How to Launch Groups Using a Small Group Connection: Follow-Up
This is the fourth post in this series. You’ll find the first post right here. In this article I want to talk about what happens right after each of your connection groups have chosen a leader (or more often, leaders).
You’ve just dismissed the members of the new connection groups. Now it’s time to take just a few minutes (3 to 5) to affirm your new leaders, invite them to a New Leader Orientation, and give them a next step that they can easily accomplish. You’ll also give them a packet with some important information.
First, keep in mind that no one ever comes to the connection expecting to end up being the leader of a group! They don’t! Actually, they came to the connection for a variety of reasons and those reasons don’t include finding a group to lead. Consequently, their very natural reaction to being chosen is “what just happened!!?” I always take a couple minutes to affirm them and help them rethink what just happened. Here’s how I do it. I say something like this:
“You need to know that almost every leader in the Bible was chosen. They didn’t volunteer. Old Testament or New Testament. Chosen. Moses. Gideon. Abraham. James and John. Peter. Paul. Chosen. There aren’t any great stories where someone came up and said, “I’d like to volunteer to be a leader.” All of the great stories are about God choosing a leader. And the best story is about how David was chosen. Remember how it goes?
Samuel is sent by God to anoint the next king of Israel and he goes to Jesse’s house. When he gets there Jesse automatically brings out his oldest son. Naturally. He did what was expected. I believe that in that moment the Holy Spirit whispered to Samuel, “That’s not him.” So Jesse brought out the next son. “That’s not him.” This went on until there was only one left. David. And when Jesse brought out David, Samuel heard, “That’s the one.”
Interesting about Samuel, we learn about his ability to hear God much earlier, when he was a little boy living with Eli the priest. And so we know that Samuel can actually hear God speak. But I believe that as you were sharing your answers with the group today, they heard something deep in their heart about you. I don’t know what it was. But I believe they heard it and that’s why they pointed to you.”
Telling this story to affirm their selection is the first step.
The second thing I do is hand them a packet that includes a few basic things and then quickly show them what’s in the packet.
- The ABCs of a Great Start for Your Connection Group
- An invitation to the New Leader’s Orientation (usually held the next Saturday morning)
- A copy of the study their group will be doing
- Name tags and a marker
Once I’ve pointed out what’s in the packet I dismiss them, but offer to hang around if anyone has a question. I’ll talk about what to do at the New Leader’s Orientation in the next post.
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