“Para-groups” are a way for traditional Christian congregations to return to the basics of the Early Christian Lifestyle without interfering with their membership, programs, or budgets.  Para-groups are small groups that meet “by the side of” traditional congregations, and that strengthen both the membership and the Spirituality of the traditional congregations at no extra cost or effort.

     The First Century Greek word para (pronounced “puh-RAH‘”) refers to something that’s beside, near, or working parallel to something else.  Thus, para-groups are small groups that are working beside, near, or parallel to traditional Christian congregations – but that are not physically connected to those congregations.  That way, the small groups and the congregation cooperate and support one another, but operate separately.  This means that traditional congregations can create a set of small groups that meet parallel to them and that support them – and yet that they don’t micromanage.  How do para-groups work?  Here are ten guidelines for implementing para-groups in traditional congregations.

     1.  The small groups should be approved by the head pastor or priest, and by the majority of the other congregational leaders, authorities, and supervisors by whatever job title.

     2.  The small groups should be approved by the majority of the congregation.

     3.  To gain these approvals, there should be full and open discussions of small groups over a period of time – using books, classes, seminars, and videos, etc., followed by business meetings and congregational votes as required.

     4.  The goal of the small groups should be for their participants to adopt the Early Christian Lifestyle of being habitually Spirit-filled as a way of life and as a daily conduct.

     5.  Participation in the small groups should be completely voluntary.  Participants should not be assigned to groups alphabetically, geographically, or any other way; and the Holy Spirit should be allowed to work out the details of each participant who joins.  Likewise, members of the congregation should have the freedom to decide not to participate in the small groups, and should feel no pressure or prejudice because of that decision.

     6.  The small groups must all be structured in the six-part Early Christian style described in chapter 14, pages 213-238, of the book, Saving Christianity.  They can’t be operated as “holograms” of the parent congregation (that is, as “mini-congregations”).  They must be free of supervision and control by the parent congregation.

     7.  The small groups should be formed around a host family where possible.

     8.  Pastors, priests, elders, and other congregational leaders, authorities, and supervisors must not participate in the small groups as authority figures who are there to monitor and control the groups.  Instead, they should participate in the groups as coequal participants.

     9.  The participants in the small groups must be open to expressing Spiritual behavior, to expressing Spiritual gifts, and to having new Spiritual experiences.

     10.  Strife, resistance, and negative comments by some of the other congregational members can be expected, since unspirituality in congregations is the reason para-groups are needed.  However, such resistance must not be allowed to stop the small groups – and obeying these guidelines can minimize such problems.  See chapter 16, pages 293-295, of the Book, Saving Christianity.