Be in prayer for the entire Grace Encounter experience and commit to share your life, in love, with fellow believers.

 

Team Leadership:

Director = Randal Weidenaar, overall cultural and direction of the workshop, supervises the Service Team Leaders (Blacks, Marths, Weidenaars).

Workshop Coordinators = Tom & Jo Black, run-of-show, in charge of materials and timing (the when).

Key Facilitator = Rebekah Weidenaar, psychological well-being of the Trainees, directs Trainers in the how.

Set-Up/Take-Down = Tom Black, Training Room.

Encouragement (Clap-In, Turnarounds, Stretch Party) = Tom Black, oversees ???

Food = Linda Marth, oversees Kreitners.

Registrar = Linda Marth, lodging, keys, tuition collection.

AV = Rick Noah

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Team Meetings:  Team and Training session meetings need to start on time, at the beginning of each day and during breaks.  This helps set the mood for the Encounter, and the Trainees will see that the Team takes it seriously.  On the evenings we begin Journeys, the initial Training Team meeting will convene 45 minutes before the start of the Journey with the Trainees.  Any responsibilities you have to help prepare for the Journey, or personal concerns, need to be completed before that Team meeting begins.  You should already be dressed and have eaten your meal before that meeting.  For the morning meetings of the Training Team, have your breakfast finished before coming to the meeting.  Drinks are permissible at that meeting.

 

Training Team Attire:  Due to the environment we strive to create, our appearance needs to follow the following guidelines:

Journey 1

• Professional Business (on Sunday, ties and blouses may be a little more colorful).

Journey 2

• Wednesday thru Friday ... Professional Business

• Saturday afternoon (Stretch Party) ... Crazy

• Saturday evening thru Sunday ... Business Casual

Journey 3

• Friday thru Saturday afternoon ... Business Casual

• Saturday afternoon thru Sunday ... Nice Casual

Journey 4

• Nice Casual

Definition of Terms:

Professional Business

• Ladies wear dark dresses, suits, or sets. No light colors, but dark reds, blues, etc.

• Men wear dark suits, plain dark shirts & ties. Banded collars or dark turtlenecks are acceptable. Again no light colors.

Business Casual

• Slacks, collared shirts, dressy blouses, skirts. The colors may be light.

Crazy

• Weird hats, t-shirts, jeans, costumes, shorts are fine but should be conservative.

Nice Casual

• Nice jeans (without holes) and shirts. No shorts or t-shirts. 

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Circles of Responsibility:  Respect the assigned circles of responsibility. If you see something that needs to be done ask the person responsible if they would like any help.  Just don't assume. 

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Training Table:  Keep the tabletop tidy and uncluttered. Keep the area behind the table tidy and safe.

 

Training Team Notebook:  Make sure the Trainees don't see your Training notebook.  Close it when not in use.  You may take it back to your room to ready for your teaching for the next day.

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Talking During Sessions:  No talking at the table during sessions. Talking or other noises from the Team can distract facilitators and Trainees.  It also communicates to the Trainees that what is being done up front is not of significant value.  Go to the back room if you need to talk quietly. Be attentive to activities and use your inactive time at the table for prayer.

 

Leaving the Training Room:  Generally, do not leave the Training Room during sessions. If you need to leave, notify a Team member. Open and close the door quietly on those occasions. 

 

Neutral Expressions:  The Team is to be neutral from the start, including at the venue before Journey One starts, and during breaks when you are moving about. "Neutral" means no smiling or laughing, but a pleasant polite straight face.  Generally make statements, not requests.  This will accelerate the group relating to one another and help the necessary bonding that must take place.  Softening of some aspects of this guideline will be explained by the Key Facilitator at certain points during the Journeys.

 

Fraternization:  No fraternizing, hanging out, or socializing with Trainees.  If you are asked a question, give as brief an answer as possible, and move on.  We want Trainees to turn to their group for support.  Also, if you have a friend or relative who will be a Trainee, let them know before Journey One that you will be in Training mode during the Encounter, so you won't be socializing or communicating with them as you normally would.  This will be hard as we'll be living together in a dormitory.  Try hard to minimize engagement.

