LEADER FAQ
How long are you asking us to commit?
The upcoming season will last six months from October through April with the month of December off.
How much time do you think it will take?
A lot of this will depend on how you want to approach things, but we estimate 3-4 hours per month. That includes 1 hour each month for training and support, and your two one hour group meetings.
How often do you want us to meet?
We are asking Groups to meet twice per month, but you can meet more often, if you want! Typically, a rhythm of meeting every other week works well.
Who do you want us to include in our Group?
Odds are, you’ve already thought of some friends and neighbors that you might want to invite. Start with them! It always works best when you go with the people already in your life, but we will also be asking everyone in the St. Peter family to join a Group, so we may have a few names we’d also ask you to consider.
What about if I already have a group that I meet with?
That’s great...and the perfect place to start! What we will do is offer you coaching and advice for how to make the most out of the opportunity. For example, if it’s a group of friends, you may not have found a way to introduce a spiritual conversation. We can help you with that! Or if it’s a small group or Bible study that hasn’t met for a while, you may want to start meeting again but don’t know how to do it best in the online format. We can help you with that!
What does a typical Group meeting actually look like?
While exactly what you do will vary based on your leadership and whomever you invite into your Group, the basics of a productive meeting will usually include:
Open in prayer.
Use the opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit into the conversation and be expectant of what He will do.
Ask an opening question to get conversation going, such as:
Tell us one thing about yourself that you’d like us to know?
Tell us about a recent high/low for you or your family.
What’s one thing you are celebrating?
What’s been hard this week?
Share a scripture and invite people to share what stands out to them, using this simple process:
Observe: What word, phrase, theme, or idea stood out to you in this passage?
Reflect: Why did that stand out to you?
Discuss: How does this scripture give you insight into a situation in your life?
Respond: What is Jesus saying to you, and how will you respond?
Close in Prayer - Pray for each other and those far from Jesus.
In addition to that, you could share a meal together, play a group game, or enjoy your favorite snacks and/or beverages!
What kind of training and support are you going to give us?
We will provide monthly coaching and training through Zoom meetings and personal contact from a staff member who can help answer questions and troubleshoot any issues that arise. We’ll also focus on celebrating what God is doing and any breakthroughs we see! Most importantly our D Team is committed to praying for you and your leadership.
What exactly is expected of me as a Group Leader?
We expect you to create a welcoming space that invites people into community (even if it’s online, relationships can form and be strengthened, once you learn a few tricks!). If you follow the basic outline (see above), you will have simple process to keep the spiritual growth component on track, so that it doesn’t get lost or forgotten. We also ask you to pray regularly for your Group members and follow up with them in between Group meetings, if there is an emergency or issue that emerges.
What is NOT expected of me as a Group Leader?
We don’t expect you to be an expert in the Bible (although some of you are!) or in video conference calls (although all of us are learning some new skills!). You also aren’t going to be a professional counselor or emergency responder, but you may help connect them with help, if they need it.
What makes a good Group Leader?
A good group leader is someone who follows Jesus, demonstrating a humble, growing faith. They are good listeners who interact with people naturally and are slow to judge or criticize others. Through the things they say and do, they model some component of the life of Jesus in a way that others look up to and would want to imitate.
