An Open Letter to Small Group Leaders Everywhere

Dear small group leader, I hope this letter finds you well (and that may have never been a more important hope than today).

I also hope this letter finds you ready to play the part God designed you to play. He designed you to have a particular shape and wiring. And like a fingerprint, your design is unique to you.

And that unique design ought to direct you to an important reality; an important truth.

In order for you to hear well done, you need to lead your group in keeping with the way God has designed you.

Have you ever thought of that?

It's true! Your unique design indicates how you can best lead your group. And the way you can best lead your group is not identical to the way another leader might best lead her group. Or another might best lead his group.

In other words, in order to hear well done we will each need to lead in the way we were designed.

Hearing well done is always the result of stewarding well what we've been given (see Matthew 25: 14-30).

Finally, I hope you caring well for the members of your small group! There has never been a more important season in which to be in regular contact with your members.

Social distancing and sheltering-in-place make it even more essential for your daily activity to include phone calls and FaceTime, text messages, Facebook posts (or messages), and emails to everyone. Encouraging your members to do the same will boost awareness of belonging.

When you check in with each other, add "Do you need anything?" to your conversation. One of the marks of the early Church was their reputation for sharing what they had with each other (Acts 4:32). May that be true of your group!

And while you're at it, be sure and pray for and with your members. And encourage them to do the same for each other.

These are interesting times! May you lead as never before! And may we all hear well done!

Mark