A Tale of Two Hosts
What you say when you’re recruiting hosts (small group leaders) has everything to do with who says “yes.” Ever wrestled with that realization?
It’s true, you know. What you say and how you say it absolutely determines who says “yes” to opening their home for six weeks, serving a few simple snacks, and telling a few of their friends.
Say one thing…and you get one kind of host. Say something different and you get a different host entirely. And that’s not all. Who says “yes” to hosting absolutely determines who ends up in the group.
Did you know that? Here’s an example:
A Tale of Two Hosts
Pastor #1: One Sunday morning a senior pastor stood at the edge of the platform and toward the end of his sermon said, “This fall we’re dreaming of starting many new small groups. We’ll be using a small group study that goes along with our fall message series. It’s the kind of study that will provoke deep conversations about a topic that really matters. And we believe that God has prepared many of you to respond to this need. Will you respond to the challenge of leading one of these new groups?”
Pastor #2: Same Sunday in a church across town a senior pastor stood at the edge of the platform and toward the end of his sermon said, “Just like the crowd that Jesus saw in Matthew 9:36, there are many in our church and community who are harassed and helpless. Wrestling with a painful divorce and trying to hold their family together. Struggling to make their monthly mortgage payment and working two part time jobs since they were let go a little over a year ago. Barely making ends meet as they care for an aging parent who lives nearby in an assisted living facility that they really can’t afford. New to the community and longing for friends left behind.
“If you have a heart for people like that, harassed and helpless, and you’d be willing to open your home or apartment for just six weeks, serve a few simple snacks, and tell a few of your friends and neighbors…you could be a host for our upcoming church-wide campaign.”
The Moral of the Story
I’m not sure you can see the distinction, but the key to the two host asks is who you start with (the potential host vs the potential member). I believe that who you start with absolutely determines who says “yes.”
The first senior pastor begins his pitch by focusing on the host and I believe he ends up recruiting the older brother from the story of the Prodigal Son. The key? The older brother only knows the people who are already connected and already have their lives together.
The second senior pastor starts by describing the potential group member, actually raises awareness of the need, and I believe he recruits the younger brother. The key? The younger brother knows people who are still in the far country.
What you say when you’re recruiting hosts (small group leaders) has everything to do with who says “yes.”
What do you think? Want to argue? You can click here to jump into the conversation.
