Welcome
There are times when we can feel overwhelmed by the cares and anxieties that mark our lives in the twenty first century. Sharing the Oriya translation of the Handbook in India
Many long for a place of safety and peace, a place where others are interested and listen to what they have to say, and where they can find renewed hope.
Through the Groups of Hope Program, eight simple hour-long sessions, 10 to 12 people come together with two facilitators to listen to a Bible story, to look at how it relates to their lives and situations, and to discover a place where they are accepted and can be themselves.
God wants us to experience His peace and joy and to find His hope when it feels like things are going wrong.
The Groups of Hope format allows each person to respond to the message of hope in their own way and to know that they will not be judged.
About Us
Our Purpose
We offer women and men in a small group setting the opportunity to find renewed hope in the face of depression and pain.
Our Core Values
Guided by the word of God and em-powered by the Holy Spirit, we will seek to reflect and serve Christ. In pursuit of our purpose, we are committed to:
- Being Spirit-led
- Being Biblically-based
- Being inclusive
- Encouraging collaborative learning
- Looking for solutions
What is the Groups of Hope Program?
The Groups of Hope is an eight week program that encourages the participants, in small groups of 10 to 12, to begin to trust each other and to rediscover the reality of God walking with us through difficult times. The program, developed in 2003, is based on the principles of brief solution-focused therapy.
The program was created by a psychiatric nurse with many years experience in group and individual therapy. Within the hour long sessions, participants are encouraged to find a new way to view their life through relating what they have learned from the Bible to their personal journey.
The Groups of Hope is a program that can be facilitated by individuals without previous group leadership experience, by following the simple format for each session. The Handbook offers suggestions for challenges one might meet, and is used by the facilitators, not by the participants.
It has been used with success in churches and communities with both women and men.
Faith's Bio
About Faith
Faith Autumn Holwyn is a retired psychiatric nurse, a mother of four adult children and grandmother of 6. When she developed the Groups of Hope Program in 2003, it was because she had experienced inner healing for painful events in her own life – abuse as a child and the end of her twenty three year marriage – and she wanted to share with others that God walks with us in the difficult times in our lives.
Mentoring the Groups of Hope both in Canada and internationally, has been a rich experience – learning new cultures and meeting new friends, with a deepening sense of the wonderful way God brings healing and hope to individuals who are feeling marginalized, forgotten or who need to rediscover hope.
Over the past thirteen years, Faith has mentored the program in Colombia, Bolivia, Kenya, South Africa, India and across Canada in many churches as well as in First Nation communities. In 2015 Faith retired, after ten years with Canadian Baptist Ministries. The Groups of Hope Program is now independent as the ministry continues to spread to other countries.
Story of the Logo
The Logo for The Groups of Hope Program was created by a graphic artist from Armenia, Colombia.
The circle represents the hope-filled circle achieved when those who participate in the program come together.
Within that circle, they learn to trust others and to feel valued.
The symbol in the center of the circle represents:
- a fountain of life and hope springing from the group circle and from God
- the life that comes through the Holy Spirit
- a person standing tall with courage to face the world, not alone, because there is another by her side
- a bird about to burst into song, filled with the joy that comes with renewed hope
- the petals of a flower opening up to the light.
Everyone who participates in the Groups of Hope is is invited to experience hope, through improved self-esteem and through the sure sense that God is walking with her/him in difficult times.
Handbook
The Programs
Walking with Godin Difficult Times
Hearing God's Callto a Closer Relationship
Each Item: $25.00+$5.00 shipping and handling($30.00 CAN$)
To order, contact faith@groupsofhope.ca
The Sessions
The eight one hour sessions are outlined in the Handbook- WALKING WITH GOD IN DIFFICULT TIMES. It is written in an easy to understand format that includes suggestion for leadership of the group. The Handbook is available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Oriya, Telugu, Kiswahili, Ukrainian and Russian. It can be ordered from the author by completing the order form. Please indicate what language.
A second series of eight sessions was published in 2015 in response to many requests for further material for the groups that had completed the first eight sessions. It is entitled: HEARING GOD’S CALL TO A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP. It too is available by downloading the order form. Each of the sessions in both of the series are independent of each other, although a sense of trust between group members builds as participants attend the full eight sessions.
A pdf of each of the Handbooks is available by contacting the author. Permission is granted to copy and print the material for use in Christian ministry or to conduct the sessions of the Groups of Hope.
Contact Us
Faith Holwyn,
The Groups of Hope
410-601 Finch Ave. W.,
Toronto, Ontario
M2R 1N9
Telephone: 416-805-7529
Email: faith@groupsofhope.ca
I invite you to be in touch with me with any questions or comments about the program. If you have found it helpful in your ministry, please let me know!
If it would be helpful to have a pdf of the Handbooks, you are welcome to contact me.
I believe this program was birthed by the Holy Spirit, who inspired me to write and develop it. Realizing this, I am happy to share it with others and my prayer is that God will continue to bring His healing and hope to many around the world.
Donations
The Groups of Hope does not have charitable status so we cannot issue income tax receipts. Any donations are gratefully received for the ongoing expenses of mentoring the program.
Cheques payable to The Groups of Hope
can be mailed to
410-601 Finch Ave. W., Toronto, ON M2R 1N9
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