Archive for Countdown31 – Page 3

Big Choice #1 What Type and Duration of Group Fits Our Purpose

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (0)
Sunday, August 9th, 2015

In our Countdown 31 series, the next eight posts are about eight major decisions that groups must make regarding their purpose.

Choices

Big Choice #1 – What type and duration of group best fits our purpose?

This is the starting point for any group. Even established groups need to revisit the purpose of their group. The issue here is what kind of group do we want to have and how long will our group meet? This choice is between ongoing or short-term groups; and open or closed groups.

Duration: Ongoing or Short-term

An ongoing group is a group that intends to meet regularly (usually weekly) for an extended period of time… like years! Many churches have an ongoing group or two that has been in existence for decades! Not all of the original members of the group may still belong, but the group has continued to meet regularly for an extended period of time.

A short-term group usually meets from four to thirteen weeks (one month to one quarter). These type of groups are excellent for discipleship (D-Groups) or other type groups that have a more intense period of study or a precise purpose that can be accomplished in a short term.

Type: Open or closed group

An open group is intentionally designed so that a guest or newcomer can join the group at any time. An ongoing group has a type of study and social network that allows people to move in and out of it as their schedule permits. Guest can participate or even join the group at any time. For a group to operate in this manner requires Bible studies that can be stand-alone. A guest or group member does not necessarily need to have any knowledge of previous lessons or even what the group is studying on the day they visit the group. In other words, registration or enrollment is always open.

A closed group on the other hand has registration deadline. Typically, after the second week the registration period closes. There are typically two reasons for a group to close.

  1. The study is more intense than an open-group’s study. The curriculum may require “homework”, Scripture memory, or even some type of learning activities. It will be difficult for someone who joins the group late to catch up to where the group members are in the curriculum. In fact, people joining late may even be detrimental and hold back the learning of the group.
  2. A group designed for accountability often needs to be a closed group. For an accountability group to work well, members must develop a growing degree of trust through ongoing relationships with other group members. Obviously, having new people coming in and out of the group will be a disruption.

So the first big choice a new group must decide is what type of group they are going to be, and what will the duration of the group be. For existing groups, it is an excellent idea to re-examine their purpose and determine if they are being consistent with their original big choice.

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Bob Mayfield is the Sunday School/Small Group specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. You can follow Bob on social media:

Facebook – TheBobMayfield

Twitter – @bobmayfield

Instagram – @rpmayfield

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The Key to Assimilation in the Church

By Mark Yoakum · Comments (0)
Saturday, August 8th, 2015

assimilation-puzzle

Each of us has heard of a church which has reached and baptized a lot of people only to see the church had no real growth in attendance from week to week. This is because the church had no real plan to assimilate the people it reached. Assimilation begins before the guests ever arrive at the church. It begins with making the right First impression. Are there parking spots reserved for guests? Is the entrance clearly marked? Are there people at the door to greet guests and help them?

“In our surveys of first-time guests, we hear repeatedly that one of the keys that caused them to return was a friendly first impression. Like it or not, it’s often a make or break issue for the guest”.    Thom Rainier-Blog on Greeters

The pastor was astonished. He had just arrived at a Coptic monastery in the day’s journey from Cairo. The monks were treating him as though he were the most important guest they had received since the monastery was founded in the 12th century

They served him a fine meal, showed him to a comfortable room, brought him freshly cut flowers, and then introduced him to the abbot.

“Wow! You really know how to treat a visitor here.”

Father Jeremiah replied, “We always treat guests as though they were angels–just to be safe.”

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 (NASB77)

Research continues to show that relationships are the key. If a person makes as many as five friendships in a new church research shows they will be more active and remain in the church. If they establish less than five friendships, they will likely be gone in a couple of years.

“Our studies show that a new member who gets involved in a Sunday school class is five times more likely to be an active church member five years later than one who attends worship services only…….. And leaders in these churches seek to conserve their evangelistic gains by seeking to incorporate the new believers into a small group, most typically the Sunday School.”  Thom Rainier, High Expectations

The key is to get Guests and new members into a Sunday School group where they can make friends and relationships. That requires work. There must be a process. Churches like LakePointe in Rockwall and Champion Forest in Houston have a written out plan of follow-up with the goal of getting them into a Sunday School group.

The plan must begin with the greeters, helping guest to find the appropriate Sunday School Class. Also it requires active follow-up.

According to Flavil Yeakley, there is a 36-hour window that makes all the difference in the world. If you make your first follow-up contact within 36 hours, there is a 50% greater chance the visitor will return next week. Jonathan Gainsbrugh, Winning the Backdoor War   Page 102

Even Coke realizes the importance of relationships in its new marketing campaign to “Share a Coke with a (Friend, Neighbor, Dad , Mom, etc).”

The best organization the church has for follow-up and establishing relationships is the Sunday School. A pastor is wise to help his Sunday School to accomplish the task of assimilation if he wishes to grow a church instead of just seeing a lot of additions.

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Dr. Mark Yoakum is the Director of Church Ministries for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. He has served as Minister of Youth, Minister of Music, Minister of Education and Executive Pastor in churches in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas.

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Groups and Guests – Good for Each Other

By Mike Taylor · Comments (0)
Friday, August 7th, 2015

WelcomeGuests
When a group has embraced the Great Commission as its purpose, it has the proper foundation to build a great group.  Once that foundation is laid, the following principles can be applied.

