Community Group Leaders Newsletter
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Greetings, Community Group Leaders,
This week begins our Spring Session and several of you will have new people enfolded into your groups. In my experience this adds a new dimension to your group. Group members may be cautious and reserve until they get to know these new folks. You can help by:
- Notifying all your members of the new folks before your first meeting. Share your excitement about adding these folks.
- Plan an introduction time in your first meeting where everyone shares something about themselves. Don't ask the new folks to go first. You start it out and set the tone and content of what to share as an example for the group.
- New members don't know your group's history, so be cautious about discussing past group experiences without sharing some background for the new members. This is especially helpful when bringing up on-going prayer requests from your last session.
- Don't ask new members personal questions or to pray until they get comfortable with the group.
All groups should cover the Group guidelines or covenant on your first meeting. Your study may have a group covenant to use. Cover the group's guidelines (confidentiality, attendence, preparation, etc). If your study doesn't have one, please create one or use one from a previous study (the I Believe Study has one) and discuss with your group. This is extremely important in creating a safe environment, especially for new members.
Finally, I have a resource that may come in handy as you experience life together. Handling Tragedy in Your Small Groups, is a series of articles on how to shepherd individuals and your group as members experience difficult circumstances. Below is a table of contents. You can find the articles on New Harvest's website under Community Group Leaders' Resources. If you have not gone to this resource, please do so - there are many good resources for you to use in successfully shepherding your group in discipleship. Each of the articles are linked to the website for your convenience.
I look forward to meeting with each of you and visiting your groups this session. Let's pray together for our group members to grow in intimacy with God, community with each other, and to be an influence in the world.
God smiles,
Kelly
Handling Tragedy in Your Small Group
Contents
Click on the article you would like to read:
What a group leader should do, and not do, in a tragic situation.
A pastor and his wife share principles for helping a family with their loss.
Here are several realistic steps a group can take to help.
How to fight for the integrity of individuals and the entire group
What to do in the likely event of a marital crisis
A plea from a Christian husband and father who daily resists his homosexual desires
Seventeen million people each year suffer from depression. Here’s how you can minister to them.
Books and resources to help small groups assist in tragic situations