How to Launch Groups Using a Small Group Connection: Follow-Up

June 20, 2008 in Connection Strategy with 2 Comments

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.

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.

Future

  • Tim

    Hey Mark,

    Couple of questions regarding Small Group Connection:

    1. What’s done with those in initial group that can’t meet on night/time decided?
    2. How is location decided? Does group decide this together at initial time together? Is chosen leader expected to host? Are you to have “hosts” already in place and at each table?
    3. What is transition after initial 6 weeks? I read where you intro next study at week 3 of initial study. What if leader doesn’t want to continue? What happens with rest of group? I’m sure there are times group doesn’t continue due to logistics? What do you then do?

    Thanks for being an incredible resource.

    Tim

  • Anonymous

    Great questions, Tim! First, don’t forget, this is not a problem-free solution. The connection process can have a wrinkle or two, but…I like this set of problems better than those that come with most other solutions.

    All three of your questions are legitimate and you will run into these situations. In most cases, you’ll just have to be ready to play it by ear. For example, when the group decides when to meet it occasionally happens that the majority needs a Tuesday night and one couple travels for work and needs a Friday night. If you have more than one group launching, you can often simply switch them to another group. If not, you’ll most likely have another group that you can add them to from your existing group list.

    Meeting location is selected right after they choose a day and time. It’s not unusual for one or more members to come right out and offer their home. When that doesn’t happen, a simple suggestion that they just need to choose a place to meet the very first time will get them in the game. Someone from group will step up to host. There’s no need to seed the table with a host.

    It’s definitely a good idea to choose a follow up study that you can begin telling the group about in about week 3 or 4. You may not have noticed it, but in the article I mention the fact that there is almost always more than one person chosen to lead. While there are times when one of the leaders doesn’t want to continue, there will almost always be someone else who will step up.

Switch to our mobile site