Breakout One :: Kathy Guy

I wanted to make sure to go to this one since it is my primary area of responsibility at The Orchard.

  • Groups come in every shape and size. and we get flipped out on what is “The Right Way” to do groups.
  • But it seems that there isn’t one right answer. It’s messy. Relationships are messy.
  • So Granger has pulled back and said that relationships are primary and all the other stuff is 2ndary.
  • Of or With? GCC is a church with small groups. Not all their teaching tries to funnel people into groups.
  • GCC has realized that not everyone that comes to church wants to be in a group.
  • If you try to push people into a group, they’ll often times resist.
  • “How bout if we give that up and just tell people that this is one way you can connect”
  • Groups don’t change people. God changes people. People matter to God. It’s about them. And that’s who we focus on. That’s why GCC is a church WITH small groups.
  • We try to channel people into relationships and it might be through groups. But it might be through serving, volunteering, or groups. Giving them opportunities to be in relationship. And the people might not realize it, but they’re forming a group
  • Church is one of the few places that people show up and expect the church to find them a friend.
  • Would people go into a bar, and tell the bartender that he should find them a friend there? Yet people expect that at churches.
  • But we create the spaces, but help people create the opportunities and take ownership to create relationships in the spaces we provide
  • We’re not trying to force you anywhere, but if you become a grown up and step up and initiate on your own, you can form relationships
  • We want people to step in and discover love and discover that they’re cared for…it is huge.
  • How do we do that?
  • Starting Point: “I want to meet some people and start some relationships” We tell people “come to this meeting and you can find one there” What’s the reason people are coming?  Starting Point is for people looking for friendships [Not the Northpoint Model]
  • Turning Point: “I want to change the not so helpful patterns in my life and meet some others who are in a similar place.” It’s a support group.
  • Both of these are consistent:
  • A recognizable brand
  • Easy Entrance
  • Easy Exit
  • Safe Experience
  • How do we provide acceptance vs. tolerance of one another?
  • We are going to err on the side of Grace. And once people realize they matter to God…
  • Starting point:
  • Launching vehicle 8x a year
  • 6 Meeting experience
  • Focus on getting to know each other
  • Easy entrance/easy exit

How do we find leaders?

  • The hesitant but willing person is who we look for. The confident and cocky people don’t work out. Look for friendly people who are warm/welcoming. Committed member of the church. “Have you ever had any interest in helping people connect in community?”
  • They need to be relationally intelligent
  • A lead learner. taking steps themselves to grow in knowledge.
  • Cares about people
  • Don’t just take the warm body. You’ll be sorry.
  • We have a very difficult time placing people w/ teaching gifts. People don’t want to be taught to, but cared for. “People don’t care how much you know, but want to know how much you care.” When people are cared for first, then they can much better learn.
  • We use the word “facilitate” more than “lead”.
  • At starting point, people get 4 rounds of random questions “where do you live, what do you like?” to help people group.
  • Most people use the Granger Notes [notes from the sermon], but some choose book studies or Nooma or other stuff.
  • GCC doesn’t have affinity ministries. No men’s, women’s, couples, etc. We group by marital status. Mixed groups sometimes work, but the drop-off is higher in those mixed groups. Esp singles.
  • How do we measure a win? It’s not if the group stays together. It’s if someone shows up and formed relationship with 8 or so others. In a large church, it helps the larger church become smaller.
  • Have a friend. Be a friend.
  • Discipleship. Control or Trust? It takes way too much energy to approve every single group’s study material and manage the inner goings on in each group. You have to release trust to your groups.
  • Not everyone is cut out to be a group facilitator. Model trust. Treat people like they’re trust worthy.
  • Measuring the win. We use Fellowship One as our database. Approx 27% of our people are in groups. But about 50% have touched a group experience and experienced our relational culture.
  • The soft measurement is the stories that come out of group experiences.
  • It is up to each group to decide their own child care solution.
  • We only offer childcare at our weekend experiences and our midweek experiences [at church]. So it’s in the culture already that child care isn’t offered unless it is a total church experience.