A Community Group is NHM's way of "doing life together as God designed." 

How do we do that?

Take a look at Acts 2:42:

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Let’s break that down:

1. Apostles’ teaching (Word of God)

   • Sermon / curriculum discussion 

2. Fellowship 

   • Sharing/doing life together

3. Breaking Bread

   • Eating together

4. Prayer

   • Interceding for each other

That means every CG must be composed of a minimum of three components:

• Fellowship (e.g. sharing a meal together, ice breakers, worship)

• Weekly Sermon Discussion (or Book Study) and how we can apply the teaching to our lives

• Sharing and Praying for Each Other

We do life together as God designed, i.e., we share and encourage one another to strive after Christ in all aspect of our lives. And we empathize with our sinfulness and weakness, and work together towards holiness and righteousness. Finally, we hope to practice true Christian fellowship and love one another as Christ has loved us. 

Loving people is not easy and none of our groups are perfect. But we are okay with that, because it is God’s will for us to grow in the likeness of Christ by loving one another so that the world might know we are His disciples. Find more about the who can join CGs and the structure of CGs here.

A Community Group Leader, also known as a CG leader, is a core member of NHM selected by CG leadership to lead NHM CGs. The characteristics of a CG leader are:

1. A desire to grow into Christlikeness 

2. Teachability: being humble, flexible, and receptive to correction from CG leadership

3. Having the heart of a shepherd to see people grow in community 

• • Caring and loving towards people

  • Creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment

  • Intentionally identify and make effort to greet those in my CG on Sundays

  • Willingness to do life together (walk alongside people)

4. Ownership of NHM: plugged in / involved at NHM

• • Attending weekly services 

  • Be present at NHM Events 

  • Praying regularly for NHM and its members

5. Good understanding of the Bible and the conviction that it is the Word of God (inerrancy of the Bible)

6. Ability to lead and facilitate discussions on the sermon or curriculum that leads to life applications 

7. Ability to recognize giftings in others and encourage them to use it 

CG leaders serve for a minimum of one year. They lead in two terms and partake as a member in the remaining term. They are also required to attend the three halftime gathering and the all trainings as well.

CG leadership consists of the pastors and the CG Team Leaders.

A CG Team Leader also serves as a CG leader but is designated to lead a group of CG leaders and coach them on how to be a NHM CG leader and care for them. The CG team leader also serves as a liaison between the CG leaders and the pastors. They communicate logistics and information from pastors to CG leaders and share the on-the-ground progress in the CGs to the pastors which can include praises in CG and challenges CG leaders may face. 

CG team leaders take ownership of NHM’s vision and support in the execution of it. They use their wisdom and experience and provide input to the pastors so that the CG program and the NHM community as a whole can continue to grow and flourish as a body equipping and enabling them to go out to disciple others.

Current CG leaders observe throughout a term their members for the following: 

• Look for members who are proactive in participation and committed to attending all 12 weeks. 

• Know that they are an official NHM member and have had participated in at least 2 CGs. 

• Check to see their maturity level of their faith and understanding of theology. 

• Take note of those who exhibit abilities to facilitate discussion and to listen.

• Identify those with one of the most important traits that are sought out which is someone who has a lot of grace (heart of patience, love, and caringness) for others

There are other administrative aspects that are good to have, but these can be learnt over time. The above are general qualities of a core member at NHM but these attributes combined with a humble and teachable spirit make the potential for a good CG leader. CG leaders are required to have that member lead a CG meeting at least once to more thoroughly confirm their potential.

Once identified, CG leaders submit a nomination for this person in the 9th week of the CG term. They provide reasons why this person would make a good CG leader based on their observations. Nominees are discussed amongst the CG leadership which consists of the pastors and the CG Team Leaders. 

If there is a unanimous decision to accept the nominee, CG leadership then reaches out to the nominee to ask if they would like to become a CG leader. If the person accepts, a CG team leader will interview them. Once they pass the interview, they will shadow a veteran CG leader or the CG team leader for one term. This is where they can follow and learn the basics of leading a CG. Starting the next term, they will then begin to lead a CG on their own.