Adults

Posts Tagged LIFE Group

Apr
7
F Leader , I Leader , Susan Hill

3 Suggestions to Make Sure First-Time Guests Have an Excellent Experience

by Susan Hill

As most of you know, Easter is a busy time for first-time guests in the local church. The hope is that in the coming weeks these guests will return and connect in a LIFE Group. For some people, visiting new groups is difficult.  As leaders, we want to be sure our first-time guests feel welcomed into biblical community. Creating a warm and welcoming environment in our LIFE Groups isn’t difficult, but it does require intentionality.
Here are three suggestions to make sure your first-time guests have an excellent experience in your group:

  1. Greet them as they come in the door.
    This seems like a no-brainer and it really is, but you’d be surprised how easy it is in larger groups for a guest to come in and remain unnoticed. Ideally, your group will have a greeter at the door and he or she will recognize new faces and introduce them to other group members. While most people don’t like to be put on the spot and asked to introduce themselves to the class, all people do long to be acknowledged and spoken to.
  2. Wear nametags.
    Coming into a new group setting and not knowing everyone’s names can be overwhelming. Wearing nametags makes it much easier for newcomers to get to know other group members. It also communicates that your group anticipates first-time guests. If your group doesn’t have nametags, please let the Adult Ministry staff know, and we will be glad to have those made for you.
  3. Follow up.
    After first-time guests attend your LIFE Group, it is ideal to follow up within 48 hours by email, text, or phone call. The goal is just to touch base and let the guests know you are glad they came to your group and invite them back. Following up with guests only takes a couple of minutes and has a significant impact on whether they will return or not.

It’s difficult to overestimate the significance of hospitality in LIFE Groups. There is no doubt that guests visit LIFE Groups with the hope of getting connected to an active community of believers. Extending great hospitality is a crucial part of this process. Let’s do everything we can to make that happen.

Mar
16
F Leader , I Leader

Following Up with Group Members Who Have Been Absent

Guest Post from “I” Leader Erin Gainey

As an “I” leader in my Sunday morning LIFE group, one of my responsibilities is to follow up with group members who have missed a few classes.  Mike Glenn has mentioned several times that one of the first ways you can tell something is wrong is when people stop coming to church. Successful groups not only reach out to unconnected people but also provide support and accountability for regular members. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
When I notice that someone in my group has missed a few classes, I send them an email. I tell them that they have been missed, that I’m praying for them, and that I hope to see them again next week. It’s important for people to know that their absence has been noticed. My LIFE group has become my family. If a family member stopped showing up at family get-togethers, someone would say something. It should be the same way in a LIFE group. Following up also lets the person know that they’re being prayed for. Sometimes just knowing that someone cares enough to reach out and pray for them is enough to encourage a member to come back to class.
The importance of following up with members really hit home for me a couple of months ago. One member of my group had been absent for several weeks. I sent her an email, and the next time she came to class, she shared everything that had been going on. She also told us that she’s never really stuck with a Bible study. She would go to classes for a few weeks but then drop out. She has never stayed connected very long. However, because my LIFE group leader and I reached out to her when she stopped coming, she decided that she was going to be committed to our group. And she has been. She consistently comes to class and is an active participant. She has developed authentic and encouraging relationships with women in our class. All of this because a couple of people cared enough to let her know that she had been missed.
Following up with group members is a really simple, yet incredibly important, part of being an “I” leader. It only takes a few minutes and can be such a meaningful gesture for someone who really needs it.