Are you ready for the New Year?

Well, 2005 is almost here. Are you ready? Have you thought about how to get the new year started right with your LifeGroup? Here is an article from an online small group resource that i think might be helpful.

Darryl's Dilemma

During the holidays, Darryl’s small group will meet for a Christmas party, but typically they take some time off because of the time-pressure surrounding the holiday season. Because of this time off, in past years, it’s been difficult to get people re-committed to the group and to get momentum re-established after New Year’s. How could Darryl make this coming year’s restart different? What suggestions would you give him for renewing his small group at the first of the year?

-Some responses from our readers:

It is very easy to get demoralized and try to think of reasons why things are not working and dwell on them. Start with a fellowship evening, don't do all the work yourself, ask each person to bring food and a game. The bottom line, though, is prayer--get on your knees and ask God where the group is going. We have had similar situations and it is perseverance and prayer along with remembering what the group is about...Christ. There may be personal reasons why members are not attending and that may involve some individual conversations along the way. -Russell

Darryl should make it a point to call each individual member of the group. If that member shared a prayer request before the holiday break, ask them how things are going. Let them know that you have been praying for them. Pray for that request while still on the phone with them. Darryl should then tell them that he would love to see them at the next gathering. If that person can't make it, let them know that you care for them and that you will keep praying for them. Make it a point to touch base with them on a regular basis. -Mary

At the next small group, start by discussing the original vision of the group. I believe this would help foster ownership of the group back to all the members while casting the vision of what the group is and what it will become. If folks feel needed or if they have ownership in something, it will become more important to them, causing them to attend more frequently. -Todd

I would guess most small group leaders have experienced this. Darryl should plan something different than the norm for the first meeting. When this happened to the group my wife and I led, we planned a "Make your own Sundae--on Saturday" get together. It was a different evening, a different event, and we met at our home, rather than the church building, like we often had done. When we got together, we had fun and fellowship, but also spent some time re-evaluating our purpose, direction, and commitment level of the participants. It was a good jump-start. -Scott

Taken from www.SmallGroups.com Darryl's Dilemma's archives.