We believe that church isn't something that happens to us on Sunday mornings. Church is something we are, together, all week long - when we get together with each other and with God.
MiniHubs are spaces where that actually gets lived out.
Your MiniHub isn't just a nice add-on to your spiritual life. It's the place where you grow in friendships and in faith - discovering what it actually means to follow Jesus with other people who are figuring it out too.
Our hope is for everyone to find a MiniHub that feels like home - where your heart and your mind can just be.
“Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through Jesus Christ”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
RECIPE
MiniHubs are following this simple recepie:
Faith journey isn't meant to be walked alone. Faith grows best when we gather together, share our actual lives - not just the highlight reel - and seek God with people who know our name and our story.
Your MiniHub isn't just another meeting in a diary. It's the place where your voice actually gets heard - and listened to by people who care about your answer when they ask how you're really doing.
This is how we grow in faith. Not in isolation, not trying to figure it all out on our own, but in community that's intentional enough to keep showing up and personal enough to matter.
RHYTHM
Here's what we've learned: the really good stuff - deep friendships, faith that actually changes you - doesn't happen overnight. It needs time to breathe, space to grow, room to get real and beautiful.
Those precious connections you're building in your MiniHub - the trust that's developing, the prayers being answered together, the life being shared through different seasons - that's pure gold. And gold doesn't get refined in eight weeks.
We are not naive about what we're asking. Leading a group is no small thing. Life happens. Kids get sick, work gets crazy, energy runs low, seasons change in ways you didn't expect - and we get it.
That is why we want to have check in points every term. Not to guilt-trip you into continuing, not to pile on more expectations. Just to ask how you're doing. Really doing. To explore together what the next season might hold - whether that's continuing to lead, stepping back for a bit, or finding a different way to serve.
And here's the beautiful bit - these check-in points also mean fresh faces can join the MiniHub, and people can explore different MiniHubs if their heart's being drawn somewhere new. Because community grows best when it's both stable and breathing, both committed and open.
We believe that the best communities aren't built in a hurry. They're built with care, patience, and a lot of grace for the journey.
BEGINNING OF TERM
We’d love for you to lead with someone else - there is something beautiful about doing this together. As co-leaders, you might already have some ideas on the group focus and the group rhythm. Or maybe you are starting with a completely blank page. Both are fine! Sometimes the best MiniHubs are the ones that figure themselves out as they go.
Before your MiniHub starts, we do need you at the MiniHubs leaders’ training.
And please, pray for the sign-ups. Not for impressive numbers, but for the right people - those who are longing to belong and brave enough to say yes to something new. Pray that God draws hearts together in beautiful ways.
DURING THE TERM
Meet regularly, share space, share life, share faith. And please, tell us your stories! We love hearing about the moments when God shows up, when friendships deepen, when someone has a breakthrough.
Every MiniHub looks a bit different - some are chatty, some are contemplative, some are active. That’s the beauty of it. You get to decide how yours works. Keep praying for your group - expecially with your co-leader before you meet. Trust that whether you are sharing coffee or getting active or sitting in silence, God is working in all of it.
And remember - one of the MiniHubs team is always there to help if you have questions or concerns.
END OF TERM
Time to pause and breathe. Check in with yourself first. How are you doing? Then check in with your group. Some people might be wanting to explore other MiniHubs, some new faces might want to join. That’s all part of the Hub community life.
Pray about what the next season holds. For your group, for you, for the people who might join or leave. Trust God with the transitions and the changes.
We will send you a feedback form because we genuinely want to know how it’s been for you. And we’d love to gather all the MiniHubs leaders together to share stories, celebrate wins, and encourage each other. Because you’ve been doing kingdom work - and that deserves to be celebrated.
LEADER’S ROLE
MiniHubs leaders are there to help things flow when you are gathered - keeping the kettle on, making sure everyone gets heard, gently steering things back when conversations wander. You are also helping to weave that sense of community that spills out beyond your meetings. You might think you’re just the person who unlocks the door and puts the chairs out. But actually? You’re helping to build the kingdom of God in your corner of the world.
EXPECTATIONS
Here is what we are hoping for from you - and it’s simpler than you might think:
Pray for your MiniHub - especially with your co-leader before you meet
Gather people regularly (weekly or fortnightly works great)
Live out who we are as the Hub Church
Make sure everyone feels welcome and heard
Look for those natural leaders in your group who might step up alongside you
Keep things healthy and positive and let us know if anything feels off (see safeguarding section below)
SUPPORT
At the start of term, we're gathering all our MiniHub leaders together. We will cover the essential bits - our vision, what we are hoping for, those important safeguarding and pastoral things that keep everyone safe.
More importantly, we want to pray for you - and for these groups that are about to launch.
