LEADER’S HANDBOOK

IF:COLLEGEEverything you need to know

8 women4 questions

2 hoursWe’ve decided to bring this same movement to colleges and universities across the nation.

I F :Table HostsIF:Table Hosts are female college students who will monthly gather ladies around their table to share life together. Each IF:Table will have two hosts.

IF:Guides are female staff, faculty, and friends of our college community. Each pair of table hosts will be assigned a guide as a resource for help and support in leading their IF:Table.

THE IDEA:

about

It all stareted with IF:GATHERING

A movenement that exists to gather, equip, and unleash the next generation of

women to live out their purpose.

It ’s what we cal l

IF:TABLEWe’re calling it

WHO’S WHO?

I F :Guides

IF:College

IF:College is an extension of the women’s movement, IF:Gathering and exists to help college women become equipped to live out their purpose as part of their college journey and the time that follows.

Who We Are

We will gather monthly together as a college community to seek God and equip women to live out their callings. We will have the opportunity to hear from various female leaders to empower and encourage the ladies within our community. The makeup and mechanics of each IF:Gathering is unique. There are both monthly and annual opportunities to gather with women for prayer, process scripture together, and dream about what God can do in and through our lives. We seek to empower women to create honest spaces to host IF:Tables on their college campus. The monthly IF:Tables will be a safe space for women to wrestle with essential questions of faith like, “If God is real, then what?”

We encourage you to download the free IF:Equip app onto your smart phone. We invite you to join us as we read God’s Word in unity with our sisters across the globe. We hope IF:Equip will prepare women around the world to know God deeply and to live out their purposes.

We believe in women uniting together for healing and reconciliation both in homes and on college campuses. We believe in coming alongside women, fostering relationships and utilizing our God-given gifts. We believe that our generation can not only transform hearts, but also leave a tangible impact on the entire world.

We exist to gather, equip, and unleash the next generation of women to live out their purpose.

IF:GATHER

IF:EQUIP

IF:UNLEASH

Vision + Heart

We want to create a safe environment where women can bring their wrestlings, their doubts and their confessions.

We believe that together, by unleashing our God-given gifts, we can restore ourselves and the world to be more like God intended.

We will humbly come together with our unique gifts, resources and perspectives, believing that unifi ed under the name of Christ, we can be more effective at reaching our generation than divided.

We believe in one God. Everything we do is grounded in the truth of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. What we do exists for the glory of God.

We honor each person and their values. We respect the values and traditions of each individual, while coming together for the sake of unity and to carry God to the next generation of women.

We believe in the local church. We are passionate about creating resources and tools to serve the church as they serve women around the world.

AUTHENTICITY

PARTICIPATORY

HUMILITY

CHRIST-CENTERED

HONORING

CHURCH-CENTERED

From IF:Gathering

We hope and trust that as a leader you model the values of IF:Gathering. When casting your vision for a group, ask yourself,

“Do my words, actions and attitude follow IF’’s values?”

IF:Guides are seasoned women within our community. The primary purpose of IF:Guides is to provide mentorship primarily for the Table Hosts. IF:Guides are intended to only be accessible to the Table Host and not the entire group, unless they decide to come to a monthly gathering.

There will be monthly gatherings for Table Hosts to receive leadership lessons not only from our IF:Guides, but also from other women within our community. As Guides, we encourage you to ask your Table Hosts tough questions that will challenge them both as women and as developing leaders. We believe the best way to guide them is by sharing your own story.

IF:GuidesIF:Guides

Female students on our campus will have the opportunity to host their own IF:Table. The idea is for IF:Tables to be led peer-to-peer and not mentor-to-peer, therefore any woman on campus can become a host. IF:Table Hosts will gather ladies around their table once a month to share life together and learn from one another. Each IF:Table will have two Hosts.

As a table host, you will be giving of yourself to invest into the lives of others. We encourage you to take every opportunity to learn from our IF:Guides, so that you can continually grow and develop as a leader.

IF:Table Hosts

IF:TABLE HOSTSquick tips

• We encourage you to take initiative and connect with your IF:Guide on a monthly basis.

• Be prayerful and intentional when preparing for your table gatherings, our desire is that each gathering would be authentic and change the lives of the women present.

We are so excited to have you a part of our IF:Family! We believe that conversations will take place around your table that will be impactful and life changing. Dreams will be awakened, hearts will be healed, and lives will be made new through the Spirit-led conversations at the IF:Table.

