Getting Started In Your Church

Where does the Freedom In Christ approach fit into the church?

Most see it as useful for every Christian and adopt it as an ongoing church-wide discipleship programme. It can also be used effectively as: a follow-up to Alpha; an equipping track for cells (also on encounter weekends); a small group study programme; or as a means to help those struggling with deeper issues.

What does a "freedom ministry" look like?

The approach can be adapted considerably to fit your own situation but will always have three essential components:

1. Freedom teaching
This is contained in The Freedom In Christ Discipleship Course which is flexible enough to suit any church. You can use it with the whole church, either by preaching it yourself or showing the DVD, run it in small groups or give the material in book or audio format to individuals.

2. Opportunity for people to go through The Steps To Freedom In Christ
You can either run the ministry component as an Away Day where people are given space to get alone with God, or as a one-to-one "freedom appointment". This is typically a three to five hour process conducted by an "encourager" with the support of a prayer partner. During the process, the freedom seeker asks the Holy Spirit to point out areas in their life that need dealing with and takes hold of their authority in Christ to do just that. Encouragers do not need to be experts but should first have had their own freedom appointment and have gone through the Helping Others Find Freedom In Christ training (available in book or video form or, better still, at one of our regular conferences).

3. Follow-up to help people stand firm in the freedom won
Freedom seekers are encouraged to use a devotional such as Walking In Freedom and perhaps also meet with their encourager or join a follow-up group.

Does it suit every church?

The approach has been successfully implemented in churches of all kinds and sizes, including the very smallest. Our advice is to start small and take your time.

I'm new to all this - where should I start?

If this is all new to you and you are wondering where to start, our suggestion would be that you take some time to familiarise yourself with the core teaching. The easiest ways of doing this are to read Victory Over The Darkness and The Bondage Breaker by Neil Anderson or to use the Freedom In Christ Discipleship Course DVD or audio sets. For further detail on the theology and principles behind the approach we recommend Discipleship Counselling by Neil Anderson (all available in the Shop section).

We also recommend that you attend one of our regular one-day "Getting Started With The Freedom In Christ Approach" events which will equip you with everything you need to go back and get started. See the Events section for details. You may also wish to consider hosting an event in your church - click here for details.

You will find it highly beneficial to become a member of the Freedom Fellowship, our way of providing regular support and information to you. Click here for details.

How to get started

We have set out below some of the typical stages that churches go through as they implement the approach.

1. Get the commitment of the leaders
In our experience perhaps the most crucial factor in whether a freedom ministry is successful is the commitment of the leadership and specifically the main leader. We strongly recommend that the leadership goes through the teaching and their own individual freedom appointments ahead of everyone else where possible. By doing this, you are sending a very powerful message that this is for everyone.

2. Get key people up to speed
You will want to make sure that other key people are with you: cell or small group leaders, those responsible for pastoral care and so on. The best way is to run the Discipleship Course especially for those people ahead of everyone else so that they understand it. You will also want them to have their own freedom appointment and be ready to take others through.

3. Get some experience in running freedom appointments
In an ideal situation the first people to have their own personal freedom appointments will be leaders. If possible it would be good for a couple of people to have their appointments with others who are experienced (ie from outside the church), simply to get an appreciation of how an appointment works. They can then take other people through. Freedom In Christ will help facilitate this.

Having said that, it's perfectly acceptable just to take each other through the process which is fairly self-explanatory.
 
It would also be helpful for some from your team to attend a FIC "Helping Others Find Freedom In Christ" course which goes into the process in greater depth. 

4. Introduce the teaching to the church
You are now ready to start teaching at a church-wide level, though do not feel that you have to cover everyone at once. Again, starting small works well - it gives leaders the chance to get familiar with the material in a smaller setting. You might like to introduce it to a small number of people first.

5. Set up a process for running freedom appointments
As you teach the material, gradually introduce the concept of the Steps To Freedom In Christ and plan how you are going to administer appointments. Are you going to have an away day or are you going to arrange for everyone to have individual appointments?
 
If you choose to do individual appointments, resist the temptation to start with those who seem in dire need but gain some experience with those who are more likely to be straightforward.
 
Remember to insist that freedom seekers complete the basic teaching before their freedom appointment so that they know how to stand firm afterwards.

6. Build your team of encouragers
Even if you decide on the Away Day approach, you will need the facility to run some individual appointments so will need to build a team of encouragers. You will find that those who have been through the teaching and had their own appointment can often become encouragers fairly quickly so that the burden is shared. A good way in is for them to learn from others by being prayer partners.
 
As your team develops, it's helpful to meet together regularly to encourage one another, to pray for the ministry and for further training.
 
Make sure that someone is taking charge of the administrative aspects.

7. Emphasise the need to make it a way of life
Emphasise that every freedom seeker will need to apply ongoing effort to maintain the freedom gained and continue to grow as a disciple.
 
Put a lot of emphasis on helping people maintain the progress they have made by encouraging them to keep renewing their mind. You might run nurture groups. Encourage people to have freedom appointments on an annual basis as a kind of spiritual MOT test.
 
Keep emphasising that this is discipleship for everyone - not just for "hard cases" or any other section of the church.

Any other hints and tips?

• Church leaders – set an example by going through the process yourself first (we can arrange a freedom appointment outside your own church if required)

• Insist that freedom seekers complete the basic teaching before their freedom appointment so that they know how to stand firm afterwards.

• Join the Freedom Fellowship, an invaluable source of advice

• Although the results are often dramatic, avoid portraying this as a "quick fix". Instead emphasise that every freedom seeker will need to apply ongoing effort to maintain the freedom gained and continue to grow as a disciple.

Church leaders - please consider us as a resource available to you and feel free to contact us.

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