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SWTC Youth Wesley Groups
Connecting With Christ Thru Community 
 
Our Purpose is to help students connect with Christ through Community. Too often, we leave a camp or a youth group retreat on a spiritual high only to fall flat on our faces in sin or solitude. Many times we feel alone and isolated in our schools, communities or homes. By forming a Wesley Group, you can help create Christ-centered community, encouragement, accountability and worship where you live. This may become a part of your youth group or you may use it as an outreach at school to tell others about Jesus Christ.
 
  
 
What is a Wesley Group? Wesley Groups are student-led small groups named after the founder of the Methodist Church (John Wesley). The groups consist of 3 to 8 students who want to seek Christ together. They can meet weekly, twice a month, or any time on a regular basis. They are intended to be a spiritual support group for students desiring to deepen a relationship with Jesus.
 
 
 
What's the format for a Wesley Group? The groups can look like whatever you desire, but the format (above) can be a model for your Wesley Group. I suggest making your groups gender specific (guys or girls only), stick to one hour in time, and keep confidentially (what is said in the group stays in the group). You might even make a "Covenant" for everyone to sign - 1) agreeing to attend all meetings (unless of an emergency), 2) striving for personal holiness, and 3) keeping confidential what is said.
 
It is my prayer that your Wesley Group become a source of encourages for your faith to grow. Christans were never intended to be alone. We are created for community and to be in relationships with one another. May God bless you as you strive to form your Wesley Group and be the person God has created you to be!
 
In Christ,  
Rev. Dr. Rusty Freeman
SWTC Director of Youth Ministries
 
 

Check out this additional Wesley Group resource:

John Wesley's Holy Club Questions
 
While students at Oxford, John Wesley and a few friends (including his brother, Charles, and George Whitefield) formed a group called "The Holy Club." The purpose was to deepen their faith, and help them to live it day by day. They created the following list of personal reflection questions to be used during their daily private devotions
(Read them in light of Romans 8:1):
 
1. Am I creating the impression that I am better than I am?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words?
3. Do I break confidence -- tell others' secrets?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, habits?
5. Can I be trusted?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did God's Word live in me today?
8. Am I enjoying my prayer time?
9. When was the last time I shared my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I go to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I have an uneasy conscience?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, touchy, irritible, or distrustful?
16. Am I proud?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Do I thank God that I am not like others?
19. Is there anyone I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, disregard or resent?
20. Do I grumble and complain?
21. Is Christ real to me?
 
 
Rev. John Wesley preaching outdoors in England.

Reachingyouth.org / Council on Youth Ministry - The Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church - Council on Youth Ministry, 16400 Huebner Road, San Antonio TX 78248 - 888.349.4191, 210.408.4538 (wk), 210.408.4553 (fax) / rhf143@gmail.com. For general information on the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, a list of our programs and ministries, please visit our annual conference site at www.umcswtx.org.