Raising up small group leaders remains one of the key ‘gifts’ of the Evangelical Union. This semester, I had the joy of training 17 health leaders in the health faculty, some of whom had never led Bible studies before! It was a privilege to see how God was teaching them through the responsibility of leading first years.
Through a mix of training, practical experience and feedback, the EU’s small group program seeks to grow leaders in the following:
- Pastoral Heart: A love and genuine interest in their students, meeting with them one-to-one, and entrusting them to God’s care through prayer.
- Heart for Others: Being outward-facing leaders, through welcoming newcomers and encouraging prayer for evangelism and global mission
- Administration: Ensuring smooth small group management with skills such as keeping a roll, communication and announcements.
- Teacher-Facilitator: Learning to prepare a passage of the Bible, and helping others engage with the Bible themselves through understanding adult learning principles
Here are some reflections from two students:
“As a small group leader, serving is such a blessing to my life in learning not only how to lead Bible studies, but also generating 1-1 relationships with the first-year students. It has helped me be significantly more intentional in reading the Bible for myself and boosting my joy in learning what God is teaching and challenging us to do. Serving God in this capacity is so rewarding in giving you a joy like no other where we get to know Jesus on a new level because we experience firsthand His love for others.” – Sarah-Jane, 2nd year speech pathology
“Serving as a small group leader this semester has been so valuable in deepening my understanding of what it means to pastorally care for others, leading with compassion and sharing God’s love. I’ve discovered a newfound desire to address deeper questions that have extended my own grasp of the passages and also provoked richer discussions in our group! My perfectionist tendencies really shone through, as I was often fearful of the study not going smoothly, but I’ve grown and been reassured that ultimately it is for God’s glory which is revealed through this ministry. Learning to commit to fostering relationships with my group even during time outside of the study is something that I’m glad I chose to do (and would definitely do again!), because I not only got to be more involved in their lives, but also see so many keep growing in their faith, and encourage them to find practical ways to intentionally prioritise God in their life.” – Elyssa, 2nd year speech pathology
Our prayer is that the training and growth of our small group leaders will continue to bear fruit not only at Sydney Uni, but for a lifetime of service for God’s people in Sydney, Australia and beyond!
– Laura Bee, Howard Guinness Project 2023-2024
