Leadership Tips & Training Changes Bring Challenges...

Answers to Some of Your Questions

The new materials have brought excitement, renewed interest and motivation to First Place leaders and members. However, with this excitement comes new challenges and questions. I will seek to answer some of the common questions I have been asked over this last month. I pray that these answers will help you as you lead others in seeking Christ First.

Personal Weight Record – This form, which was in each of the former Bible studies, was mistakenly left out of our new materials. Members need this form to record their beginning measurements, weekly weight and weight loss. I suggest three options for dealing with this need:

1. Have members record this information on the inside cover of their Bible study book.
2. Create a weight record of your own and make copies for each member.
3. Download and print out the Personal Weight Record (PDF 12K).

Prayer Partner Request Form – This form, found in the Leader guide, page 90, is a tool to help members encourage and pray for one another. Leaders are given permission to copy this page containing two request forms each and distribute the forms to members at the beginning of each class. Then, members are asked to complete the form, including their prayer request. At the end of class the members put their form in a basket and then draw another member’s form out of the basket. This enables members to express a personal request in writing and be assured that someone will be praying for them that week. Also, the member is asked to contact that person during the week for encouragement.

Wellness Worksheets – The essential Wellness Worksheets can be found in the member guide. There are additional Wellness Worksheets found in each Bible study. Giving Christ First Place has six Wellness Worksheets. These are informative and most are intended to be interactive. In other words, the member will work through the worksheet responding to questions that will help them develop a plan for implementing this information into their lives. Since the member guide is intended to be a permanent piece, many people will not want to write in it. Some options that will solve this challenge are:

• Ask members to write on Wellness Worksheets with pencil. This will allow members to erase their answers if they ever go back through that worksheet.
• Ask members to write answers for the Wellness Worksheets in their prayer journal or on separate sheets of paper.

FYI: In the leader guide, page 42, beside the letter d, it says to "Distribute" the Wellness Worksheets. This is an error. Please "Assign" the Wellness Worksheets. You would not need to distribute these worksheets, because they already have them in their Member Guide.

Mixing the Old with the New – As members, transition from the old materials to the new, challenges will arise. Some members who had purchased the old materials shortly before the new materials were released may feel they are financially unable to purchase the new materials. Therefore, you may be leading a class where half of your members have the new and half still have the old. All members should have the same new Bible study, which will help with the Bible study discussion and commitment record completion. I encourage leaders to use the new leader materials and share verbally any new information you feel will benefit those without the new materials. You can also locate any handout from the old member manual that may be similar to a wellness worksheet and assign that as an alternative "At Home Assignment" for those who do not have the new materials. Flexibility is the key word for a leader during this transition times. Be creative and resourceful as you try to meet the needs of all members in your class.

Copying of Materials – Please read very carefully the second page in the member guide and leader guide. These pages state very plainly what may and may not be copied LEGALLY. The bottom line is, ONLY the pages with the following notation can be legally reproduced: Permission to photocopy granted. Many of us feel badly that some of our members do not have the new materials and want to help them anyway we can. However, copying pages that have not been expressly permitted by Gospel Light is illegal. Also, we are doing a disservice to those who have invested in the new materials. Let’s all work together with the utmost integrity to provide each member with the information they need to develop a healthy lifestyle.

I want to express my deep appreciation to all First Place leaders and the support they have given the First Place staff during this transition. This month I have been meditating on 1 Peter 3:8, 9 and want to exhort you with the last phrase of that scripture, " . . .but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing." Thank you for the blessings you have extended to us. I pray you will be a blessing to your First Place members and as a result inherit the blessing of God on your life.

Nancy Taylor
Leadership Training Director



Nancy Taylor is the First Place Leadership Training Director and joined the First Place staff in 1997. Nancy teaches leadership principles to First Place Leaders throughout the country and at Houston's First Baptist Church where she coordinates all the First Place groups. Nancy also speaks at First Place workshops, rallies, retreats, and conferences, where she delights her audiences with humor and encourages them with boldness. She writes a monthly article, which includes helpful tips for leaders, for the First Place E-newsletter, and was a contributing writer to the Today is the First Day devotional book. Nancy is the resident First Place Bible Concordance because of her love for Scripture memory.