 

Back & Shoulder Rubs:  When these are indicated in the Training Schedule, take note that every person in your small group is touched. This is a special process, but should not be overdone.  If someone has been sexually abused, be very cautious.  You'll receive special guidance about this before the exercise.  Read the Trainees' body language, and respect their felt boundaries.  Watch the Sound Tech for his one-minute signal, and at that time return to your chairs quickly and quietly.

 

Concerns:  Leave personal problems at home, and focus on the Trainees.  If you have a conflict with someone else on the Team, wait until Training hours are over to resolve the problem.  Division and conflict among Team members will take away from the Trainees' experience.  If you are unable to "be present" emotionally, talk to the Director or the Key Facilitator about it.  It is very important throughout the Encounter to "keep short accounts" with other Team members.

 

Tear-Down:  You are responsible to help pick up and pack up all the GE materials and possessions we've brought to the Training Room. Plan to be present and helping during this brief time at the end of each Journey.  In most cases, you will be assigned some specific tear-down responsibilities. The Workshop Coordinators will direct our tear-down.

 

Facebook Group:  Read the Facebook Group Welcome given to the Trainees (it's in your Training Notebook, and you may remove it and take it with you for reference).  Remember that this is not your Facebook group.  It is not appropriate for you to ask for medicine in this group--do that with the Training Team, or your own Encounter's Facebook group, the Alumni Facebook group, or in other relationships.  Do not participate in the Facebook Group as if you were one of the Trainees.  You may respond to concerns or needs posted by Trainees, or give general encouragements.  The most appropriate level for your participation in this Facebook Group is "occasional."

 

Small Group Time-Keeping:  If you are leading a small group (Trainer or Training Associate), you will need a watch that marks seconds, analog or digital, whichever you can most easily read.

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Small Group Leaders' Responsibilities:

1. Pray daily for your group.

2. Be in control of your group.  Begin immediately on Friday evening of Journey One to take charge of your group.  You will be given ideas on how to do this.  Do not allow a Trainee to control or manipulate the group or the processes.

3. Keep your group focused and on track.  That means stopping any side talking, and being aware of the time.  We strive to end small group processes at the same time as much as possible.

4. Encourage your small group to share when large group sharing time comes.

5. Communicate problems or concerns about your group to the Key Facilitator during breaks.

6. Make sure you understand the process or exercises we are about to begin.  Don't be afraid to ask for clarification.  You will be coached in the upcoming exercises during breaks.

7. Do not allow a Trainee to use you as his or her support system.

8. After Journey One ...

   1. Each group member is to be contacted.  Your Trainer will indicate which group members you (the Training Assistant) are to contact. Let each one know you're praying for and "there for" her or him.  The three days between J1 and J2 can be long for a Trainee.

   2. Your contact should be a telephone conversation, done by Tuesday evening.  Leave a voice mail message only if absolutely necessary.  Find out how they're doing.  Ask about how they feel about coming back Wednesday.  Ask if there is anything about their experience so far, including with other Trainees, that is a concern to them. Contact the Key Facilitator with any concerns or questions.

   3. Ask each Trainee if their roommate assignment is working out.  If there are any new concerns in this area, contact the Key Faciliator for directions.

9. After Journey Two ...

   1. Stay in contact with each small group member until Journey Three.  Call each one by the first Tuesday after J2.  Express your prayer support.  During the month between J2 & J3, Trainees will be vulnerable and tender, and usually will start "coming down" from the mountaintop, which can be hard.

   2. During the first week after J2, send a card or note to each group member.

   3. By the second Monday after J2, contact each small group member again.

   4. Call once per week until Journey Three.

   5. Monitor group email, but don't contribute excessively. It's important for them to support one another.

   6. Report any concerns to the Key Facilitator.

10. After Journey Three ... send at least one card or note to encourage them with their baby steps and goals.

11. After Journey Four ... send a card or note encouraging them to stay connected with their group.