Our Spiritual Life Gatherings and Life Anew Recovery Circles are more "Native" in style, in that they are "open-style".  By this we mean "open" to every member participation.  Western Christianity and churches usually conduct their gatherings in a speaker-audience style, with a more performance-oriented arrangement.  There is little room for spontaneous participation by "layman" in this style. Involvement is limited to congregational singing and responsive readings or prayers, but usually no opportunity for interaction or dialogue is provided. 

 

"Open-style" or "open-church style" seeks to make many opportunities for participation and interaction, questions and answers, multiple "speakers", and interactive, conversational praying.  While leadership prepares in prayer and Scriptures for guiding meetings, there is more of a dialogue approach to topics introduced, with a willingness for participants' needs, concerns or questions to give direction to the meeting content.  This actually requires greater spiritual preparation for leaders and an openness to God's guidance, more than would be required for a more structured, planned agenda.  It also promotes an awareness of God's presence and desire for His guidance, a growth in ministry sensitivity and responsibility, and a greater sense of mutually-interactive community encouraging use of each one's "gifts".  We have found this style of meeting to greatly enhance individual growth, as well as that of the whole community, in pursuit of the goal of becoming a healing community and a loving, caring "family".