Trekking Toward Wholeness: A Resource for Care Group Leaders (Paperback)

by Stephen P. Greggo (Author)
Key Phrases: trekking together, intensive group experience, relational adaptability, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Stephen Greggo offers an in-depth exploration of small group leadership from a Christian perspective. Small groups are worth pursuing because they can create a biblically grounded context for corrective healing relationships. Small group leaders engaged in pastoral care, counseling services or spiritual formation will catch a vision for how the core interpersonal process can be instrumental in reshaping character, redeeming relationships and realizing sanctification.

About the Author
Stephen P. Greggo (Psy.D., State University of New York, Albany) is department chair and associate professor of pastoral counseling and psychology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is a licensed psychologist and has a variety of both ministry and counseling experiences. He regularly does workshops and presentations with CAPS, AACC and ETS. He is the author of a number of academic and journal articles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 293 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (October 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830828249
• ISBN-13: 978-0830828241
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #929,095 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Small Group Journey, January 4, 2009

By	Robert W. Kellemen "Doc. K." (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Too often church-based small groups have taken on so much of the world's self-orientation that it is hard to recognize what is distinctively Christian about them. Dr. Stephen Greggo, with the release of "Trekking toward Wholeness," puts an abrupt stop to this intrusion of secular thinking into Christian group life. Writing with a theological foundation and a biblically relevant relational focus, Greggo, as the book's subtitle suggests, provides a "don't miss" resource for care group leaders.

Using the biblical imagery of the spiritual life as a journey (a trek), Greggo guides small group leaders through the four core hallmarks of group spiritual direction: vision (determining the groups purpose), caring (meeting needs by managing community), affect/attachment (nurturing intimacy in relationships), and finding meaning (union with God, fellowship with Christians, and service to the world). At each landmark on the journey, Greggo equips group leaders through biblical exegesis, historical narratives, relevant research, moving parables, group "visits," and practical principles.

"Trekking toward Wholenesss" sees Christian small groups as an essential component for stimulating spiritual growth which Greggo defines as "wholeness." In his able, biblical hands, wholeness becomes not a self-orientation but a God/other focus. Readers learn how to ignite relationships through "the Word in community"--as equipped small group leaders model and direct the entire group to speak the truth in love.

These leader-guided spiritual formation groups, as Greggo aptly explains, follow not only the biblical principle of true fellowship, but also the long church history tradition of small communities meeting together for spiritual growth through transparent relationships. Professors, students, pastors, and committed lay leaders will all be stretched by the seasoned guidance of Dr. Greggo. As a professor who teaches a seminary class in small groups, I know that "Trekking toward Wholeness" will be a required text for all my students.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering," "Soul Physicians," and "Spiritual Friends."