Training session for facilitators

THE DISCIPLE Agency is planning to conduct a second “Companions in Christ” (CIC) Facilitators’ training session at Sophia Blackmore Hall, Level 6, Methodist Centre on Aug 30 from 9 am to 5 pm.

Companions in Christ offers small groups with a powerful transforming experience – for participants to open themselves to God’s presence and guidance, to explore classic spiritual practices, and to develop new daily patterns that will open their lives to a deepening relationship with God and with the group.

The trainer will be the Rev Stanley Chua, an Executive Committee member of the DISCIPLE Agency, who has led a Companions in Christ group in Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church where he is the Pastor in-Charge.

The one-volume introduction to Companions in Christ brings one through an uninterrupted 28-week study of five topics: Spiritual formation, scripture, prayer, vocation and spiritual companionship.

Each week of study begins with an inviting and often challenging reading by a recognised author in spiritual formation. In addition to the weekly reading, the book provides questions and daily scripture readings to guide a person’s private reflection. The week closes with a two-hour group session where participants share their thoughts, reflect together, and take part in group learning experiences.

The Rev Marjorie Thompson, one of the authors of Companions in Christ, was here on March 10 last year

to conduct the first CIC training session in Singapore. A total of 85 participants attended the session, and since then a few churches have started using the material.

The Rev Chua said that he facilitated his first group of Companions in Christ on Nov 11, 2006, and has been enriched by the entire experience, especially in drawing closes to God and to his fellow companions-in-Christ.

He said that although he had been a pastor since August 1997, he had never really experienced the full range of practising the various spiritual disciplines in his life.

He has read that most Christians only have one or two spiritual disciplines that they practise regularly for most of their faith journey. Many are ignorant that there are other spiritual disciplines and many still fail to practise spiritual disciplines as part of their spiritual growth. 

The course has helped him to discover many spiritual disciplines that the early spiritual fathers had practised.

To register for the training session or to find out more about it, please contact Siew Geok @ tel: 6478- 4755 or email: siewgeok.chng@methodist.org.sg