A Great Start for New Groups

Getting Started
THE ABCs OF A GREAT START (For Your Connection Group)

A. Preparing for your first meeting.
1. Call your group members this week. Don’t just leave a voice mail message.
At this stage, personal contact is critical.
2. Enlist someone to help you make the calls. Increased buy-in is important.
3. Ask each person to bring something (cokes, chips, etc.). This cements their
attendance. They’re much more likely to show if you’re depending on them.
4. When you call them your enthusiasm is very important. Get yourself ready to call.

B. First Meeting
1. Start your group off with an informal “meet and greet” session.
The agenda for this meeting is all about helping people feel relaxed and comfortable with the other members of their new group.
2. Make a map to your house and send this out a week ahead of time.
3. Call each person AGAIN a couple of days before the meeting to encourage them.
4. Have nametags and markers ready at the door. Arrange for an uninterrupted
session (i.e., childcare needs, food prepared in advance, etc.).
5. Discuss the group’s covenant. This is an important step. Don’t miss it. This can be done at the “meet and greet” or at the next meeting (when anyone new joins the group later the covenant should be reviewed).
6. Set a date and place for the next meeting before you dismiss.

C. Meeting Follow-up
1. Call or touch base with each person who attended the meeting to encourage them. This extra step helps them to continue to forge a relationship with you. Look for them at church. Any contact in between meetings will help cement them to their new group.
2. Call all of your new group members a couple days before your next meeting.
Don’t assume that they’ll remember. They need your encouragement.