As you make your plans for the support group you are considering, keep in mind the different people your small group could serve.

For example:

- Will this group before men, women, adults, and/or teenagers?

- Will your group serve those have recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness, or those who have lived with illness for many years?

- Will the group help seniors who live at home independently as well as seniors who live in assisted living facilities?

- Don’t forget about the many people who live by themselves, plus, those who have large families.

- Will your group be an encouragement for those who depend on an employed caregiver, as well as those who have volunteer caregivers such as family members?

- Will the group serve people who have very limited abilities and are bedridden a great deal of time, as well as those who are able to work full-time outside the home? People’s abilities will vary to the extreme and perhaps change frequently.

- Will there be something beneficial from your group for parents of very young children and those whose children are now in adulthood?

- Do you feel comfortable serving both those who are very financially blessed, as well as those who are living day-to-day on minimum disability assistance?

- Will your groups seek to bring understanding to those who live with illness who are also a caregiver for someone else such as an elderly parent or a child with a mental disability?

- If your chronic illness support group has a Christian base, is anyone welcome?

- Will your group membership be open to anyone at any time, or will you have only certain times of the year that new members can join?

From the list above, you may have noticed that when it comes to describing the lifestyle of those who have a chronic illness, there is no definition of “typical.”

You may find yourself talking with a new mother who was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and despite the fact that she looks fine and has a healthy baby, she is now struggling to take care of her new child while learning about all the demands of this illness and wondering if she will survive the toddler years.

And sitting across the room you may find a woman in her seventies who has only recently discovered that she has a chronic illness and it is quickly changing her lifestyle! She is not one bit happy about going from being an active gal who felt 50 to nearly being home-bound. She is grieving the loss of abilities, especially her independence, especially since up until recently she was still able to drive safely.

Another point worth noting: As the facilitator, you have the ability to decide who you feel most comfortable inviting to your support group, and setting some healthy boundaries. Do not ever put yourself into the position where you feel you are outside of your comfort zone in an unwholesome way. For example, many women tend to lead within only groups since the subject matter can sometimes lead to conversations filled with vulnerabilities and intimacy, and it may not be the place to expose one’s emotions in a group where the divorce rate is already skyrocketing.

You do not have to feel responsible to address every situation for each individual in your group lesson plans. However, a successful facilitator will remember how different the lives are of those who live with chronic illness, often times in extremes.

By understanding not only their history, but also their personality, and how they best hope with their disease, you will have an improved capability to encourage them and find where their strength lay so that they in turn can encourage others.

If you are a small group leader or thinking of starting a group, don’t miss Lisa Copen’s new book, “How to Start a Chronic Illness Small Group Ministry.” Over 300 pages full of steps on how to write a vision statement, promotion and attendance tips to what to do when everyone just vents your whole meeting. You will find hundreds of resources at Rest Ministries .

Tags: 12-steps, chronic illness, congregational care, Diseases and Conditions, education, health, illness, self help, small group, support group, therapy