Care

We believe that care is a part of discipleship and that discipleship happens best in the context of community. At Citizens Church, much of the care offered takes place in Home Groups, Recovery Groups, and Steps, with each providing a different type of care.

As those plagued by sin and its effects, we pursue spiritual health through gospel-centered community. We receive the nutrients necessary for spiritual growth, even in difficult times, by being immersed in this community, receiving direction from God’s word, living in the presence of the Great Physician and practicing the basic principles of spiritual formation that keep us healthy. To better understand the umbrella of care at Citizens Church and the synergistic relationship between groups, we might compare it to the generalized, specialized, intensive, and supplemental care offered by our healthcare system.

Recovery Groups provide specialized care through issue-specific small groups. If one day you are diagnosed with cancer, you are likely going to seek out a specialist. You would continue receiving generalized care, but would need additional expertise in addressing the problem. Recovery provides biblical counsel in the context of biblical community offering the opportunity to connect relationally, understand problems biblically, apply the gospel specifically and walk in wisdom and accountability. Recovery includes large group teaching, prayer, testimonies of lives changed by the gospel and small groups. We all have times in our lives that we need additional support from those who have come through similar difficulties and can receive help and hope. Recovery meets weekly on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30 pm.

Steps provides intensive care that helps us get traction in our relationship with God and offers robust structure and accountability. It is intensive for two reasons. First, it requires a considerable commitment (7 hours/week) and second, it addresses the underlying issues of our lives that we tend to want to avoid. Steps helps us uproot unfruitful patterns of coping, address unresolved baggage from our past, and practice basic principles of spiritual formation that keep us growing in maturity. Steps consists of weekly teaching, small groups, one-on-one mentoring, and homework (daily Bible study and assessments). Steps is offered each Spring, Summer and Fall.

Periodically, we offer closed-care groups that provide an additional level of specialized care. Examples of these types of groups might include marriage, sexual struggles, grief, trauma, infertility, post-abortion, foster to adoption. If you have an interest in participating or leading one of these types of groups please email us.

There are times of crisis that may require the direct oversight, care and direction of the elders, pastors and ministers for our members. Some of these instances might include infidelity, abuse, toxicity in relationships, life-threatening illness, or mental health crises. If you are in need of the direct oversight of the elders, to be prayed for and for a plan of care to be developed, please let us know by emailing Care.