How to make people feel at home in your Connect Group?
Written by Nat Weston, Network Pastor C3Belconnen
Welcoming, including and acknowledging all your group members is a hard task to maintain whilst keeping your
meeting running to time, making cuppas/food, sharing your testimony, caring for children, steering conversation,
leading prayer, counseling etc etc but that is what Connect Leaders are all about. We need to be able to build
relationships with our group members whilst building them up to build friendships with others and grow in God.
Here are just few key thoughts…
• During your connect groups try to have a short time speaking with each group member. I know this is
hard in large groups, it doesn’t have to be one on one but it does have to be deliberate. People need to
know that they have genuinely got your time and attention.
• Touching base in the ‘off connect’ week either via email or txt is another way to include people, make
them feel a part of the church community and build a welcoming feel. People don’t like being forgotten
for a fortnight and in some cases this may be the only contact they have with the Church. It’s also a good
idea to make note of any prayer points or upcoming events that are mentioned by group members in your
diary so you can get in touch with a word of encouragement or just a simple hello at the right time.
• Be a person of great character and if you say you will be in touch or that you will pray on another person’s
behalf - actually follow through. How many times have you said that you will pray for someone and not
thought of it again it until days later? It may seem insignificant but it speaks volumes to those you are
leading. Be a person of your word. To earn the trust of those in your care is imperative and this will then
open up your relationship to a new level. A level where they feel safe to share with you, safe to learn from
you because you have demonstrated you are a person of integrity and safe to come as they are and know
that you will maintain confidentiality.
• If you have church members in your group use them to your advantage. It wouldn’t hurt to ask them if
they would like to lead prayer, provide supper or share next fortnight. This will lighten the load for you a
little and give them more ownership over the group. You never know where it may lead.
Hope this has given you some things to try and think over. There really is no right nor wrong way to make others
feel welcomed and we will all go about this in very different ways. Keep striving for excellence and care for the
flock you have been entrusted with.
Nat