EEN Small Group Ministry: Principles
- Small Groups or Fellowships in the Name of Christ and the Cause of
Creation-care
Gathering and supporting groups of Christians with a passion for obeying God's call to participate in the ministry of Christ's reconciliation of all of creation is a core ministry of the Evangelical Environmental Network.
We invite you and your friends to work with us, whether you all belong to the same church, attend the same school, live in the same community, or wish to identify your group with the stewardship of a local park, forest, watershed or ecosystem. Check out the remainder of this web site for information about EEN and resources on creation-care.
- Objectives of EEN's Small Group Ministry
- To foster substantial and visible progress on the care and restoration of God's creation while building a national movement of Christians devoted to the cause of creation stewardship.
- To link Christian creation-care activists with others of like mind into fellowships that willingly make three basic commitments: to meet regularly; to study and reflect on the Lordship of Christ over all of creation; and to take action.
- To build a sustaining constituency for the Evangelical Environmental Network ministry.
- To inspire and inform volunteer creation-care activists about the successes and challenges encountered by their brothers and sisters across the nation using our publications and web site.
- Servant Leadership
We believe every EEN staff member and volunteer must bring a servant orientation to the development of our small group ministry.
We must seek to humbly inform and inspire, to joyfully convey the good news we bear, to bring questions that facilitate deep discussion, all without the desire for power and control. We must avoid placing our own preconceived notions as obstacles between small group members and the Holy Spirit. We must seek to bear each other's burdens, but primarily to point fellowships toward the strengthening, sustaining power of Jesus Christ.
- Evangelism, Outreach and Diversity
EEN is committed to organizing Christians across the denominational spectrum while maintaining an uncompromising commitment to the biblical witness for creation care. Small groups working with EEN and their members must share this commitment as well. We are open to the participation of non-Christians in small groups and sponsored projects, but not at the expense of our commitment to Scripture.
- Guiding principles
Jesus said, "Wheresoever two or more of you are gathered in my name. . ."
The words of our Lord provide a special calling for groups of Christians to come together in his name. We believe creation-care is a powerful way for Christians to serve Christ.
In recent years, churches throughout North America have experienced surprising renewal and growth by adopting "cell group" or "small group" ministries. Small groups working with EEN are patterned after these ministries. In addition, we share the core principles of the small group ministry movement: mutual commitment, prayer, study and service.