FAQs
Moving On After Moving In Class Leaders from around the world have an opportunity to ask questions about leading a Moving On After Moving In class. Email your question to joannsmith@justmoved.org.
How can I keep my class focused on moving issues?
When women start sharing issues that don’t relate to the subject of moving, I always encourage them to try and keep the ‘focus’ on the effects of moving. As a leader, I know that keeping the focus on moving can be challenging. Sometimes I have to redirect the sharing time, otherwise it can go off into many directions and go beyond what we are equipped to handle. I don’t hesitate to refer women to our counseling ministry. Of course we will pray for all areas of their life, but we can’t take on the diverse counseling needs that go beyond our prayers for them. We don’t expect you to take the material beyond the adjustment and transition of moving and beyond your comfort zone.
How can I gently handle our “class talker”?
A couple of suggestions here. When you open up the group for conversation, make eye contact with other class members and call on someone else. If she starts talking “without ceasing”, quickly say during a pause in conversation “let’s pray about that right now”…which puts you back in control. Pray on it and move ahead. If you are still having problems, say something like “You know, this is something I really would like to hear more about. Let’s you and I talk about it after class.”
How do I handle Lesson 9 with a single woman in my class?
When teaching a group you will always have women with different life experience and backgrounds. At the beginning of the class I usually say something like “I am aware and sensitive to the fact that we are talking about marriage and there are those of you who are single, widowed, or divorced. So please take the content of today’s lesson and apply it to a relationship in your life…such as a person at work, a family member or a friend. The principles apply to any relationship.” A statement like that allows you to be inclusive and sensitive to those not married and yet able to speak to your greater audience.
How do you get your participants to open up with each other?
Classes vary from one session to the next and you may find yourself leading a group of women who are having a difficult time opening up and trusting each other with their struggles, fears and even their joys.
There is no better way to create an oasis of acceptance, refreshment, and caring than by your own willingness to be vulnerable and to share from your heart. Openness and honesty usually occur to the degree that you, as the leader, are willing to be open and honest. If the women sense that you trust them with your story, they will trust you with their own. Be sure to step away from the book from time to time, don’t let the women bury their noses in their workbooks, wait patiently for a response to your questions (silence is hard, but it’s OK!), and be sure to lavish hugs and a listening ear to every woman who crosses the threshold of your classroom. Above all, be sure to pray for each woman and pray that God would knit the hearts of these women together to form a bond that will strengthen and untie them in lasting friendships.
Can I copy the pink pages out of my Leader’s Manual to distribute to class participants as they view the DVD series? We felt like requiring a workbook would make the cost to our newcomers too high.
I’m sure you understand that much planning has gone into the writing of our materials to benefit both the leader and the newcomers. The Newcomer’s Workbook is a great accompaniment to the teaching in a “Moving On After Moving In” class. It is designed for the purpose of each woman having her own self-contained workbook as she follows along with each teaching session and fills in the answers. Once completed, a woman can always go back and refer to her notes on the lessons and be reminded of the principles from the class.
The pink pages in your Leader’s Manual that contain the answers to the questions in the workbook were designed for the leader to have easy accessibility and reference to the participants’ workbook. Our material is protected by copyright laws which prohibit someone from copying the pink pages and using them instead of the workbook itself. Therefore, we are not able to accommodate your request to copy the pink pages for distribution to your class members.
Here are a few options to consider: Many of our churches charge a ‘class registration fee’ which covers the cost of both the book and the workbook and some churches even underwrite part of the cost and consider it part of their church outreach. You could have a workbook on display and give the newcomers the option of purchasing a workbook. If workbooks aren’t being used, the women can use a blank journal for their weekly notes.
There are 13 sessions and we do not have 13 weeks to teach. What sessions do you recommend that can be combined?
If you are teaching the class: Sessions 5 and 6, Sessions 7 and 8, and Sessions 11 and 12.
If you are using the DVD-Teaching Series: Session 3 and 4, Sessions 11 and 12
Should I offer the Moving On class if fewer than 5 sign up…?
Yes! Some of the greatest experiences our leaders have are with a very small group – even one-on-one! The small size can make possible a depth of sharing and a connection that may not be as possible in a larger group. Don’t be discouraged if only one, two, or three sign up for your class. God has great things in store for each woman and for YOU!
Tamyra Ruzicka, a former class leader in California, sent this letter describing her experience leading one woman through the Moving On Bible study…
Dear Susan,
I just got off the phone from one of my friends in Modesto, CA. Then yesterday I got a sweet text from another lady. These ladies are now dear friends of mine that I had the privilege of taking through the Moving On After Moving In class a couple of years ago.
I just wanted to share the experience of having a small class size. I figured if a gal had the courage to sign up for the class then they deserved to go through the material no matter how many signed up. That was the best decision of my life. Not only did it minister to them, it ministered to me beyond my expectations. I had a precious experience with each class I did, no matter how many showed up.
One particular semester, only one gal signed up. Instead of cancelling the class, I decided to have her over for tea each Thursday morning to go through the material. So we met faithfully for each session on my couch. Vikki is now one of my closest friends. We couldn’t wait for Thursdays to arrive; it was life changing for both of us.
Camille signed up for the class along with three others. Unfortunately one of them dropped out so we were down to just three. It turned out to be a precious time with deep sharing and important healing for these gals.
Modesto was not a place for large Moving On classes. However, I had the privilege of sharing Jesus’ love in a quiet, intimate setting with each lady that came through. Friendships grew and hearts healed within the tiny classes.
I have since moved away from Modesto, but I cherish my time with the women I met through Just Moved, particularly since Vikki and Camille remain as close friends.
Feeling blessed,
Tamyra Ruzicka
