Your Questions

Definitely, every participant is required to have a manual to follow. The manual is not simply an outline of the teaching for each session; it includes group questions, reflections at home, and some inventories to be completed. The information can be used for reference after the course. Participants can also use it for their note-taking.

The License Agreement accompanies the Policies and Procedures manual when a program is ordered.   Before commencing any Lifekeys program, the user must sign and return the License Agreement to the Lifekeys office.   Signing this Agreement means that the user will adhere to the Policies & Procedures outlined in the manual and run the Lifekeys programs accordingly. It additionally gives the right to use a program in a public setting.

Six to eight participants is the maximum number we suggest, along with two facilitators per group.   Any more than this number will hinder the opportunity for each member to have adequate time to share.

If it's not a current course listed with a date, have a look at the section called ‘Partners’ that lists churches/organisations that are endorsed by Lifekeys as being regular users of our programs.  You can click on the link and go straight to that church’s website, which should have scheduled the programs on offer for the year.  There is also a section on our website called ‘Program Finder’ where you can search for courses in your local area.  Still need help?  Feel free to call the Lifekeys office to enquire about courses: +61 3 9727 9638.

No, you cannot photocopy any Lifekeys materials unless with the expressed permission from  Lifekeys. We encourage fundraising or sponsorship for those needing financial help. Charging participants to do the courses is the preferred way to fund the cost of manuals. Lifekeys relies on the sale of courses and manuals to maintain financial viability as it has no external means of funding.

You may be surprised who turns out to be a good facilitator.  They don’t have to be able to teach; that’s not their role, but they do need to be able to lead discussions and keep the group working.    Look around your church and invite anyone who cares about, and connects well with people.  It can also help to invite those with a professional or social work background – although this isn’t always a guarantee that a person will facilitate well.   Also, allow people to self-select and enrol for the Small Group Leader & Facilitator Training course, letting them know you will assess their readiness at the end of the training process.

Training potential facilitators is of the utmost importance in preparing them for the role they will exercise in the small group time.  The training will benefit the facilitators by helping them competently and confidently lead a small group.  Not only does the training help the facilitators know how to handle sensitive issues that can arise during group time, but it also gives them the basis for understanding that people need a safe place to share and process their ‘stuff’. The Small Group Leader & Facilitator Training was designed specifically with the Lifekeys model in mind. This training is also applicable for running other kinds of small groups.

Most ordering is done via our Lifekeys website, allowing resources to be purchased and paid for with no fuss or room for error.  The order comes directly to our accounts area and is then forwarded to our warehouse for dispatching.  If you need assistance ordering, please call the Lifekeys office at +61 3 9727 9638.

No.  Mastering Your Money is the only program that can be run without formal training of facilitators, as it requires no group work.  Lifekeys courses can also be used in one-on-one pastoral care. However, this still requires the training to be undertaken. Please refer to individual program requirements.

Yes, before attempting to open the doors of Lifekeys Ministry to people from the wider church or community, the trainee facilitator needs to experience a Lifekeys program as a participant.  This will help to further their growth and give them more experience of the small group time.  Search for Life is our recommended program for the trainee to participate in. We realise start-up churches may not be able to do a program first, so we suggest doing the training, then following this with Search for Life and sharing the facilitating around.

The team members could be a church Pastor, the Lifekeys co-ordinator, a counsellor, a teacher, a doctor, a nurse, and anyone with people-helping skills. Usually, your Planning and Supervision Team need only consist of 3 –5 people, but it would be advisable to have some with professional qualifications if possible.