How do you encourage group members to invite others to your group? Carter Moss, from Big Ideas About Small Groups, recommends the following:
Challenge your group to make a list of people to invite
Have a contest for whoever brings the most people to group Lead by example and invite
Go into service early and introduce yourself to someone sitting down
Hang out in the entryway and get to know people
Stand by the door and hand out a card with your small group info
Follow up with past people that have showed interest in your group
Participate in planned events such as the small group fair and the weekly small group table
Wear something that identifies you as a "small group leader"
Talk positively about your small group, people are listening
Plan a small group social, invite your neighbors
Always have an empty chair in group and always be talking about inviting new people
When an established group has been together for a long time this can be challenging. I will often encourage group leaders by challenging their groups with two questions:
How do you feel about this small group?
Knowing how important this group has been for you, dont you want to help someone else have the same experience God has provided you through these relationships? How do you encourage an invitational culture in your group?
Sometimes our small group relationships can get stuck in a superficial limbo. There are people in our groups that we never really get to know deeply. When that happens we miss out on the life experience that others can teach us. Bill Search has a great activity you can do with your group to learn more about each other and go deeper with your relationships. Take a look...
Bill Donahue and Henry Cloud recently were interviewed by Anita Lustrea on Midday Connection (Moody Radio Ministries). They talked about the fears women have about connecting in small groups and the role that relational intelligence plays in helping groups grow.
Life change happens in community. Sometimes we need to create that community in the form of small groups. Bill Donahue and Henry Cloud discuss the dynamics of groups and emotional intelligence. Learn how to strengthen your small group experience and gain confidence to start a group.
