Many people have been wondering how our KYB groups can continue to meet and study God’s word together in these extraordinary times!
In our upcoming study Gospel and growth: Acts 1–12 finds the Apostles and other believers shut in together in an upstairs room — perhaps like many of us today, keeping to our homes. It does not seem a promising start for the church … except for Jesus’ promise to fill them with the Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit comes, this relatively small group of believers are empowered and go on to spread the good news about Jesus throughout the whole world — reaching even to us today!
Small numbers and isolation have never stopped God before. He works through his Spirit in all circumstances! So, what options has God provided for us in this time?
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
CWCI Australia would love to encourage all KYBers to “have a go” at new technologies — and it’s okay if there’s a learning curve and some laughter along the way! Perseverance brings wonderful rewards!
We’ve created articles about some different resources you could use here: check out the links below. And if you have a story about how your KYB group is using Zoom, comment below or send us a message — we’d love to hear how you are going!
A very popular video conferencing software!
Suggestions on how to use Facebook to facilitate a KYB group!
Some other options you might like to explore!
We have heard of different groups using some other approaches as well.
Some KYB groups have been using the well-known Skype app for distance calling as a group.
Some KYB Leaders have been using telephone conferences — or even calling each group member by phone to discuss that week’s questions. A good option when computers and internet may not be so accessible!
Others have been using email threads to discuss different points.
Idea: Even though there are many technological advancements, traditional forms of communication like a hand-written letter have also seen a resurgence in this time. Feel free to think outside the box — or the screen, as the case may be!
We encourage each group to try out technologies to facilitate fellowship, to persevere, have plenty of grace and see what works for your group’s members. Praise God for the many resources we have to continue in different ways in this time!
What is your group doing? Share in the comments below!
Zoom has been the way for our group. For those who have been able to join us – generally around 10 or so – the exploration of God’s Word and the resulting discussion have been as thought-provoking and lively as ever. If COVID-19 restrictions make it difficult for us to meet during Term 3, we’re praying that we’ll be able to provide a way for those who haven’t been part of the group in Term 2 to meet with us again.
Hi Dianne, thanks for sharing your group’s experience! So encouraging to hear how you have been flourishing despite restrictions, and wonderful to be looking ahead. It is our prayer too that God will open up ways to enable fellowship with those who haven’t been able to join in on digital platforms! ❤️
Our group here on the Sunshine Coast has been meeting on Zoom for several weeks now. It’s a big group of 17 and we meet in the evenings so Zoom is working well for most of us. A few of the group are not too good with technology so now restrictions are easing the assistant leader has started a small morning group for them to meet and go through the studies. We will probably eventually all get back together but for now it means that everyone is enjoying KYB in the way that suits them best.
Hi Robyn, thanks so much for sharing your group’s experience! That’s so encouraging to hear how your group has adapted and catered everyone’s technology abilities while still keeping safe! ❤️
Our group tried the free Zoom and it worked well for 2 weeks, then this week we were thrown off after 40minutes, so we have paid for the next month and hopefully will manage a whole lesson and some prayer time. One of our senior ladies in a care home had never owned a computer, but with family help has one now and joined us this week! It is wonderful to see each other! The Acts study is so exciting!
Hi Betty, thanks for sharing your experience! It’s encouraging to hear how people have been adapting and learning new skills in these times. Praying your group continues to be abundantly blessed by the Gospel and growth KYB study! ❤️
Our KYB group leader is being creative and using What’s App to ask us the questions – one per day! This keeps us feeling connected and we are slowly moving through the studies. Our leader also occasionally makes a video call to several of us at a time using What’s App and this helps us keep in touch too. I appreciate her commitment to contacting us each day. love from Jenny Nixon
Hi Jenny, what a great idea to keep engaged with God’s word and each other every day! ❤️
As I’m the youngest in our group, 70 years old, we’re not technology minded. Therefore we are doing the following. Each week we still do the weekly study, then are asked to email, text or phone our leader by each Monday evening, then she collates them and, with a leaders summary of the lesson, emails us in time for what would have been our meeting time on a Tuesday morning. The questions we answer last each week are “What did I learn from this study?” or “What challenged you?” or “What spoke to you/drew your attention?” By doing this we are reading feedback from each member of our group so, to a certain extend, we’re still connecting, even though at a distance in each of our own homes.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your experiences of adapting KYB in these times! It’s wonderful to hear how your group has been using different strategies to keep encouraging each other and learning from God’s word together. We are so thankful to God for how our KYB leaders have stepped up to the challenge and are leading their groups through these times! ❤️
Our group at New Life Baptist Jewells is comprised of elderly non technology
minded ladies in their mid 70’s to mid 80’s.
