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Oct
14
Uncategorized

The Importance of a Warm Welcome

By Jay Fennell

I can recall a time when my wife and I were visiting Sunday School classes in a church. We were newlyweds and had recently moved to Texas from South Carolina to attend seminary. We were lonely and homesick. We had no connections, no friends, and no church home, and we desperately needed a place to belong. We visited a few classes for young couples and didn’t feel a connection. The classes we visited were friendly, but we quickly learned that they weren’t interested in being our friend, and you can tell the difference. They had room in the classroom for us but not much room in their hearts. Frustrated, we prayed that God would provide us a Christian community with which we could grow in our faith and serve the church. We were looking for a family!
God answered our prayer and led us to visit a new group for young marrieds. As we approached the room, we immediately noticed lively interaction. The couples were connecting relationally and were genuinely enjoying one another. As we walked in the door, we were immediately greeted warmly by a couple who introduced themselves and thanked us for coming. They were wearing nametags, so that made it easier to remember people because it put a face to a name. We were introduced to other couples, all wearing nametags. The people of the group were sincerely grateful we were there. By the end of the morning, we knew we had found the group where we wanted to invest, grow and serve.
The first minute of our visit was so crucial. This group had one minute to make a good first impression, and they passed with flying colors because they cared enough to acknowledge us when we walked in the door. Their most hospitable and bubbly people were placed at the door to welcome everyone, members and guests alike. But they gave special attention to guests and made sure that we were warmly welcomed and made to feel important. They didn’t neglect the people that God had brought to their group.
How good are you at warmly welcoming each person every time you gather for LIFE Group? Your group’s success at retaining guests might be determined by your intentionality in warmly welcoming newcomers. I cannot stress how important that is and encourage you to ensure that each person is greeted and welcomed each time you gather. It meant a lot to me and my wife, and I know it means a lot to others, as well.

Oct
6
E Leader , Jay Fennell

What Are You Trying to Produce?

By Jay Fennell

As it pertains to your LIFE Group, what are you trying to produce? What, through your leadership, are you trying to accomplish in the lives of your people?
These are questions that LIFE Group leaders must reflect upon regularly. If not, you run the risk of producing something contrary to what Jesus tells us to produce. So the question then becomes: What does He want us to produce?
To answer this question, recall Jesus’ encounter with Peter and Andrew in Matthew 4. The brothers are casting their net by the lake and Jesus approaches them and says, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus was telling them that He would make them into something they are already doing. They would fish, but with a Kingdom purpose. They would not fish for fish anymore. They would fish for people. Notice also that Jesus didn’t tell them He would make them “catch” people. The catching is what He will do. No, the disciples were simply called to fish.
We see also in Matthew 28 where Jesus tells the disciples to make more disciples by baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to be obedient to everything that Jesus has said and done. In other words, they are to fish for people and point them to Jesus.
As LIFE Group leaders, our goal is not to merely produce Bible trivia experts. Nor is the goal to simply uncover a few truths so that group members become better people with modified behaviors that make them feel good about themselves. No, we want to produce fishermen. Our end goal is to invest in people God has given us, help them grow to be like Jesus, and teach them to fish.
Jesus’ offer to Peter and Andrew was so compelling that they dropped their nets “at once” and followed Him. They gave up their livelihood and their family business to fish in a new way. A way that had eternal impact.
Let’s work to produce the same thing that Jesus produced, disciples who fish for people, and who are making an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God.