Do you have an idea for
ISSUE 6 VOLUME 2 Ap r i l 7 , 2 0 1 1
a PlayGroup?
Summer is a great time to try it out!
Group
Focus 2011
Opportunity for PlayGroups!
We all know that summer provides new
opportunities and many changes in our
schedule and routines. Summer sports,
vacations, kids are out of school etc. And
because of that, it’s very difficult (although not
impossible) to meet regularly with a group of
people in the same way we do during the rest of
the year.
While some of you continue to faithfully lead •
weekly or biweekly groups through the summer,
many of you take a break and don’t meet or
maybe just get together a couple times during •
the summer. That’s great!
While we recognize the change in schedule
during the summer, I would like to encourage
many of you group leaders to consider leading
one or two PlayGroups during the summer.
Now a PlayGroup can be a one-time event or for the summer. That’s fine. Is there someone
you may meet a couple times or even more
regularly like and exercise group. Whatever
your interest, you could provide a Playgroup
opportunity to gather people together around a activity? Encourage them to use their talents
particular interest. This is a simple way to
provide ministry to individuals and families as
we provide connection points throughout the
summer.
For those of you who are interested in leading a
PlayGroup, I want to strongly encourage you to
put together as many details as you can and
use Group Registration in May to promote
your PlayGroup
Advantages of using registration
month to advertise PlayGroups:
While we can offer PlayGroups at anytime
during the summer, I would like to encourage
any of you who are thinking about leading any
A publication to
encourage and equip
Group Leaders
www.NCGrouplife.blogspot.com
PlayGroup to use our May registration month
because:
• We advertise groups every week during
May, this is the best advertisement you can
get!
• People are thinking about groups and
wanting to stay connected
Families are looking for fun things to do
together Calendar
People are talking to each other and
making plans to do things together
• This is the easiest way to get names and
phone numbers of interested people. April
Maybe you’ve been leading for awhile, and
22nd - Good Friday Service
you’re looking forward to a break from groups
7 pm
in your group that would be great at
organizing and gathering a group of people
around a common interest for an event or 24th - Easter
Get your group info for
to bring people together this summer. summer semester to Linda
For those of you interested and willing to before Easter!
teach or continue leading on Sundays (or
other days) THANK YOU! I appreciate your
willingness to provide this ministry throughout May
the summer. All Group Leaders
Please make sure you have Meeting coming up in the
ALL GROUP INFO middle of May.
(LifeGroups, StudyGroups, PlayGroups & Watch for the date!
Ongoing Groups)
TO ME BY APRIL 17TH. June
Thanks! You’re all amazing! Summer Groups begin week of
June 5
Why Caring Is Key
Important information for those who want newcomers to join their group
Jim Egli and Dwight Marable | posted 3/14/2011
Note: This article has been excerpted from Small Groups
Big Impact, written by Jim Egli and Dwight Marable. The
book outlines the results of the authors' large-scale statisti-
cal research among churches and small groups.
Just because a group attracts visitors to its
meetings and brings new persons to faith in
Christ does not necessarily mean that the group
will succeed in enfolding those new persons
into the life of the group. Our research revealed
that the groups most successful in assimilating
the new people it attracts are those with a high
level of loving relationships—what we call Care.
The growth difference between groups strong in
Care and groups scoring weak in Care is pro-
nounced. Of all the groups surveyed, 44 per-
cent of the groups strong in Care report adding
4 or more members since their group started,
but less than half that number, only 18 percent,
of those weak in the Care factor report the
same.
Groups that score high on Care are groups that
feel "like a family to one another." Members in
these groups pray for each other and support
one another in times of need. Joy and laughter
flow in their small-group meetings, and the
members spend time with one another outside
We are
Better
Together
6 Leadership
Essentials
of their group meetings. They share meals with
each other. The research revealed that, when
possible, members of these groups even try to 1. THINK Life change:
sit together at their church's worship services. Why We Do Groups
Discouraged or Encouraged? 2. Cultivate RELATIONSHIPS
The level of Care in a group impacts the en-
How We Build
couragement felt by the small-group leader.
One survey statement reads, "I feel discour- Community
aged as a small-group leader," to which respon-
dents can answer: rarely, seldom, sometimes, 3. PROMOTE participation
often, or very often. How You Lead a Group
Their answers reveal one factor that impacts 4. REPLACE yourself
leader discouragement more than any other: How You Intentionally
the leaders most likely to be discouraged are Apprentice
those whose groups are experiencing very little
Care between their members. On the other 5. Provide CARE
hand, groups experiencing high levels of Care
How You Handle Tough
tend to have leaders who are encouraged about
their group and themselves as leaders. Situations
6. MULTIPLY influence
How You Maximize
Has your group cultivated the art
Impact
of caring for one another? What
can you do as a leader to model
and encourage care?
Seven Things I Cannot Expect
Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:29 AM PDT Perry Noble
#1 – I cannot expect to win arguments with those who don’t want to settle the argument,
they just want to fight for the sake of fighting. (II Timothy 2:23)
#2 – I cannot expect people to read my mind. (I Corinthians 14:8)
#3 – I cannot possibly expect to have a complete and detailed plan from God that tells
me exactly what His plans are for the next 20 years. (Psalm 119:105) – He doesn’t
promise to let us see years in advance, but He does promise to show us our next step!
#4 – I cannot expect to be a follower of Jesus and keep everyone around me happy at
the same time. (Proverbs 29:25)
#5 – I cannot expect to stay the same and see progress (Isaiah 43:18-19)
#6 – I cannot expect to please God without taking steps of faith (Hebrews 11:6)
#7 – I cannot expect to hear God’s voice if I am always running at an unsustainable
pace! (Psalm 46:10)