Qualifications and Process
The qualifications for a person starting a Q Place really sound more like character qualities and good practices. Facilitating a Q Place is best done by someone who already knows God as revealed in the Bible, but is not the “teaching type.”
The ideal person is willing to learn how to listen well, ask good questions, and create an atmosphere where everyone feels respected and valued in the learning process. This person understands the Q Place guidelines and recognizes their value in facilitating a group discussion . The person should be willing to work with two other Initiators and together they will help each other stay on track and cultivate a supportive environment in the group.
Individuals who want to become Initiators should plan on giving two to three hours each week to this activity, which includes the time to facilitate a Q Place (if you meet weekly) and to receive training and support (an extra hour on average per week).
It’s helpful to think of starting a Q Place as a four-stage process.
The process itself isn’t as much about gaining information as it is about growing and developing the spiritual conversation practices that will enable you to facilitate fascinating, life-changing conversations. The book How to Start a Q Place is designed to help you walk through this process with a group of 8-10 others who are also interested in starting Q Places. (We call these Turbo Groups.)
So, to get started, we recommend that you purchase How to Start a Q Place, available in our web store , and then find several others to go through the book with you for six weeks in a Turbo Group. Over the course of six weeks, Turbo Group participants experience the Inductive learning approach and great discussions firsthand as they work through their own questions and fears and practice the principles that will help them facilitate a Q Place.
There may be a Turbo Group led by a Q Place catalyst in your area. Q Place is setting up a network of Equipping Centers in major cities throughout the U.S. These Equipping Centers help Turbo Groups to form, provide ongoing support, and can guide you through the process of starting a Q Place.
There are also telephone Turbo Groups. Let us know if you would like to join one!
In the meantime, learn more about the Four-Stage Process beginning with Stage 1: Preparation.