Some do not own a mobile phone let alone a computer. As a group, we have decided not
to hold our studies until we can meet again in person. We all stay in contact with each other weekly and sometimes more. We are looking forward to the time we can meet again.
Hi Lynne, thanks for sharing about your group’s situation. We’re sorry to hear that the restrictions mean you won’t be able to hold the studies for the time being, but glad to hear you are all still keeping in contact. These times have certainly brought the Apostle John’s words to life in a new way!
“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:12).
We are all looking forward to this with you! 🙂
hi there
Our group has been connecting on zoom for a few weeks already just to catch up and encourage and pray for one another and we started Unit 1 this week in Acts. So encouraged already and also encouraged the ladies to re read Luke 24 and Acts 1 together for their homework this week 🙂
We had two of our ladies on zoom this week and the rest of us were able to physically meet together as the teachers and teacher aides are back here at the college so it was great to be able to all meet together in two different ways along with Zoom this week.
Hi Libby, that’s wonderful that your group has been able to keep in touch like this for the last few weeks and has already started on our Acts study! How special to be able to have some face-to-face contact as well 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Our group has been using teleconferencing. Firstly, just by conference calling (I called them on my mobile and added them into the conference call) and then we’ve used freeconferencecalls.com the last couple of weeks. This coming week, we’re going to trial Zoom as we’re missing seeing each other!
Hi Sharon, thanks for sharing! Wow, your group has certainly been experimenting! We’d love to hear how you find your experience with Zoom! 🙂
The first 2 weeks we tried to meet via technology we used Skype but it wasn’t too successful for one lady. Another lady had come here for the first week but then went to her daughter’s farm so she wouldn’t have to be home alone with none of her usual activities. She has Zoom on her computer so while she didn’t join last week the other 4 of us used Zoom and that seemed to work well. Hopefully when we start the Acts study next week we will be more familiar with it and not all try talking at once.
Hi Steph, we’re so glad to hear your group persevered and found a good solution! Yes, there can be a bit of a learning curve! Thanks for sharing — we’d love to hear how you go with Gospel and growth: Acts 1–12 🙂
Our group is using Zoom! We accessed it for the last couple of units in Genesis: found it to be an excellent tool and so are continuing!
One of our ladies does not have a computer or smart phone, but she receives the ‘link’ to hook in on her landline…..so in ‘her little square on the screen’, we see an image of a phone! We have a great time, catching up with each other, doing our study as we normally would, and then share in a prayer time. We can really praise God for all this technology that is available for us to access in order for our KYB groups to use.
Hi Helen, thanks for sharing! We’re so glad to hear that Zoom is working so well for your group! That’s a great solution with the landline linking in 🙂 Praise God!
Our group is also using telephone conferencing since several do not have access to computers or tablets. There are 6 of us spread over 3 homes. We finished the Genesis Study this way and have done the Intro and Unit One of Acts. It’s working very well and as most of us have been together for many years there was no way we were going to let a ‘change of how to…” to put us off. The discussion may be slightly different but we know the blessing that comes both from the ‘together’ study of God’s Word – and persistence.
Thanks for sharing Linda! This technology is such a blessing and perseverance certainly pays off! So encouraging to hear how your group is going! 🙂
Our group is connected through Zoom and it is a wonderful time. This week Zoom would not allow two of us in despite all efforts.Creativity was called for and our leader contacted us both through FaceTime then placed her phone in front of her computer screen so the group could see and hear us and we them. It wasn’t perfect but it worked.
A test run the next morning went well with the problem cleared. “With God all things are possible.”
That’s wonderful creativity! But praise God the issues could be sorted out 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
For our group where internet is slow and with home supported learning this became an even bigger issue. Telephone conferencing was the way forward. I t allowed for those who life in mobile black spots to use their landline. We are fortunate that the group had already bonded last term with new members so as a group telephone conferencing is the best platform to use. One member is too unwell at present to use this so one of the group has buddied with her and phones her at the best time of the day doing the study in manageable time slots. This is something for us to remember when we all physically meet so that if she is still unwell to join us she doesn’t need to pull out altogether.
Hi Sue, thank you for sharing your group’s experience! That’s wonderful your group was able to welcome and bond with new members last term! We’re sorry to hear about the lady’s illness and praying for healing, but we’re also praising God that you’ve found a way to continue meeting together — and even adapt for the future to include members facing health challenges. So much to learn from this time!