Walk with Jesus in the company of others
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We need people who know us, encourage us, pray for us, and lovingly challenge us as we become more like Jesus. Triads create intentional space for that kind of relationship.
A Triad is a group of three people who commit to meet regularly to build relationships, support and challenge one another, and walk more purposefully with Jesus in order to become like him. We believe that community isn't just somewhere we belong. It's one of the ways Jesus changes us.
We are to encourage one another, carry one another's burdens, confess our sins, pray for one another, speak truth to one another, and spur one another toward love and good deeds. That kind of community rarely happens accidentally. Triads create a simple, intentional rhythm where three people can know and be known, bring their real lives into the light, listen for what Jesus is doing, and help one another respond to him.
What is a Triad?
Three people. 60–90 minutes. A regular rhythm. A shared desire to become like Jesus.
A Triad isn't primarily a Bible study, counselling group, or another church program. It's a small community of people committed to helping one another walk with Jesus.
Meet over coffee, breakfast, in someone's living room, or wherever works. The location isn't important. What matters is showing up consistently and creating space for honest conversation, prayer, encouragement, confession, and discernment.
3 PEOPLE: Small enough to know and be known.
60–75 MINUTES: Enough time for everyone to honestly share and pray.
REGULARLY: Formation happens through consistent relationship, not one great conversation
The Triad Meeting
1. CONNECT
Take time to deepen your relationship with one another. Share coffee or a meal. Catch up. Be friends, not merely accountability partners.
2. SHARE
Each person takes approximately 15–20 minutes to share honestly through five questions:
What's been hard? What's been good?
How is your heart, mind, soul, and strength?
What has the Lord been saying to you?
Do you have struggles or secrets to share, or any sin you need to bring into the light and confess? (Within the safety of this group, the answer to this question can simply be “yes”. Members should not feel pressure to share if they are not ready.)
Who are you sharing the love of Jesus with?
3. SUPPORT
After someone shares, don't rush to try and fix them.
Listen. Ask questions. Encourage. Discern together. Where appropriate, offer accountability. When sin is confessed, respond with grace rather than shock or judgment and remind one another of the forgiveness and freedom we have in Jesus.
4. PRAY
Bring one another before Jesus. Pray specifically about what has been shared and ask God to continue his work in each person's life. Before leaving, set your next meeting.
Five Commitments
Healthy Triads commit to being:
1.CONSISTENT
Show up for meetings.
2. CONSIDERATE
Don't interrupt, give advice, or try to fix problems.
3. COURAGEOUS
Share honestly and as deeply as you are ready.
4. COMPASSIONATE
Show grace and affirm the forgiveness we have in Christ.
5. CONFIDENTIAL
What's shared here stays here. Always.
How do I start a Triad?
1) We strongly encourage you to attend the “TCC Basics” Class
TCC Basics offers an opportunity for us to share the heart of this community in such a way that we all understand and share a common vision and mission as well as understand how we believe we will walk it out together. Over 3 sessions, we walk through Discipleship (what we believe about the church and discipleship or apprenticeship to Jesus), Community (what we believe about community and how we invite you to become part of the community at TCC), and Contribution (what we believe about participating in this community in practical ways).
This both gives us a chance to get to know you a bit and you the opportunity to discover our heart, beliefs, and practices, ask questions, and begin forming connections with others from our church. Our hope and prayer is that, from here, we can launch new Community Groups or Triads and help you plug into this community in meaningful ways.
2) Find people to join together with
When you’re considering who to join with, seek 2 others who also desire to grow and mature in their walk with Jesus and are willing to commit to regular gatherings.
For a Triad to work, we believe the minimum commitment should be to meet 1 time per month. This, however, should be the minimum! A 3 week rotation would be more beneficial.
Consider: Age, stage, place (friendship and community may come easier when 2 of these are present)
Age: others who are of a similar age or generation
Stage: working-professional, single, newly married, young kids, empty-nesters, retired, grandparent, etc.
Place: Consider your proximal community. Be cautious of being in a group where regular meetings are hindered due to distance and consider the value of being in the same physical community. Also consider the types of commitments you have and seek to find people who share similar calendars.
We recognize that getting started can be the most difficult part for some. So, can we just acknowledge the elephant in the room? It can feel awkward; kind of like asking someone on a first date! But can we also encourage you not to let the risk of “rejection” stop you from reaching out? The worst thing that can happen is someone says, “no”. This can be for many valid reasons (like being in an existing triad, not having space in their schedule to commit right now, or other barriers that are out of your control). You’ll never know if you don’t ask!
While the church could find ways to place people together into groups, the odds are that this would lead to less natural chemistry and/or longevity of the group. So, our vision is that these triads emerge out of existing relationships and come together organically. Think about who you are connecting with at brunch, your friend circles, a community group you have been a part of, or other church connection points like Women’s Refresh or Men’s Breakfast.
If you are struggling with this piece, please don’t hesitate to reach out and we’d be more than happy to come alongside in the process!
3) Schedule the first meeting to sense group commitment and compatibility
Go over the Triad Covenant (link at the top of this page) with your group at the first meeting. A suggested meeting format can be found below.
4) Register your Triad
By registering your Triad (link at the top of this page), you will be creating opportunities for greater resourcing and accountability as a Triad. The church is not assigning or running these groups but the TCC ministry team hopes to provide some support and direction to them with periodic check-ins. So, please register your Triad once your group has come to a committed start.
5) A bi-annual check-in to re-evaluate
Set a date together so, after several meetings, you can collectively and openly assess how the group is going.
Consider questions like:
Are we finding that meeting once per month gives us enough time?
Do we want to consider meeting twice monthly if it works for everyone?
Are there questions we want to remove or add?
Is there something we could use additional support or resourcing for?
What are some of our successes and challenges as a group?
Consider setting a 6 month check-in as well. This allows for the option to discontinue your group if you feel it isn’t a good fit. Having an indefinite duration can be intimidating for some people. After the first 6 months, if all members want to continue, an annual “recommitment” is recommended.
What a Triad is Not
Triads are not meant to replace professional counselling, social services, mentors, pastors, or the like. A Triad isn't a place for one person to come with all of their problems and find solutions or rescue. It is meant to be an equally shared time (using discernment when there are pressing needs of one member) for each person to share and listen.
Some might feel discouraged or frustrated with their Triad because it is not addressing their felt need. While a Triad is an appropriate relational context to share joys or pains and to receive prayer, it is not meant to meet every relational need that someone may be experiencing. It is important for each member to voice, “what I need from you right now” to their Triad and for the Triad to discuss in what ways the group may or may not respond to those needs. In many cases, a Triad may help an individual discern the next steps for addressing particular issues and help them find additional support from a pastor, counsellor, or mentor.
Ending Well
Triads end for a variety of reasons. Your schedules may no longer align to meet, someone moves away, or you find that your time has simply run its course and it feels like time to wrap up. Ideally, this decision is made mutually.
Celebrate together! Praise God for the relationships built, life transformation witnessed, and successes together. Get together to celebrate over one last meal and to pray for one another. If the next steps involve forming new Triad relationships, pray for discernment as you seek out new members.
Inform the church that you’re ending your official meetings as a Triad group so that they are aware for logistical reasons as well as to celebrate with you and receive feedback about the process.