The role of an Associate

The role of an Open Heaven Associate

The Associate’s role is crucial to the ongoing development of healthy cells. Your job is one of quality control both with the cell and its leaders. You have a very important role. Without the input of an associate it is our experience that a cell can very easily plateau or go off course and become ineffective. As your view is from outside the group, you will be able to see things more objectively and clearly than those involved. From your unique position and through God’s insight, you will be able to bring encouragement, wisdom and direction that will support the cell leader in their role and see the cell reach its full potential.

The following is an outline of the areas you should be involved in as an Associate:

Support and accountability.

You role is to be the cell’s number one fan. You're there to encourage and bring challenge to the cell leader. You’re there to bring accountability to the cell leader, to ensure the cell is being built around the core cell values. 

Therefore the role of associate is to:

• Get to know the cell Leader - Invite them for dinner etc.
• Clarify expectations of both the cell leader and associate
• Pray for the cell and the cell leader
• Take the initiative and be in regular contact finding out how the cell and cell leader is, don’t leave it just to them. (every 2/3 weeks).
• Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions (use the cell life audits and meeting review forms).
• Visit the cell at least once a term (Make sure everyone in cell knows who you are and your role)
• Meet up to review the cell that was visited, give honest feedback (use the cell meeting review form and cell audit)

Pastoral Responsibility

Part of the associate’s role is to provide pastoral support for the cell leader and cell members.

Therefore the role of associate is to:

• Be available to the cell leader - and members if necessary - for any issues that come up which the cell leader is struggling to deal with.
• You are by no means expected to have the experience or expertise to be able deal with every pastoral issue. So if you feel you are out of your depth please get in touch with your associate cluster leader.

Cell development and multiplication

Your role is to stop a cell settling but to see it reach its full potential.

Therefore the role of associate is to:

• Encourage your cell leader and assistant cell leader to be on School of Leadership. (We really want to see all cell leaders on this)
• Help cell leaders identify what stage their cell is at in the cell cycle (see hand out) and how to move on.
• Help identify and develop new leaders
• Guide the cell through multiplying i.e. timing, new cell mixes, launching new cells etc.
• Induct new cells leaders using the Cell Leaders Pack (available from the Resource centre).