IF:Table is an opportunity for women on college campuses to gather together and come alongside their peers with the purpose of growing together in their journey of faith. This packet will further explain the ins and outs of how to run your very own table!

• Invite your table guests. Decide what time and place your table will meet for your monthly gathering. The maximum count for each table is eight girls. We fi nd much value in a smaller group for fostering close relationships.

• Communicate two weeks in advance to your table guests where your meeting will be. • Create your table. Your table can be as simple as gathering at a coffee shop or

gathering in a dorm room with snacks. As hosts, you have the freedom to create a unique experience around your table.

• If your table exceeds eight girls after your fi rst gathering, that is a good thing! We want tables to grow and expand. Keep an eye out for girls at your table that you feel would make great table hosts. If someone is interested in becoming a table host, encourage them to contact an IF:College leader.

• Each IF:Table will have two hosts. • You will be provided with four conversation cards to use at your table. The topics on

these cards will be discussed among thousands of other women around the world. • The ratio for the IF:Table is 8:4:2. Eight women will gather to discuss four questions

for two hours.

How to start your table

What you need to know

IF:Table

• Be sure to have your Bible available to reference scripture throughout your conversation.

• Each month we will provide you with conversation cards in order to guide thediscussions at your table. These cards will have a few questions that are specifi c to IF:College, along with other questions that are being discussed with thousands of women across the world at the same time.

• Feel free to add any special touches to your table to make it yours! We fi nd that special treats are a great way to make a table feel welcoming.

3.

1.

2.

What you’ll needYOUR BIBLE

CONVERSATION CARDS

SPECIAL TOUCHES

IF:Table

• Welcome sisters to the table. Refreshments are always a great way to make a guest feel welcomed. We want each sister to feel invited to be herself and to be open to share what is on her heart.

• Create a tidy, warm environment for sisters to feel welcomed, valued and loved.

• IF:Table is a space for women to grow together in community. Establish with your table that trust is necessary for community to grow—what is discussed at the table will remain at the table.

• Be prayerful and intentional about who you invite to the table. The purpose of IF:Table is to provide a space for every woman to be a part of community and sisterhood.

• While leading the conversation, keep in mind that every woman present has a unique story and therefore makes a unique contribution to our community. Keep an open heart and an open mind when sharing around the table.

• Remember, we are all in this together! You do not need to have all of the answers—we are here to grow and learn together. Remember that your IF:Guide is available to assist and support you in leading your table. Be sure to invite her to your IF:Table gatherings! Should you recognize that someone in your group would like to further discuss an issue, you may provide her with your designated IF:Guide’s email.

BE THOUGHTFUL3.

IF:TableTable mannersTable manners help us to know what to do and what to expect as both guest and host. For example, manners inform us what to do in those awkward situations that can happen at the dinner table— i.e. sneezing, knowing which direction to pass the food or what spoon to use. Therefore, it’s good to know in advance how to handle these situations before they come. To help you have a successful IF: Table experience, we want to share with you a few table manners that will help make your table guests feel comfortable and at ease.

CREATE A SAFE SPACE1.

RESPECT THE GIRL TALK2.

SUPPORT YOUR TABLE4.

IF:TABLEquick tips

• For your fi rst table meeting, we recommend getting to know each other. Icebreakers are a good way for everyone to get acquainted and feel comfortable.

• We also encourage you to be mindful of going too deep too fast in your table discussion. Doing so may cause some people at the table to feel uncomfortable. Our desire is for everyone to feel at ease and unpressured to share what is on their heart.

• Create a GroupMe with your girls to stay connected with them on weeks you are not gathering.

• Invite your girls to dinner or for a fun outing so you can continue to build relationships outside of your IF:Table.

• Tag @IFGathering and your IF:College social media accounts when posting on social media so others can follow along on your IF story!

CONNECT WITH USon social media

facebook.com/IFGathering

@ifgathering

ifgathering.com

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Thank You!We are so excited to have you a part of the IF:College family and look forward to hearing about the beautiful moments that will happen around your table. We encourage you to join us in prayer about the gatherings taking place around our campus.

Remember, you are capable, you are strong and you are brave. We are in this together! Together we will see unity amongst the women on our campus and it all starts one table at a time!

XO,IF:College Team

If God is real,then what?

Notes

Notes