Each MiniHub leader will have a MiniHubs team member for ongoing support. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact them.
TRICKY MOMENTS
Let's be honest - not every week will be magic. Sometimes people clash, sometimes no one talks, sometimes someone dominates the conversation, sometimes life gets messy and spills all over your carefully planned evening. Welcome to real community.
Here is what we want you to remember: you're not a professional counsellor or trained therapist. You're not responsible for fixing everyone's problems or managing every personality. You're just someone who loves people and creates space for God to show up. And that's enough.
When only two people turn up: Don't panic. Some of the most beautiful conversations happen in the smallest groups. God's still there.
When people don't come regularly: Try not to take it personally. Life is complicated - people have work trips, sick kids, elderly parents, mental health struggles, busy seasons. A gentle "missed you last week, hope you're okay" text goes a long way. Some people will be weekly attenders, others will be monthly. Please pray for them - both kinds are valuable to our MiniHubs and the community that we are building.
When someone shares something really heavy: Listen well, pray if it feels right, and let us know. You don't need to have all the answers - sometimes the most healing thing is simply being heard.
When one person talks too much: Gently steer the conversation. "Thanks for sharing that - let's hear from someone else" works wonders.
When the silence feels awkward: It probably feels more awkward to you than anyone else. Sometimes people need time to think, to process, to just be. Don't rush to fill every gap.
When personalities clash: You're not the relationship police. Focus on keeping things respectful and kind, but remember - conflict isn't always bad. Sometimes it's where growth happens.
When you feel completely out of your depth: Text one of the MiniHubs team. You're not supposed to have it all figured out.
Remember, transformation rarely happens in the perfect moments. It happens in the small, faithful, repeated acts of love - even when things get a bit messy.
SAFEGUARDING
We know safeguarding isn't the most exciting topic, but it matters because people matter. We want everyone in your MiniHub to feel safe and cared for.
The basics
You need at least 3 people present for a group to happen, and make sure wherever you're meeting is safe for everyone. Simple as that.
Your role
You are not expected to be a counsellor or solve everyone's problems. But you are the person who notices when something doesn't feel right and passes it on to someone who can help.
This might be something someone says during your gathering, a message in your WhatsApp group, the way someone's acting, or something they tell you privately. If it worries you, even a little bit, let the MiniHubs team leader know. Better to mention something that turns out to be fine than miss something important.
You're not breaking confidence by doing this - you're being responsible and caring.
Please take a look our safeguarding policy.
Raising concerns
If something concerns you, make a note and share it with our safeguarding team as soon as you can. There's a simple safeguarding form that makes this easy.
If you think someone's in immediate danger, call 999. Don't wait to speak to us first.
Even if you're not sure it's a safeguarding issue - it is best to tell us anyway. We would rather know and it be nothing than not know and it be something.
If you ever feel unsafe during a gathering, contact us straight away.
If you feel unsafe at any point during a MiniHub gathering, please contact us as soon as possible.
When life gets heavy
Sometimes people share things that feel too big for a living room conversation. That's okay - it's actually a sign that people trust your group enough to be real. You don't need to carry that weight alone. Let the Hub team know what's going on so we can help and advise. That's what we're here for.
Children and young people
MiniHubs are for everyone, including under-18s, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
If it's a kids-only group, parents need to be there
If it's a church-run kids group without parents, we'll need two DBS-checked leaders
If it's a MiniHub for any age, a child / young person need to come with their parent / guardian
If a child / young person wants to come alone, their parent / guardian needs to ask an adult in the group to be responsible for them. This must be confirmed in advance and the adult should be aware of what is expected of them. This would include:
making sure the child is safe
being responsible in case of an accident or emergency
helping to manage the behaviour of the child
Don't worry - we'll help you navigate all of this if it comes up. Please check out our full safeguarding policy for more details, but remember - when in doubt, just ask us.
As you step into leading your MiniHub, we would like you to know how much we are believing in what God wants to do through our MiniHubs. You are not just organising meetings - you're creating a sacred space where people can breathe, belong, and meet with Jesus in the middle of ordinary life. That's no small thing.
Our prayer for you this term is simple: that you'd have fun. That you'd discover the deep joy of watching people come alive when they are in the presence of God - truly seen and known. That you'd experience the wonder of God showing up in your living room, around your table, in your conversations.
Don't carry the weight of making anything happen. Just be faithful to show up, love the people in front of you, and trust that the Holy Spirit is already at work in ways you can't see.
Some weeks will feel electric with God's presence. Other weeks might feel ordinary, even difficult. Both matter. Both are holy. Because transformation rarely happens in the big moments - it happens in the small, faithful, repeated acts of love. So be gentle with yourselves. Be patient with the process.