We followed who's out there, who do we serve and how we serve them (Team A). But Dante also added who do we have, what do we have, how do we use it (Team B). We broke up into two teams. After prayer, Groups A & B met, we then gathered to review the results and focused on big issues

Group A - Joseph, Marie, Alison, Alan, Lilan, Penny (A young lady Fanny was present as Stephen's guest). Who's is out there?

Newcomers to Grenoble Students Time Period of stay: short, middle, long term People who used to come/lapsed members Seekers, Nonbelievers, agnostics, young/baby Christians More comfortable in English environment or want to improve English language Single/Married/Children/Old/Young/Middling/Families/Couples (Married/Living Together/Engaged) French not 1st language Seeking work Students/Workers/retired/ Parents - Mothers or full time parents Sick/Needy/In Crisis/Hospital

Who do we serve? Those who come to St. Marc's for Sunday Those who seek pastoral involvement in Sacraments Those who come to home groups Events People seeking comfort in English environment People lost in French culture mixed marriages

How do we serve? Worship/teaching - teaching parents Follow up with people missing or going through crisis Exposure to English ”Round 20's” English translation - accompanying to hospital/school Hospitality - Making them feel at home One-to-one conversation/prayer/friendship/pastoral caring Mentoring in French culture/using experiences Encouraging with God's Word

Group B - Stephen, Val, Elizabeth, David, Who's in here?

Faith situation: 10 Unbelievers/seekers (quite a few); Christians (those content with where they are in their faith; those wanting to grow; mature people who can take responsibility, whilst still needing to grow) Nationalities: at least 10 English language is the chief reason people come to our Church (except perhaps for some Francophones who come because they like what we offer compared to French Churches) Family situation: Married - 14 without children at home, 9 with one Christian spouse, 3 divorced/separated; Families with children 30 (including single parents) Language: English mother tongue or 2nd language; French mother tongue; Chinese mother tongue

What are we offering to?

• Unbelievers – preaching, fellowship, Alpha, social, men's supper, evangelistic events. Not a major emphasis so far.
• Believers - What are we doing to move people along and mature? - Adult SS, Home groups, teaching program. What do we do for mature Christians? How to equip people & help them find their gifts?
• Students - Hospitality, being a stranger or a foreign place?, focus on ***, , Bible studies, walks
• Singles, Married, Parents - did not have time to finish

Problem of small core of people involved in running the church - trying to get people involved, quality leadership a need

Other groups Home groups - why do some not come to church? Need for one to one contact - *** relationship

The next step was to compare How we serve and what we offer and look for the gaps. Here are the results of 1 hour 15 minutes of full group discussion.

1) 1 on 1 contact required - this is the key to relationships and how we build most of what we desire. We conceded that there are several people falling through the cracks. The church is not always meeting the temporal needs that people have (eg Jane's foot, Jim & Pat Mc Lucas, and others). We need to have our fingers on the pulse of people's lives to minister to them. We need to get to know people and know their problems. When we know people, we can then offer Christ's solution for the situation. People need encouragement, need a sense of home, fellowship. Who will offer lunch on a Sunday ‘for example) to new / lonely / …. people? Do we need a group who will organise this and so ensure it becomes part of our Church’s culture? A student outing one every month or two would be valued by many of them – again it needs organising. Putting people with shared backgrounds into contact with each other can be helpful.

The result of this is the need to resurrect the Pastoral Care team. A cross sectional team which represents different demographics of the church (students, family situation, nationality) to regularly meet to see that everyone's needs are met and prayerfully growing. This was well received. Who are the people who have the gifts to take responsibility for this?

This also included dealing with special groups in our congregation – not just Nigerians (whom we had several conversations about them, and Joseph was gracious enough to answer questions). However, the point was made we have challenges with other groups as well, e.g. Chinese, all children (Stephen has made it a point we all need to engage with our children) and Americans (why was ICG started?). Serving, not patronizing is what's needed. Genuine love and getting to know people is key.

Finally, the idea of 1 on 1 contact was requested to be mentioned in the preaching. Stephen responded that a course, "Building loving relationships" will be included in the upcoming program, and that this must feature in future preaching opportunities as well.

2) Growing Chinese and French language speakers - We have more French speakers/Chinese speakers coming to church where English is not their 1st (or even 2nd or 3rd language). ICS is reporting trends that churches in Europe are witnessing more native people attending.

Lilan estimated there are approximately 2,000 Chinese students in the area. Use Alpha course as an opportunity to reach to French speaking people. Then re-evaluate later if we need to offer more for French and Chinese speakers. Additionally, need more French speakers in the Sunday school

The group identified that more of the Chinese speakers are students, whereas the French speakers are permanent residents. We also discussed the power of a common language which moves people quicker to a level of trust. For example, when we hear English we do engage quicker - it is a bond. We should use this to our advantage.

3) Discipleship: Adults and children. How can we help parents (who have the 1st responsibility) to teach their children? This should primarily happen at home. How to get parents teaching their children at home? We can't park them in Sunday school for an hour and expect full change. The bigger issue is, adults in Sunday service for an hour can't expect full change either. We need to help parents understand what we’re doing for their children and why, so they can follow this up.

How do we grow discipleship to the home? Parents are comfortable to share with their kids. Many parents don't know the basics. Solution – Alpha course (this assumes and should require 100% participation)

How do we get those who don't fit? We need to offer a range of different things (mentor, triplets, 1 on 1, home studies, Sunday school, etc.) to get people involved. We need to utilize the Pastoral Care team to coordinate "inreach" to match people and needs together (including the style of group - prayer and fellowship, deep Bible study, etc.)

Parents are growing in participation. Some parents are requesting the teachers speak to their children in English as a means to improve their English (but we see our task as teaching the children in the way that best helps them learn about God°. So for some children, a different language (usually French) is the best language to receive teaching in Sunday School. Perhaps the same applies for Adults as well. Bible Studies, Alpha course, or home material may need to be translated to help people best engage for discipleship.

What are the blocks? A) Time B) We need to reach out to others at their home. We need to be the glue by practical service. For example Selina Wesley has an ongoing need at her house - when it rains it floods – the church needs to step in and fix it. There are other examples as well. The Mumford family was cited as an example - they picked up new people that arrived and took them to their home and fed them. That created relationships and bonds that reached beyond the walls of the church. (I will further this idea that building relationship builds bridges that lead to discipleship both for Adults and children). C) Sensitivity to other cultures - we need prayer, fasting and training to understand other people. Again, this is demonstrated by love and getting to know other people.

Appendix A - For each point, the Alpha course was mentioned. Stephen also made the proposal to have the Alpha course on Sundays. The council evaluated the options - citing it was good that it was not a work day, it maximizes the churches resources and availability of the day, and we could offer a meal each week of Alpha. It was also noted, that Alpha is also effective in small home groups, and it make take 2 years of home interaction, before some people are introduced to the church body/life. Another note was the potential conflict with rehearsal for the Carol service. Classes in English and French were mentioned, with a proposal as well for English on Sunday and perhaps the French class on another day. Alpha will be utilized as an exploration tool for further branches to explore.

Appendix B - I wish I could have recorded everything that was said, and everyone could listen and remember all the comments. However, it was very beneficial for everyone to hear the thoughts and views of others. A key point leading the discussion - is the fact that as leadership, the church council members should lead by example. It is recognized some people are extremely gifted in areas of hospitality, discernment and other gifts which make building friendships easier. However, like prayer - God has equipped us all to love and serve wisely to make friends and grow relationships. Fellowship is the glue. Jesus spent 3 years with the disciples with love, service and fellowship. Following His example will always yield fruit.