8 ways to set the stage for healthy groups

You want to set the stage early on to help foster a healthy environment for your community group. A few items of focus you can go over with your group…

1. Share the kind of environment we strive for at the church. Everybody’s Welcome. Nobody’s Perfect. Anything’s Possible. Check out Pete’s charge to the leaders at the recent rally.

2. Make sure your group is aware of and committed to the 3 core values. “To continue to grow as a community of believers radically devoted to Christ, irrevocably committed to one another and relentlessly dedicated to reaching those outside God’s family with the Gospel of Christ.”

3. Practically apply “relentlessly dedication to others” through serving together regularly. We can not stress enough how much serving should be integrated as an essential element in your group life. There are opportunities to serve on a regular basis with many of the organizations we partner. Of course, you may find opportunities on your own as a group. One serving opportunity your group will do together is Serving Saturdays each quarter at Crosspoint. Begin reminding them of the next one coming up NOW so it’s a priority. It’s March 5th, from 8 am to noon. Details will follow soon about specific projects but they will be able to sign up through your group in the next few weeks.

4. Give your group a good kick start with these 10 tips as you begin this semester.

5. On your second meeting, cast vision for commitment within the group and go over the groups covenant. Give them a few more weeks to determine if this is a commitment they can make.

6. Give the opportunity for members to take ownership through roles in the group.

7. Check out and implement 5 ways to facilitate group meetings and 5 more ways to facilitate group meetings.

8. Be creative. We can give you tips all day long, but you probably have the best ideas inside of you. Is it a fun icebreaker? Is it a different way you get people to tell their story? What creative idea do you have to help your group connect with and share one another?