How do Soulation small groups work?
All Soulation small group study material is hosted in a private online classroom within the Soulation Community. This means that all study participants will receive a free Basic Membership to the Soulation Community for the duration of the small group study! Not only is the study material accessible anytime, anywhere from an electronic device, but you also get a firsthand experience of the Soulation Community. When you’re not working through the study material, take some time to join the discussion in the Live Feed, browse archived sermons in the Media Center, and read Dale and Jonalyn’s weekly blog “Living Human.”
The online classroom is only available to participants in your study. An outline of lessons and instructions for navigating the classroom are provided at the beginning. Videos, reading assignments, and discussion prompts are made available through Lesson Posts in the News feed of each classroom.
What is the cost of small group studies?
Cost is dependent on the specific study and the number of people participating. Please see the study page in the Soulation Store for an accurate price breakdown. The cost listed covers lesson plans (including online readings, videos, discussion questions), access to the Soulation Community, and a final live video Q&A session with Dale or Jonalyn for groups of 6 or more. Some studies require textbooks that are sold separately and will incur additional costs for the group/individual participants.
How does payment work?
Once you’ve submitted the Study Request Form with your group’s details, we’ll send you a link to payment. We can accommodate individual payments for each participant or a single payment for the whole group by credit card or eCheck. Payment options can be discussed after the Study Request Form has been submitted/received. Payment is required before access to the Community and the classroom is granted.
When can my small group begin the study?
You can choose your start date when you submit the Study Request Form. Because we host all material in a private online classroom in the Soulation Community, please allow 2-3 business days after submitting payment for us to prepare the classroom for you.
What information does Soulation need to setup the classroom?
After payment is received, we will begin setting up your classroom. Please allow 2-3 business days for this process. We will need the following information from the group host:
- Start and end date of the study
- We require all study participants who are not currently members of the Soulation Community to read the Community House Rules and sign a statement of agreement to participate in the community accordingly. The House Rules will be supplied to participants upon registration.
How long does the study last?
Our small group studies vary in length. Each study page in the Soulation Store lists the number of lessons (see the “What’s included?” section). You may choose how often your small group will meet. However, we recommend you complete 2 lessons per week, regardless of how often you meet in person. Generally, lessons include reading and videos requiring no more than 30 minutes, and the rest is left for discussion. The Soulation Community classroom will be open for a limited period of time, so we encourage you to plan accordingly. We calculate the time frame of your access to the classroom as follows:
For example: If you choose a study that is 10 lessons and complete 2 lessons per week, we will expect you could complete this study in 5 weeks time. We will also give you an additional 6th week for final discussion and catch-up with your group.
At the end of the study we will close the classroom and the content will no longer be available to participants. We hope that any participants who were not previously Community Members will have experienced the beauty and freedom of the Soulation Community and want to continue with a membership. However, any participants who do not wish to continue as Community Members will be removed from the community at the end of the study.
How do we access the curriculum?
Once you’ve submitted the Study Request Form and payment, we will need a few more details from you — including the names and email addresses of all participants and Community House Rules agreements from each participant. From here we will send an email invitation to all participants to create an account in the Soulation Community. Once a participant registers with the Community, they will be added into the private classroom we’ve created for your study. Here you will find an outline of lessons, lesson posts, and a forum for discussion throughout the week when you’re not meeting in person. All lesson content, including videos, most readings (unless from a separately sold textbook), and discussion questions are available in this classroom. The community is accessible via computer or other electronic or mobile device. Study hosts can access the curriculum up to 5 days prior to the start of the study.
Are any additional materials needed for the studies?
Each study page in the Soulation Store will list any additional materials needed. Some include copies of Soulation books (Coffee Shop Conversations, Ruby Slippers, or Living With Questions), journals, or art supplies. Book bundles or individual copies can be purchased through our Soulation Store or on Amazon. (We require 7-10 business days for shipping from the Soulation Store.) The cost of these additional materials is not covered in the study curriculum fee.
Can we get any input from Dale and Jonalyn?
All of our small group study curriculum has been written by Dale and/or Jonalyn and adjusted from our eCourses. A highlight of these studies is the opportunity for an online LIVE Q&A session with Dale or Jonalyn (for groups of 6 or more) at some point during your study. Your group will have a chance to discuss any further questions or express insights that came up during your time together. The schedule for this Q&A will be arranged for your group after you submit the Study Request Form.
Who do I contact with questions about payment, curriculum, or technical issues?
The Soulation Team is happy to assist you at any point in this process! Just email Martha Van Houten (Project Coordinator & Marketing Assistant) at mail@soulation.org. We promise a timely and personal reply!
Click here to return to the Studies product page.