Relationships are an essential part of the Christian life. To follow Jesus and his teachings means we live in community with God, and community with others. The challenge we face in our culture is the busyness it creates in people's lives. The very people that we are called to ministered to and I believe social media is a tool we can leverage to enhance our relationships. So here are three ways you may want to try to apply social media in group life.
Create A Facebook Group
What's great about facebook is that it is growing exponentially right now. It is something that many people are already using in their daily routine to reconnect with old friends and stay connecting in current relationships. If we can take advantage of social tools that people are already using in daily life, it only makes sense that we will have more success. What's great about creating a facbook group is it allows people to communicate to the entire group quickly, share photos from group activities, and even have discussions about what was shared at group that night. Another convenient thing the facebook group can be utilized for is keeping a continuous prayer list.
Create A Group Twitter Profile
If you use twitter already you understand the networking value in a text message. Since you may not want to bother all of your followers on twitter with details from your small group, I would suggest creating a separate twitter profile for your group. Then have all your group members set up a twitter account. Depending on their web skills you may have to help them with this task during a group meeting, but don't forget to set them up as mobile users and to set your group profile "device updates." This way when you update the twitter status it will hit their mobile phone as a text message. Why is this helpful for a small group? Here is a quick list of reasons:
-Reminders to prepare or do homework from group that night
-Last minute change of meeting location
-Cancelation of your group due to weather or unforeseen circumstances
-Messages of encouragement through the week
-Reminder of daily bible reading that will be discussed on group night
-Prayer requests through the week
-Have some fun
Try Tokbox or Skype
What we thought was science fiction 20 or more years ago is reality today. I can have a real-time conversation over the web with my brother in Hawaii and actually see him, hear him, and hold a great conversation on my computer in the comfort of my home. Skype and other online video tools are allowing people to maintain long distance relationships like never before. How can this enhance group life? If you have a group member that has to travel out of town, but they don't want to miss out on a great discussion, set up a laptop in the room and let them participate using the web!!! Or with other great tools like Tokbox, you can actually hold your entire group on the web, plus see and hear every person at the same time. Sharing life experiences, reading the bible, asking engaging questions, and praying together can all be done via video conferencing online. I must admit that I do prefer an "in person" group experience but these things can be done on the web and actually lead to a worthwhile experience. If you've not tried something like this yet I'd encourage you to give it chance and have some fun with some friends as an experiment.
If you've found some other forms of social media useful please share in the comments below.
And if you would like to connect with me using social media you can find my points of contact by CLICKING HERE
If you are a small group ministry point leader for your church, then you can attend Schmoozapalooza for FREE! On October 23rd ThinkingSmall.net and Christ's Church of Oak Brook are teaming up to hold some practical small group workshops. Here's the scoop:
Whether you're a volunteer or paid church staff, if you're responsible for the small groups ministry in your church, you're running point. You know that having a community of peers for support, ideas, prayer, and encouragement makes everyday ministry challenges manageable. Schmooze over coffee with Group Life Point Leaders from Wisconsin to Indiana at this free networking event. Win free stuff. Visit the Vendor Showcase. Toss out some ideas (and pick some up). Swap emails, twitter names, and phone numbers with breakout speakers. There is no charge for SCHMOOZAPALOOZA! but you must be a Group Life Point Leader and register to attend.
Here is the latest off info from the group life conference website, they just released a promo video too! If your church is not hosting this event you will want to find a local host near you:
What's the next, right step for your small groups?
Real growth is possible, especially in the fertile soil of genuine Biblical community. This is the place where hearts open to grace, where relationships heal, where sin patterns break, where connections to God strengthen.
This is the place where lives are transformed.
How do you bring your small group to this point of transformation? This Changes Everything is a one-day training event designed to move you in that direction. It offers practical next steps for fostering spiritual growth in your small groups. And best of all, it does this with an emphasis on convenience and affordability.
Who should attend?
-All small group leaders and volunteers
Why attend?
-New laser-focused, broadcast only, one-day training -Unrivaled teaching from experienced group life experts
Where?
-Hosted at your church or a host site near you -This is a broadcast only event exclusively on CCN -There will not be a live event at Willow Creek Community Church
Why become a host site?
-Provide your leaders with unrivaled training and the opportunity to interact with fellow leaders -Your church will receive a block of 40 tickets to Group Life Conference 2009 -Free downloadable marketing tools to promote the event -Training with immediate ministry application -Dedicated CCN ministry consultant to support you along the way
Many groups take a break in the summer and often leaders wonder what they should do next with their group as the fall season begins. It is a common question because people are often coming back from summer break and they are ready for something fresh. However, for leaders I think that answers can be found in asking the right questions. To honestly figure out where your group needs to go... you need to figure out where you are and there are four major areas to consider:
1. God - Your personal relationship with God and your group's relationship with God.
2. Each other - The depth of your relationships with your group members and their relationships with each other.
3. Leadership - The number of future leaders your group is producing and who you are personally investing in.
4. Evangelism - The relationships your group has with unchurched people and the passion they tap into to connect those people to God.
Evaluation Questions
God:
How often do you pray for your group each week?
Do you and your group members discuss personal time spent with God?
How much time do you spend in prayer and bible study each day?
Does your group spend time talking about prayers that God has answered?
Each Other:
How many times does your group meet in an average month?
How many parties, socials, or fun group activities has your group had in the past 3 months?
How many times have you invited someone from your group over for a meal in the past two months?
Do you ever participate in church activities as a group by going together?
How often do you communicate with group members by phone, email, cards, or letters to encourage them?
Leadership:
Does your group have an assistant-leader or an apprentice?
How many of your group members expect to lead a group sometime in the future?
How many people in your group participate by leading different components of the meeting? (For example: prayer time, ice breaker, bible reading, etc.)
How often does your group pray about developing new group leaders?
Who in your group would you like to see become a leader?
Evangelism:
How often does your group pray for people far from God and when was the last time you were able to share your faith?
How many parties or gatherings have you had, not spiritual in nature, that your group members could invite their non-Christian friends to.
When a visitor attends your group for the first time, how often do you follow up with a phone call, card, or an invite to breakfast or lunch?
Do you know how to draw the bridge and use it to share your faith? Have you done it recently?
These questions help me figure out if I am on target with leading my group. Hopefully, you find them useful. You may even want to bring them to your next meeting and discuss them with you group or with other leaders in your group ministry.
National Community Church is hoting a strategic small group training event at Ebenezers Coffee House on December 10th-11th, 2009. Russ Robinson and Dave Treat will be speaking on the following topics:
Clear Ministry Objectives
Effective Point Leadership
Successful Coaching Structures
Ongoing Leader Development
An Open-Group Mindset
A Broad Bandwidth of Groups
Assimilation that Works
I have personally heard both of these guys train small group leaders at advanced small group training sessions and they are extremely gifted leaders and teachers. If you are able to attend you wont be dissapointed. This may be the event you need to take your small group ministry to the next level.