  • Groups need to understand their purpose. If we understand the “why” of what we are about, then it will define the “how” of getting it done.  If the why is reaching and discipling people, then we have the direction for how we are going to accomplish the work.
  • Groups should be excited about themselves. When a person enjoys the fellowship, the teaching, and missions and ministry a group is doing, then they will want others to be a part.  We will invite our friends to something that we hope will bring as much to theirs lives as it has ours.
  • Groups need to anticipate guests. If we pray for God to grow our group and the group understands that invited guests are going to grow the group, then we need to plan for their attendance.  Having a place for them to sit, having people ready to receive them, and having a plan to follow-up with them shows that we are anticipating them attending the group.
  • Groups need to assimilate guests. When people attend a group for the first time, they need to know that the group wants them to be a part.  That means they are welcomed and introduced and immediately included in the planning of socials and mission activities of the class.
  • Groups need to follow-up with guests. Getting together with a guest outside of the group meeting space and time helps the guest know that we care about them. They sense that we are willing to use our time and resources to invest in them.  Immediate connections should be made on the day the group meets.  This can be done by text, email, or social media.  This will help to answer any immediate question that they might have about the group or the church.
  • Groups should be excited about their guests. This excitement comes from a sense of success that they are doing a good job reaching out to people.  It comes from a room filling up.  We all want to be a part of something that is successful.

If we stick to our purpose of reaching and discipling people, we have a benchmark to measure our success in doing kingdom work.

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Mike Taylor is a Sunday School state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention. Stay current with Georgia’s “Growing Groups” ministry at gabaptistgroups.org

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Groups Increase Sharing

By Jonathan Jordan · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 6th, 2015

smallgroup2One of the first lessons we all learn, or at least should learn, is to share.  Many times I find that adults really don’t share that well.  They revert back to the “mine, mine, mine” stage.

To be a follower of Jesus requires more of us.  More of what we have been graciously given from God in forms of gifts and money and of US.  Our faith is not something that is held close, or to hide from the world.  Our faith is not only important to those who don’t know him, but those brothers and sisters in Christ that need us, and some don’t even know it.

One of the major struggles in churches is to have your congregation get involved in a group.  Groups are the lifeblood of our churches and getting people in those is not only important to the life of the church but also to their Christian walk.

Gifts

  • People in Groups give more of themselves by contributing their gifts to work. Those that attended a group at church were more than 30% greater to contribute by serving others than those who did not attend a group.
  • People in Groups were over 35% more likely to have responsibilities as a teacher, mentor, Bible Study leader etc.
  • People in Groups were over 20% likely to serve those in the community that are not affiliated with your church.

Money

  • People in Groups will give over 4% more to the church

 Faith

  • People in Groups were 25% more likely to pray for the spiritual status of those who don’t follow Jesus
  • People in Groups were almost 2.5% more likely to invite someone to church

The idea of being in a Group has less to do with us but more to do with those around us and following Jesus.  That idea is sometimes misunderstood and believed that the Group is about us, and is there to serve our needs.  The problem that arises is when EVERYONE believes the Group is for them and not others, honoring Jesus, serving the community and so on.

Groups help us in many ways and I have been a part of many and find when I am ready to give much, I receive FAR more from others than I imagined.

People in Groups share more:

  • Their Gifts
  • Their Money
  • Their Faith

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Jonathan P. Jordan is a Sunday School Missionary for the Georgia Baptist Convention. Stay current with Georgia’s “Growing Groups” Strategy at gabaptistgroups.org

 

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The Church’s Best Discipleship Strategy Is…

By Sean Keith · Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 5th, 2015

strategy

Research continues to clarify for churches that people are looking for a clear and concise plan from their church that helps them in their spiritual walk with Christ. Joining a church is not enough. People want and need to know what is next. Sunday School has been and still is the best “next step” for people who are a member of a congregation. If your church does not have a Sunday School, there is the option of small groups. It doesn’t matter when they meet, where they meet or what you call these groups; people just need to know, “where do I fit in”.

Groups Help People Move to the Next Step of Discipleship
Most churches that are effective at reaching and assimilating people in their community into their church have a process to making disciples through groups. That process requires an intentional strategy to identify people who are not in a group and a precise plan how to connect them to a group. To be successful, this process needs to be people focused and relational in context. People aren’t looking for friendly groups; they are looking for friends.

Groups Propel Measurable Spiritual Growth
The purpose of each group is to make disciples. Involvement is a key contributor to a person’s spiritual growth. Research proves that the more involved an individual is in a group, the stronger their relationship is with God. For example, a person who attends bible study every week tends to be more interested in spiritual things than does a person who does not. The person who is active in the leadership or engaged in ministry with the group tends to have stronger relationships with the group and the church. Regular attendance tends to lead to more spiritually mature people.

Groups can Address the Key Attributes of Spiritual Transformation
When people are actively engaged in their group on a consistent basis, they experience a greater sense of belongingness and feelings of being loved and valued. When those foundational needs are met, a person is more likely to be open to the teachings and application of truth from God’s Word into their personal life.
Groups are the churches best strategy to make disciples. Once leaders and participants clearly understand the “strategy” the church has in place to connect, then they can connect with the lost and unchurched, provide a place for biblical community to develop, help people to mature spiritually and to live missionally.
See, it’s really not that complicated. But, it does take a lot of work.

Excellent research about groups can be found in Transformational Groups, by Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger

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Sean P. Keith is the Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist, Louisiana Baptist Convention

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