What is a Core Group?
It has been observed that two kinds of people are interested in a church plant:
1) Those who are interested in joining the church once it is already established functioning as a church and
2) Those who are interested in the ground-level, hands-on participation in the joyful, painful, exciting, and sacrificial process of planting and establishing a church.
Both groups are interested in becoming members of the church but it is helpful to recognize the distinction. While we desire a level of commitment from both groups the expectation will be necessarily greater for the core group. The criteria for becoming a church member is not the same as the criteria for becoming part of the core group. The expectations for the core group members will be greater, because we will be counting on this group during a very critical stage in the church’s development.
The following criteria are not mandated by Scripture but are an attempt to be honest with you about the kind of dedication we are looking for in the core group. Sacrifice and flexibility will be the norm not the exception. We will not immediately have the benefits of a larger established church and will need “all hands on deck” as this ministry takes shape.