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Mar
3
F Leader , I Leader , Susan Hill

How Social Events Strengthen Your LIFE Group and Attract Guests

by Susan Hill

As a LIFE Group Leader, I am amazed at how effective social activities are for building relationships within the group. A few years back, the LIFE Group that had been meeting at my home on Wednesday nights moved to Sunday mornings on campus. I didn’t anticipate any changes in the group, but I was in for a rude awakening. Longtime group members who had spoken freely in my home were now virtually silent in the classroom on campus. As new members joined our group, longtime members shared less and less. As this trend continued, I was dumbfounded.
Despite the awkward transition, we started to plan social events outside of group. One Sunday, we had a picnic in the park. Another time, we attended a play at a local college. We got together and painted canvases on a Saturday afternoon. I immediately noticed that group members were talking and sharing more in social settings than they were during class. Slowly, relationships were building. This carried over to Sunday morning group time. My longtime members started speaking up on Sunday mornings like they had in my home group. Newcomers began sharing sooner than before. Before long, group members were getting together on their own during the week.
At Christmas, we decided to have our party at a local restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. I encouraged group members to invite people who weren’t connected to a LIFE Group. Honestly, I wasn’t overly optimistic that many newcomers would attend a Christmas party. To my surprise, six new people came to the party and three of them came to our LIFE Group the following Sunday morning.
This group transition taught me that social activities strengthen relationships in LIFE Groups and are evangelistic in nature. There are countless people who might not be willing to come to church but will gladly meet a group of friends at a local restaurant. After they meet new friends, they are far more willing to visit church.
As you consider ways to serve those you lead in your LIFE Group, don’t underestimate the value of getting together for social activities. People join a LIFE Group because they want to be a part of biblical community that extends outside group time. This describes the New Testament church that Paul describes in Acts 2:42, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Feb
3
F Leader , I Leader , Susan Hill

3 Easy Ways to Create a Welcoming Environment in Your LIFE Group

Part 3: The Importance Of Following Up With First-Time Guests

By Susan Hill

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been discussing simple ways to create a welcoming environment in our LIFE Groups. As leaders, it is important that we remain mindful of the needs of both our members and first-time guests.
Obviously, we want visitors to have an excellent first experience in our LIFE Groups, with the hope that they return and become a part of biblical community. One easy way to increase the likelihood of return guests is to do a follow-up shortly after their first visit.
Ideally, the follow-up will come in the form of a quick call, email, or text within a day or two of the newcomer’s first visit to your group. It’s important to communicate that you are glad they came and to invite them back. This simple gesture takes just a couple of minutes and has the potential to have a significant impact on whether the guest returns. Following up with newcomers acknowledges the effort it took them to attend and communicates to the visitor that you value their presence and would like for them to come back.
Hospitality isn’t difficult, but it does require intentionality in a group setting. In summary, placing a greeter at the door, wearing nametags, and following up with first time guests are three simple ways we can be intentional about creating a hospitable environment in our LIFE Group. As leaders, we have been given an enormous privilege and responsibility to disciple people in their relationship with Christ. Let’s be intentional about making sure our LIFE Groups are a place people feel welcomed and want to return.