First, “There is nothing new under the sun.” (Ec 1:9) But there is always something new to us. For me and the Small Group Leaders at LifePoint, the following process is new. We have been blessed with a growing number of new leaders and participants. Every six months we conduct a connection event where potential and new leaders are given a chance to lead and disciple others. For years we have had the infrastructure of Coordinators and Coaches who were tasked with discovering, discipling, and developing leaders. This is a major undertaking and has proven challenging due to time, relationships and information on how to disciple. So we went back to the drawing board on the basic commission and command: Matthew 28:19-10…”Go and make disciples” and Mark 12:31 “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
First, we listed all our small group leaders into four categories based on years of service and their experiences. (Don’t over analyze this part.) Then we made a list of 6-8 leaders, one or two from each of the four categories, and invited them to a meeting in my office on Sunday morning. My plan was to meet with every leader in a huddle over the next 10 weeks.
Our first huddle was a men’s huddle. I planned only two guiding requests and a lot of listening. The first request: “Tell us about your small group.” This took 30 minutes with each of the leaders telling exciting or apologizing stories of their group’s life. Most felt they were inadequate or had been failing in their leadership. Some of this was based on not completing a study in time, not doing enough service projects or not adding enough people to their group. I did not speak to these issues, but let the next person proceed in sharing his group’s story.
We refilled our coffee and grabbed a donut then asked the second request: “Tell us about one of the biggest discipleship moments in your life.” I could see the shock, the mind searching, the heart racing on each of their faces. What kind of question is that? Oh, I have so many. What?
The next 40 minutes guys shared from their past, about people in their life, about decisions (good and bad) they had made. Half the group cried either from their own story or a brother’s story. We celebrated what God had done in our lives and challenged each other to keep the focus on this kind of SG leading that leads to life change…not the attendance, service projects or curriculum. That will all happen if we are discipling people.
I have asked one person from each of the huddles to lead the next meeting with this same group. One of our questions will be “What have you done since our last meeting to disciple people?”
(For those of you like me who just can’t stay away from numbers, I am happy to report that after three huddles we have an average of 79% attendance. That is better than any other “training” event we have conducted.)
How can you create a new look, a new focus, a new gathering to help focus your leaders on discipleship?
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February 27, 2013 at 4:12 pm
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I have to tell you that I really enjoyed the meeting. I didn’t know what to expect and in the past had encountered a lot of clique type settings when trying to find my niche to serve in. I really felt that these ladies, and you were real and genuine and truly cared about what was really important. It was refreshing! I wasn’t too sure about leading, and what it might entail. I came away from that meeting elated and thinking maybe this is what I was meant to do. This is what God has been preparing me for. I haven’t felt that way for a long time. So thank you! I am very excited to take this next step in my walk.
February 28, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Larry Baxter (@ltbaxter)
I love to see your heart for discipleship and willingness to try new things. The approach you describe sounds similar to Mac Lake’s approach to leadership development – learner centered and less formal (http://www.maclakeonline.com/leadership-development/just-in-time-leadership-development/) I’m a relatively new small groups pastor also wanting to change things up, so let me ask you a few questions…
* Are you dismantling the coordinator/coach infrastructure, or is there a coach meeting with each of the huddles. You were only present at the first meeting of each set of 6-8, right?
* Did the answers people gave for transformation growth moments reflect things associated with a small group, or that would happen completely outside grouplife?
* Sounds like a great set of questions for first mtg. What kind of questions did you ask in following huddles? Did you go in with a topic in mind, or was it more organic? Or was that up to each person leading subsequent meetings?
* How often were each of these 6-8 leaders supposed to meet after the first one?
Like you, I’m really wanting to increase the group leaders’ focus dramatically onto disciple-making. Thanks!
February 28, 2013 at 8:48 pm
Eddie
Larry, in response to your questions: Not dismantling as much as refocusing from management to discipling. I met with who will lead the huddles in the future all as a group first and they joined me in the first huddle and will lead the subsequent huddles. Most answers came from a “relationship and conversation” rather than a particular SG meeting, or sermon, or retreat, etc. But some of the relationships did begin in a small group. The first round was driven by only 2 questions, but open to the Spirit’s lead.
We are going slow and intentional not scheduling a regular meeting, but inviting them back 2 months later, then invite those interested to more tightly scheduled meetings.
Hope this helps. If you prefer, you may email me at eddie.mosley@lifepointchurch.org for more on-going conversation.
February 28, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Peyton Bullen
As one of the small group leaders who attended this meeting (probably better described as a gathering), I very much enjoyed hearing the good and bad moments we all face as smallgroup leaders. Sometimes we have a hard time measuring what a “successful” small group looks like just based upon attendance and multiplication of a group. This gathering allowed us to build from one another’s experiences and focus on being intentional as we walk with Jesus and bring others along side. As Solomon wrote “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
For me, it was great to share about the people who’ve intentionally walked along side of me and sometimes have had to straighten me out.
I was able to be in the gathering with a previous leader who disciples me and a previous member who I disciple.
March 1, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Larry Baxter (@ltbaxter)
Thanks Eddie, that’s very helpful feedback. After a year-long search we have called a new lead pastor who starts on Easter. I can’t wait for some extended discussions with him about developing a more intentional and relational culture for building up disciples and leaders. I may well have more questions for you at that point, thanks
March 1, 2013 at 11:51 pm
Dr. Bill Donahue
Good words and glad you are on the mend! Grace bro! Bill D
April 24, 2013 at 6:15 am
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