PODS
The acronym P.O.D.S stands for personal, observation, discovery or discipleship and spiritual growth. Our purpose is to create a place where men can experience the life of Christ through the Word of God and the men of God. Our vision is for men to know and be known; to confront blindness and hiding; to extend grace to others as an experience of the grace of God ( I Peter 4:10-11); to connect heart to heart on our mutual journey to know Christ.
There are three elements of a POD.
- Connection with God through salvation in His Son.
- Connection with your true self by putting off and dealing death to the old person, and second to recognize and live in the new person created in Christ.
- Connection with others who see in you the nature of Christ; are safe confidantes and who rejoice in you as a new man in Christ.
The POD explores and identifies the old in order to put off the old ways that lead to death. It looks beneath the bad to see the good; extends grace; accepts the person; remains calm in the face of personal pain or failure; refreshes the souls of others to follow the impulses of Christ in us and in spite of our weakness we trust in the Spirit to manifest Christ through us.
The POD looks toward glorifying Christ and rests in the conviction that “it is Christ in us the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
How does it function? The POD is led by an individual that has learned to shepherd the process. The process works as all the members involve themselves in the exploration and discovery of another person’s soul. It applies love, grace and forgiveness in the process as an experience of the love, grace and forgiveness of God. This is not a Bible study time per se, although Biblical truth is shared as it is appropriate, it is not psychotherapy as the PODS are led by fellow believers who do not have training in that field.