Growing Healthy Corps

Most of our blog followers would be aware that our Corps is a part of the Growing Healthy Corps network. This was established in South Australia at the start of 2006. It is a network that enables Corps leaders to be trained in leadership and Corps health, provides bi-annual training for our senior leaders and allows Corps the opportunity for consultations with church teams who can guide us (as with the visit of Rev Dr Paul Borden to our Corps in 2007).

Some may wonder what we do each month when we meet. Yesterday was the monthly GHC cluster for Corps Officers.

The day started with devotions and prayer, usually led by one of the cluster - in this case Major Peter Walker from Arndale. We then review a book that we have read during the month and work out how to apply the reading to our Corps situation - in this case it was "Biblical Church Growth" by Gary McIntosh. It's a great read based on the materials taught over many years by Dr McGavran at Fuller Seminary in California.

After a break we then do some leadership training. Because of the number of conferences that have occured lately, this months training was in the form of reports from each of the delegates. Angela spoke about Brengle. Major Paul Beeson (Golden Grove Corps) spoke to us about why men aren't in church. Major Wendy Hateley (Ingle Farm C0rps) reported on the Healthy Corps Supercluster held in Melbourne. Peter Walker reported on the recent consultation that was held at their Corps at Arndale. Cadet Claire Merrett (Arndale) spoke about the youth leadership training being held in the Division at the moment.

At lunch time we would usually look at some of the Experiencing God material that our Corps is journeying through at the moment, also. However yesterday we ran out of time! After lunch is a time where the Corps leaders pray with each other. It's a great time of support for each other, and those that recieve the Corps prayer newsletter would often have seen some of the specific prayer requests that have come out of this time together.