Relationship Groups

The Foundation of Relationship Groups

When Jesus came down from Heaven to be with His people, He set a beautiful example of what it means to have loving, caring and sacrificial relationships with people. He cared for the whole person: physically, emotionally and spiritually. Although the three essential services of food, access to education and basic health care provided at the Life Centre by the Care Workers are crucial to the survival of the most vulnerable children, these services do not complete the picture of holistic care. We are also called to address the brokenness within, and we do this by building strong relationships between us, and between us and God. When Jesus served, He did not just feed the people or heal them, but instead He built relationships with them through intentional investment into their lives. It is for this reason that Relationship Groups are vital for the restoration of the most vulnerable communities and for the healthy development of the children who we serve.

A key scripture to Relationship Groups comes from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and speaks about the comfort that our Abba Father brings during times of affliction: ‘The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God’. Through this scripture it becomes clear that God brings healing and reconciliation so that we can go and heal others.

Introducing Relationship Groups

It is a sad but common reality that many of the Care Workers, Primary Caregivers and children in our communities have never had the opportunity nor the freedom to share their story in a safe and open environment. When Relationship Groups are introduced into the communities, it is important that we start with the volunteer Care Workers. It is crucial that  they receive healing in order to recognise and help bring healing to the broken children and Primary Caregivers who they serve. When the Care Workers find healing from their own brokenness and trauma, they become catalysts of change, sharing what they have learned with the children who they serve at the Life Centre and the children’s Primary Caregivers. What develops is a culture of healed people helping to heal those who are still broken and hurt. This safe and trustworthy space where people can be heard and prayed for, and where we create a space where Jesus can be known as a Healer, creates a culture of caring for one another.

The result of this new-found freedom and healing has the potential to create a natural domino effect. When people realise that they are not alone in their burdens, they can feel released to invest into others; growing in their bond with their neighbours and in personal spiritual growth.  Relationship Groups are a part of a healthy Life Centre picture in each of the communities in which Hands at Work serves.

Relationship Groups at all Layers of Hands at Work

Relationship Groups are not limited to the communities where Hands at Work serves. It is vital that these groups be lived out within every layer of Hands at Work. These groups take place in the Hands at Work Local Teams’ meetings, in our weekly small groups and among the International Offices in their respective countries. The hope and prayer is that these groups will be places of safety and honesty, where broken people can receive healing and subsequently help in the journey towards healing and transformation of other broken people.

At the core of humanity, no one wants to feel or be alone. As individuals, we have a yearning to belong and be accepted, which has become increasingly evident in the communities where Hands at Work serves. It is not acceptable to allow these communities to struggle with deep wounds of loss, pain and hardship on their own. This idea of deep relationships was displayed by our Father from the beginning of time as Jesus was sent to earth to invest in, bring healing to and transform His people into new creations.  As Hands at Work, we long to participate in the outworking of this Biblical calling by helping to restore healthy relationships within the most vulnerable communities through Relationship Groups. It comes from a desire to help to bring to the most vulnerable God’s unfailing love, acceptance and light in the hope that this deep love will overcome the most lonely, dark and desperate situations.