Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Building Connection in Small Groups

With the start of our fall small groups right around the corner, now is a great time to be thinking about how to create connection in your small group. We thought we would take a moment today to offer some suggestions as to how a leader can help make this happen. One thing is sure, if we aren’t welcoming and warm, many people will never return. So here are some tips: · Play music to set tone · Bring food! Food always gets conversation started. As the leader, you will probably have to provide food for the first meeting. You can have small group members sign up to bring snacks for subsequent meetings. · Burn a great smelling candle. · Have a greeter at the door to welcome people in. This is a great practice to get into. · Assign responsibilities to different people who attend. That gives them “purpose” in being a part of the group and helps them feel needed and accountable. · Ask about their week and share about yours. · Keep confidences shared in the group. We love that in our small group we pray for others. Keep a high value for keeping in confidence what is shared. · Share personal stories that relate to the study that week. - Send a follow up email or facebook message to new visitors sharing your information and thanking them for coming. · Email, text, Facebook or Twitter your small group during the week to let them know you are praying for them. If they requested a specific prayer, follow up with them. · Pair two participants up to pray for each other for a week, month, or for the entire length of the small group. What other ideas do you have for building a warm and connecting atmosphere in your small group?

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