Fellowship

Community Groups

Church is not a building, a meeting or an organisation - it is people! The Bible describes the church as the body of Christ; a living, growing community of people. 

The Bible encourages Christians to meet together regularly. We have Community Groups across the city. All registered members of Temple of Praise are welcome to join any of our vibrant community groups. These groups meet on the third week of each month. If there is none near you, one can be set up with enough families requesting it in the same geographical area.

Since the church congregation represent a wide area across the whole of Merseyside, the Community Groups have been allocated into several smaller areas. We normally advise church members to attend their nearest community group. As a rule of thumb we usually suggest a group within 15 minutes drive or bus journey.

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The aim of community groups is to reach out to each other and to the local community showing God's love in action.

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Each community group has a Community Representative, who meets regularly with the Community Co-ordinators for a PPP meeting ( Progress, Planning, Prayer). It is their role to ensure that all members of their community are kept up to date with the latest information and to organise rotas.

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Community members take it in turns to host the meetings in their homes or to arrange an event at a local venue.

Being part of Sunday Celebration is great and uplifting, but God's plan is for us to form real relationships through which Christ can be expressed in our streets and communities. This is why Community Groups are important - they are the heart of the church.

From time to time we hold Joint Community Events. This is where all community groups are invited to a main event. We will inform you about next event shortly.

Accountability

These are small (3-6 people), single sex groups whose members meet to support each other and look after the state of different areas of their lives. Groups meet for a session at least once a month. During the session groups discuss about God, home, family, church, work, social and personal aspects of life. Personal targets are set and each person makes himself or herself accountable to the group for the progress and changes he or she is aiming for. If you wish to join an established team you must have an invitation from existing member. Also all the members must be in agreement. After joining a team you should be ready to be trained to set up a secondary team within 6 months. Being a member of a team you should follow the foundational principles such as: confidentiality and honesty.

Pastoral Support

The congregation is split into pastoral zones, each led by a small pastoral team. Zone members with a need contact their zone pastor in the first instance.

Membership

The formal Membership Registration scheme was set up in January 2005.  It helps the leadership keep track of those who decide to commit themselves to Temple of Praise as their home church. Registered members come under the pastoral care of the church and are eligible to attend Community and Accountability Groups, and join ministry teams. 

Body support ministries

Temple of Praise has a wide range of Ministries as everyone is encouraged and indeed challenged to live lives of service to God and others. There are however support activities for different recognised groups in the family: Women's Ministry, Men's Ministry; Youth and Children's Ministry Team; and a Young Adults Team. These teams support a developing zonal pastoral system that is now in place across the city. Call the office to ask for information regarding any of these activities.