Promote Participation

A resource for Community Group leaders

There are a multitude of factors that influence the success of a small group. And as a small group leader it can often be overwhelming to consider all the aspects of group that cry out for attention. "Where am I going to find our next study?" "What am I going to do about Don's hit-or-miss attendance?" "How are we going to work out childcare?" In this sea of questions, there are many things that seem to be important. And yet you intuitively know that you can't focus on all of them. You have neither the time nor the energy. And more than that, leading a group involves a lot more than putting out fires. It requires strategic direction. So how can you focus your limited time and energy on the things that are really important? And what is really important?

Over time we've developed what we call the Six Essentials of small group leadership (Think Life Change, Cultivate Relationships, Promote Participation, Replace Yourself, Provide Care, and Multiply Influence). These represent what we believe are the most important things you can focus on as a leader. And though there is a lot that is not covered in this list, we believe that if you strategically focus on these elements you will maximize your ability to lead the group effectively.

Of all of the Six Essentials, the one that is perhaps the most practical and pragmatic is Promote Participation. For this essential, more than the others, offers the most insight on the group meeting itself. In fact, the tagline that we associate with this is essential is "How you lead the group meeting." So if you are looking for practical help on one of the most pressing issues of group life (after all, the meeting comes around every week), then look no further.

But why would we elevate Promote Participation to the level of a group essential? Is it really critical that we get everybody involved? After all, in high school and college (where we are supposed to receive the information we need in life) the teachers rarely went out of their way to make sure the students were involved. Sit, listen, and take notes. That was all that was expected of you. Why should a small group be any different? Well, small groups probably wouldn't be much different if our goal was simply to communicate information. But we have a different goal than that. Our goal is life change and that doesn't happen through information transfer alone. Think about it. All of us know that God can be trusted. But how many of us have turned over full control to Him when it comes to our career advancement or the future of our kids? There is a gap between information and application and that is where the group steps in. By facilitating a group meeting where members can discuss and dialogue around Scripture and key life areas, you as the leader create an environment where the Spirit can work in the lives of your group members to connect the dots. As you consistently do this, you'll begin to see the light bulbs go off as people disclose their true thoughts and feelings and start to discover how they can take steps of faith. And this will ultimately lead to growth and life change in your group.

So why focus on Promote Participation? Because over the years we have observed a direct correlation between transformation and participation. The level to which you can engage your group members is the level to which you can challenge them to be transformed. Reflect back on your life. What are the lessons you've picked up along the way that are core to who you are? Are they merely things someone told you? Or are they lessons that you've learned by being exposed to the truth, wrestling with that truth, experiencing the consequences of ignoring that truth, and then experiencing the fruit of applying that truth into your life? The level of engagement, the level of involvement, and the level of participation in the group sets the pace for the level of transformation that can occur in the lives of group members.

A Hurdle to Overcome

Promoting participation in the group isn't easy. If it were then everybody would have this down and we wouldn't have to focus on this essential. But as you know, it can often be difficult to facilitate the group in a way in which everyone is engaged. Why? Because we have a significant hurdle to overcome.

This hurdle is a misunderstanding of the role of the leader. Often what comes to mind when people here the word "leader" is someone in the forefront; taking charge, giving instructions, providing the right answers at the right time. Most people envision the small group leader to be the "master teacher" who does the majority of the talking while participants sit quietly, take notes, and occasionally interject comments. However, this is not the model of a leader that we embrace. Rather than the gatekeeper of information, the small group leader's role is that of a facilitator. Someone who leads by inspiring inquisitiveness, deep thinking, and collaboration. In our culture, life is fast-paced and relationships are at a premium, so we've adopted a model that promotes group member participation by incorporating collaborative learning and meaningful relationships into a conversational environment.

Shared Ownership

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul describes the way that God has designed the Body of Christ. Each person has been gifted with a unique blend of strengths, talents, and gifts that allows them to serve a unique role within the Body. A small group is an intimate picture of the Body in action. When you're able to discover and utilize the gifts of every member, everyone in the group feels a sense of involvement and ownership. As members are given opportunities to actively participate in the group, they realize their value and begin to appreciate one another as individuals. It is the role of the group leader to help each member discover their niche within the group and then allow him to take ownership of that particular area. In this way group responsibilities are distributed among the group, relieving the leaders from feeling the full weight of managing the group. Some possible areas that the group members can take over include:

• Discussion—you can rotate leading the discussion with someone else, or you can have the whole group take turns leading.
• Logistics—someone can coordinate snacks, meeting place and time, etc.
• Socials—you can designate a member or two to be in charge of planning social outings and planned interruptions.
• Prayer—someone can lead the prayer time and/or distribute the prayer requests to the group via email, phone, etc.
• Care—a member can keep the group informed about any emergencies, issues, etc. that arise (e.g., if something happens to a group member, she coordinates meals, keeps the group updated on how the person is doing, etc.).
• Missions/Service Projects—this person identifies service opportunities for the group.

Opening Up

Another way that you, as the leader, can promote participation among group members is by modeling authenticity and transparency. A common misconception among leaders is that you should never show your weaknesses to your group members. While your group is not a confessional booth, it is important to show the members of your group that you're human, that you do have struggles. Think of some of the people you respect and admire most. Do you admire them because they're perfect, or because you can relate to them, because they're real people? In the same way, you will gain more credibility and influence with your group members by being honest than you ever will by seeming perfect.

By being honest about your own struggles, this will open the door to deeper relationships. As members begin to appreciate that they are among friends, they feel more freedom to be themselves and share their opinions, struggles, etc. Authenticity and transparency become the "tone" of the group. By creating a safe environment, group leaders allow members opportunities to take relational risks and be vulnerable. When inner struggles are brought to the surface, life change begins to happen as the community of believers begins to rally around one another and walk together through the day-to-day issues of life.

Questions

Yet another way to encourage participation in your group is to use discussion questions as a springboard for conversation. Don't limit the discussion to questions given in the study, but use them as catalysts, adding your own twists as appropriate. It is also important to model active listening and show genuine interest in what others are saying. By asking specific, thought-provoking questions, you communicate that you are listening and thinking about what is being said. It is also important to help the group maintain a healthy balance between depth and shallowness, avoiding the dreaded discussion dysfunction. We've all been in groups where the conversation was so shallow it was painful, and we sat with our eyes fixed on the clock, anxiously waiting for the group to end. Chances are you've also experienced groups where the discussion was so deep that you were exhausted by the end of the meeting. An ideal group discussion finds the balance of appropriate transparency by using insightful questions.

For the Future

This essential of Promote Participation leads right into another one of our essentials, Replace Yourself. In fact, by being intentional about engaging the other group members, you will begin the process of leader development. As you observe people taking more ownership in the group, you should be able to recognize those individuals who, with a little coaching, could potentially make great leaders. Then you can begin bringing them alongside you in planning and facilitating group meetings. By looking for and helping develop potential leaders in your group, you have a hand in opening the door for others to experience the life-changing power of community.

In Conclusion

By leveraging the group essential of Promote Participation, you will raise the level of involvement and engagement of your group. In doing so, you will set your group up to experience the life-changing power of community. People will be able to be honest and open with themselves and with the others in the group, and ultimately encourage each other as we pursue the goal of Christ-likeness.

Adapted from North Point Community Church, Atlanta GA