The following list includes helpful suggestions for consideration in starting a new Small Group.

1) PRAY

Ask God for wisdom in the selection of your apprentice and the 4-6 other persons who will help to form your new group.

2) PLAN

Review the Small Group Launch Planning Guidebookfor help in preparing yourself to launch the group. 

Fill out the Small Group Intake Information Form, so that we can have all of your information for the website, and printing business cards for your group to use to invite others.

We have Small Group launching weekends every January, April and September. Be sure to use these weekends to recruit people into your group. We ask every member of the church to connect with a group during those times, and we ask you to join with other Small Group leaders in assisting our congregation in finding a group that is right. You will be asked schedule your team to serve at a sign-up table to answer questions about the group for each of our services that weekend.

3) ACCOUNTABILITY

Touch bases with your Small Group Pastor for approval of your support people and the study material you will use if you are not using the "sermon based" curriculum. (Note: It is important to remember to obtain approval first before recruiting an apprentice or host and hostess, and find out of they are members, or in the process of membership. It is a good habit to check in with your Small Group pastor before recruiting these people, because it could be embarrassing should there be confidential reasons the person is not qualified to serve.)

4) DREAM WITH YOUR TEAM

After getting the approval of your Small Group Pastor, meet with your support people.  Cast the vision for them and challenge them to be a part of your leadership team.  Help them to see the difference they can make in the lives of their neighbors, co-workers, and relatives.

5) PRAYERFUL BEGINNING

Once your team is set, begin developing a prayer list with the names of others to invite to help start your group.

This initial list should include names that you or your team are acquainted with and believe have potential for future leadership. It should also include the names of a few un-churched people that you can invite to your group right from the start. This launches the group with an open mind set of reaching out to the lost. The focus of our Small Group ministry is to create an emotional, relational, and spiritual comfort zone for everyone involved.  Begin praying for the people on your prayer list.

6) ASK

Go after the people on your prayer list, asking them to be a part of your group.  As you recruit them, share with them the vision for Small Groups. You are not inviting them to simply be a part of your small group, you are inviting them to be a part of a great mission - The Great Commission!

7) LAUNCH

Sermon based groups launch at three specific times of the year (January, April and September), but topical and book based studies can start at any time. Once you have 4-6 who have decided to participate, your group is ready to start.  Remember that once a group reaches 10-14 in regular attendance it needs to begin preparing to multiply. So, to start with any more than 4-6 does not allow much room for the group to grow. A group could actually start with a minimum of 3-4 people.  It is wise to talk about the vision for multiplying the group right from the very beginning.  This way people are not surprised when it comes time to put into practice what has been discussed from the beginning.

8) COORDINATE YOUR TEAM'S EFFORTS

Meet with your leadership team before your first Small Group meeting to pray together, confirm dates, times, responsibilities, and to continue to casting the vision before them.

9) REPORT

Give your Small Group Coach an updated list of the people in your Small Group.