Yesterday I started this series of posts and spoke about the first principle for successfully launching a new small group. Today I’m tackling the second.
FILL
Sadly, some small group leaders think, “If I build it they will come.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Filling out a form at church, meeting with a pastor or coach, and putting your group information on the church list is not a guarantee that people will come to your group. So how do you fill your group with people?
First of all, take ownership of filling the group. Don’t leave it to the staff, your church website, a group catalog or the small groups booth in the lobby. No one will care more about filling your group than you, so own that responsibility. Secondly, adjust your expectations. Resist the idea that a successful group has 20 people. The Biblical standard is two or three or more (Matthew 18:20). If two or three are all you are able to recruit, thank God for the group He’s given you!
Once you have owned the responsibility for filling your group and managed your expectations, you should take the following steps. Pray. Pray about who God wants in your group. Pray that God will guide you to the right people. Pray that He will give you the right opportunities to find and invite those people. Next, make invite cards. When you invite someone, make sure that you are able to give them something tangible that tells them when and where your group will meet. Then ask yourself, “Who do I already ‘group’ with?” There are already people you regularly gather with in small groups. Your gaming group, a book club, other parents at little league games, your exercise partners, and your family are great examples of this. Ask the people you are already spending time with if they would like to be a part of your small group. Lastly, think about the people who sit near you at church. People are creatures of habit, so the people who sit near you at church probably sit in that general area every time they come to church. Capitalize on their habitual behavior. Tap them on the shoulder this weekend, hand them an invite to your group and ask them to come.
Consider making invitations to your group like these.
You can download a file, fill out the fields on your computer and print the invitations. Alternatively, hand written invitations are also very helpful. In a day where everything is digital, it’s a pleasant surprise to get a hand-written card via snail mail!!
Filling your group may take you outside your comfort zone, but that’s a good thing. That stretching may be the next important step in your own spiritual development. Don’t try to bypass God’s work in your own life by just expecting people to come to your group.
Be sure to come back tomorrow and learn the third AND MOST IMPORTANT principle for small group success.
This is really stimulating! Can’t wait for the 3rd leg!