Checkpoint Steps – Metropolis of Atlanta Strategic Plan

5.2 Newly Married Couple Mentoring

Identifying the Group Leader:

As this ministry is a mentoring program, it would be ideal for a Mentor Couple to be the ministry group leaders. Mentoring Couples are couples who have been married for preferably ten years or longer, have a loving relationship with each other, and are living out the sacraments of our Orthodox faith. However, if it is not possible for a Mentor Couple to lead the group, a newly married couple may act as the ministry team leader. All leaders need approval from the presiding priest.

Group Leader Instructions

The group leader (GL) implements the ministry program and drives the process of communication and event planning.

This includes the following check point steps:

Step 1
Familiarize yourself with the program.
Step 2
Organize a binder by printing out all ministry resource information.
Step 3
Create an email data base of all newly married couples in your church community. This can be done through your church office data base.
Step 4
Compile a list of possible Mentor Couples.

Click here to download “MENTOR COUPLE GUIDELINES”
Step 5
Set up a meeting with the presiding priest for him to approve the potential mentoring couples.
Step 6
Decide on a communication method for participants.

Click here to download “COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURE”

Click here to view the Metropolis of Atlanta Social Media Policy
Step 7
Plan the events of the year, as much as you are able to at this point. The year begins with a Kick off Dinner and ends with a wrap up social event before taking a break for the summer. Each month in between these opening and closing events will have one function. There will be four group discussions, three social events and two sessions with Mentor Couples.

Click here to download “SAMPLE SESSION PLANNING”
Step 8
Decide on a date for Kick off Dinner. This is a fellowship dinner, hosted/planned by the group leader and should take place in August or September. This can be at someone’s home, restaurant, potluck picnic at a park, beach, etc.
Step 9
Create a flyer for the Kick off Dinner to launch the ministry. You may use the sample flyer attached or create your own. A great tool to help you create your own is canva.com.

Click here to download “SAMPLE FLYER”
Step 10
Review Facilitator Guidelines.

Click here to download “FACILITATOR GUIDELINES”
Step 11
Meet with Mentor Couples and go over Mentor Guidelines.

Click here to download “MENTOR COUPLE HANDOUT”
Step 12
At the Kick off Dinner event hand out a short survey. This information will provide feedback about what the group’s overall demographics are. It will also identify what the group would like to accomplish and begin to define what their specific goals or concerns might be. At this dinner, also, review dates, times, locations of all future meetings.

Click here to download “NEWLY MARRIED PARTICIPANT SHORT SURVEY”

DISCUSSIONS AND LEADER’S GUIDE

DOWNLOAD THE STRATEGIC PLAN