Community & Care Pathways
Here are next steps and resources to help you cultivate deeper community within your group.
Phase 1
Primary Goal: Build Connection
Characteristics
Groups in phase 1 are likely new and just beginning to develop community. Most people are still getting to know each other, discussions remain surface-level, the group meeting may not be a priority for people yet, and interaction outside of the meeting time may be rare and usually initiated by the leader. The focus is cultivating friendships and building trust with each other.
Groups in phase 1 are likely new and just beginning to develop community. Most people are still getting to know each other, discussions remain surface-level, the group meeting may not be a priority for people yet, and interaction outside of the meeting time may be rare and usually initiated by the leader. The focus is cultivating friendships and building trust with each other.
Next Steps & Resources
Personal Check-Ins - Spend a significant portion of your meeting time getting to know each other through personal updates, ice breakers, highs/lows, etc. You can find a list of icebreaker questions here.
Assign Group Roles - Distributing roles give members more commitment to the group. You can find the list of group roles here.
Group Text - Create a group text for encouragement and updates. You can use GroupMe to make it easy for anyone to join. This is a great way to send prayer requests, plan socials, and keep up to date with everyone's lives.
Prayer - Collect and share prayer requests weekly. Here are some ways you can incorporate prayer into your group:
Socials - Schedule at least one social gathering outside regular meeting times each semester. A list of things to do with your group can be found here.
Weekly One-on-One's - Encourage members to meet with one person or couple from the group for lunch, dinner, coffee, a morning or evening walk, etc. to get to know each other better.
Contact "No Shows" - Follow up with absent members within 48 hours to check on them and share that they were missed.
Assign Group Roles - Distributing roles give members more commitment to the group. You can find the list of group roles here.
Group Text - Create a group text for encouragement and updates. You can use GroupMe to make it easy for anyone to join. This is a great way to send prayer requests, plan socials, and keep up to date with everyone's lives.
Prayer - Collect and share prayer requests weekly. Here are some ways you can incorporate prayer into your group:
- Prayer Partners - Each week have people find a different partner for sharing prayer requests. Encourage them check in throughout the week and actively pray for each other. You can find guidelines here.
- Men & Women Split - Once a month, have the men and women split for sharing prayer requests and praying for one another.
- Divide & Conquer - Follow up on last week's prayer requests, share new ones, and then divide up the prayer requests among the members and take turns praying.
Socials - Schedule at least one social gathering outside regular meeting times each semester. A list of things to do with your group can be found here.
Weekly One-on-One's - Encourage members to meet with one person or couple from the group for lunch, dinner, coffee, a morning or evening walk, etc. to get to know each other better.
Contact "No Shows" - Follow up with absent members within 48 hours to check on them and share that they were missed.
Phase 2
Primary Goal: Strengthen Care
Characteristics
Groups in phase 2 are developing comfort and trust with each other. The group meeting is becoming a priority for everyone, and interactions outside of the group are becoming more regular. People are starting to be more vulnerable and open up about their life so that the group can pray and care for them. The group is strengthening friendships with each other while learning how to identify needs and serve others.
Groups in phase 2 are developing comfort and trust with each other. The group meeting is becoming a priority for everyone, and interactions outside of the group are becoming more regular. People are starting to be more vulnerable and open up about their life so that the group can pray and care for them. The group is strengthening friendships with each other while learning how to identify needs and serve others.
Next Steps & Resources
Share Testimonies - Sharing salvation stories is a great way to deepen friendships and assess where people are spiritually. Cast the vision of sharing testimonies with your group, provide the below resources to help them write out their stories, and then make a plan for sharing them (maybe you share 1-2 at the beginning of each meeting over the semester).
The Gospel Coalition: “6 Principles for Sharing Your Testimony"
Cru: “Preparing Your Personal Testimony"
Kevin Halloran: “How to Write (and Share) Your Christian Testimony: 7 Tips"
Create a Culture of Care - Caring for people is not simply noticing needs, but actively responding to them. Invite members to participate in caring for each other. You might invite someone to go along with you as you care for a member, or you can speak to people directly about doing a specific task, such as:
The Gospel Coalition: “6 Principles for Sharing Your Testimony"
Cru: “Preparing Your Personal Testimony"
Kevin Halloran: “How to Write (and Share) Your Christian Testimony: 7 Tips"
Create a Culture of Care - Caring for people is not simply noticing needs, but actively responding to them. Invite members to participate in caring for each other. You might invite someone to go along with you as you care for a member, or you can speak to people directly about doing a specific task, such as:
- Follow up on someone's prayer request a few days later and pray for them over the phone
- Have lunch of coffee with someone to check in, encourage, and pray for them
- Get to know a new member
- Invite people over for dinner
- Bring a meal to someone
- Visit someone in the hospital
- Reach out to someone who has been absent
- Support each other's kids by attending birthday parties, sporting events, recitals, etc.
Phase 3
Primary Goal: Multiply Community
Characteristics
Groups in phase 3 are deeply connected and consistently care for one another. There is vulnerability and depth in conversations, and the group meeting is prioritized in people's weekly rhythms. Members regularly communicate, pray, spend time together, and support each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The focus of the group has shifted to serving others.
Groups in phase 3 are deeply connected and consistently care for one another. There is vulnerability and depth in conversations, and the group meeting is prioritized in people's weekly rhythms. Members regularly communicate, pray, spend time together, and support each other spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The focus of the group has shifted to serving others.
Next Steps & Resources
Make Room For Multiplication - As mature disciples of Christ, our focus should be on inviting others to experience the kind of deep community we have enjoyed. Here are some questions to think through:
Look For Needs - Encourage your group to notice the needs around them - neighbors, co-workers, family members, etc. Who needs care and how can they initiate it? This will help people move from self-focused to outward-focused, become more aware of the people and needs around them, and help them think through tangible support. If someone comes across a need, discuss how your group can help fulfill it. Here are a few examples of needs to look for:
Serve Together - Serving the community is a great way to bond with your group and meet a tangible need in the community. For a list of organizations to volunteer with, see the question, "Where can my group serve in the community together?" here.
- Who can we invite to the group?
- How can we make room for new people?
- Who are the people in my life the Lord is nudging me to invest in? How can I start a new community group and intentionally fill it with those people?
Look For Needs - Encourage your group to notice the needs around them - neighbors, co-workers, family members, etc. Who needs care and how can they initiate it? This will help people move from self-focused to outward-focused, become more aware of the people and needs around them, and help them think through tangible support. If someone comes across a need, discuss how your group can help fulfill it. Here are a few examples of needs to look for:
- Neighbor's yard work
- Helping someone move
- Providing meals for a family with a newborn
Serve Together - Serving the community is a great way to bond with your group and meet a tangible need in the community. For a list of organizations to volunteer with, see the question, "Where can my group serve in the community together?" here.