Take Advantage of an Early Easter to Launch Small Groups

image: CreationSwap.com user Phyl Brown

I’ve been thinking about the rhythms of connecting people and wanted to share an idea that you might want to consider.  With Easter, 2015  just about as early as it can possibly be (April 5th), there is still plenty of spring left before summer and it makes a lot of sense to launch another wave of small groups.

There are three steps to the idea.

Step One

As you know, we’re coming into a season (regardless of your hemisphere!) where many people are thinking, at least a little bit, about spiritual things.  Regardless of ones religious background, there will be a number of noticeable references to Lent and Easter over the next 40 days.

The weeks leading up to Easter can be a good opportunity to cast vision into existing small groups about opportunities to invite unchurched neighbors, friends, co-workers and family to Easter services.  A simple video of your senior pastor speaking directly to group members about the opportunity could be played in every group.

Step Two

Easter (April 5th) is quite early in 2015.  With over two months left before school is out for summer (at least in the United States), there is plenty of time for a connecting event and enough weeks to allow new groups to have a chance of solidifying.  See also, How to Launch New Groups Using a Small Group Connection.

If a study was selected that would appeal to infrequent attenders (who will be attending this Easter) as well as friends and neighbors, it could lead to an easy opportunity to connect unconnected people.  See also, Design Your Connecting Event with Unconnected People in Mind and Four Secrets of Connecting Unconnected People.

Promotion of a connecting event could begin the week before Easter.  The event could be scheduled for April 12th or 19th.

Step Three

Choosing the right study will make it easier to promote the connecting event and encourage unconnected people to join “a six week group.”  Of course, you’ll be doing everything you can to make it such a good experience that they will want to continue, but you’ll also be leveraging the power of a test-drive.  See also, 5 Studies that Will Connect People after Easter.

The right study will also make it easy for those who have invited friends and neighbors to host a group in their home that will do the study.  I’ll be posting an article next week that will highlight several good choices for post Easter strategies.

I hope this strategy helps you connect more people this spring!