Seven-session
Format (pdf, 21kb)
Six-session Format
Two-session Format
One- to Three-day
Retreats
One-day Workshop
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Consider linking the Good $ense course with another
event such as Bible School.
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Select a location/facility.
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Consider the need for and availability of childcare
provided by a
registered
youth worker.
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Determine the charge per participant (paid in advance) to
cover expenses such as the book, supplies, meals, childcare, etc.
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Encourage committed couples to attend together by offering
a discount.
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Determine the number of attendees and order needed
resources.
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Participant pre-work is very important. Mail copies
in advance to registrants.
Pre-work
(PDF, 270kb)
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Have someone with technical skills available to help with
computer hook-up and video presentation or
opt for a low-tech teaching approach.
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Create an evaluation form.
Budget Course participant evaluation
sample
(MS Word, 30.5kb)
Teacher training evaluation
sample
(MS Word, 28kb)
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Prepare a course orientation/overview. (sample)
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Prepare A Disciple's Generous Response introduction to
establish the foundational principles for a Community of Christ
class. (PowerPoint presentations and
tracts)
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Provide participants with a folder for handouts and
worksheets:
Personal
Action Step Reference Log (MS Word, 26kb)
"A
Conversation with Tony Campolo," (pdf, 1.23mb)
Giving, Vol. 4, 2002
Note on copies:
"Reprinted by
permission. Copyright 2002 Ecumenical Stewardship Center."
A Disciple's Generous Response
tract
Tithing
tract
World Mission Tithes
tract
Evaluation Plan
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Step Six - Once Class Has Begun
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Balance the need to cover all material with people's need to
dialogue. Only extend time allotted if ALL participants agree.
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Begin and end on time.
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Have "counselors" present to help participants as needed
during work sessions.
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Ensure confidentiality.
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Step Seven - Follow Up
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Encourage accountability partnerships. These may be
developed with others who have or have not taken the Good $ense
class.
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Make phone calls and send personalized notes of
encouragement.
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Consider an extra follow-up session a certain number of
weeks later to talk about struggles and successes, provide additional
support, and receive feedback.
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Offer one-on-one mentoring from trained counselors if
available.
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Provide participants with the
Practical
Application Checklist (pdf 6kb).
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Provide participants with the
Debt
Consolidation Process (Word 21kb) or consider offering the
Debt Reduction Workshop.
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Step Eight - Provide Feedback
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