Learning from the people at Grace

Last night Ed King, Mary Hayden and I went to Grace Community Church to talk with Michael More and some members of his small group team. Michael and his team have been very successful connecting the members of their Church into groups as 85 percent of their members are in a small group. We have about 15 percent in groups so we are trying to learn how to create more a culture of small groups.

Here are a few thoughts from our meeting last night.

1. There is no magic or for lack of a better word great savvy to their sucess, just a commitment to make groups accessible and drive everyone into a group. In fact, Michael has a very hands off approach many aspects of groups that we have spent much time and energy on. The biggest is in finding leaders and in starting new groups. He does a "Launch Night" in which groups simply choose a leader and work out when and where they will meet. We copied some of the process last Lent and will be working to make it better for our Launch on MONDAY, OCTOBER 4th.

2. Coaching for them is all about relationships and just investing in the leaders, believing in a "trickle down effect." They believe that as they love and support leaders that love and support leaders, leaders will pour into members. One coach Mike said essentially that he doesn't ask how the group is going, he asks how the leader is doing in life.

3. Coaches visit groups twice a year, not to check in but to show support. We have to look into that idea.

4. Struck with what Michael saying how they overload leaders with support in the first few months. Also, he pointed to the need to (using my words not his) script the first critical moves for new leaders so they feel comfortable. That is a ball I dropped last Lent and know I need to really support new leaders this Fall.

5. The Grace team is a humble team. Their attitude a great reminder that God gives grace and strength to the humble and resists the proud.

6. I loved Michael's use of a family/hospital analogy. He said groups are like families and from time to time members of families need to go to a hopsitl for healing. In a small group that may mean a member has serious financial issues or is going through a divorce or is in bereavement or needs counseling. In a family, you take the person to the hospital. In the same way a group should help a member get the support he or she needs.

We learned much more. I'll save that for another blog.