Multiply Influence
A resource for Community Group leaders
Multiplication is an integral part of our small groups strategy. In fact, multiplication is so important to us that we have made Multiply Influence one of our Six Leader Essentials for Community Group leaders—one of the six things we want our leaders to emphasize the most.
What does Multiply Influence mean?
Group multiplication is the intentional process of ending one group after 12-24 months by forming two or more groups and thereby multiplying the influence of your group leadership. But multiplying influence is about more than just creating more groups. It's about developing group members who are advocates of group life and take an expansionist view where they are eager to see people in their spheres of influence enjoy the benefits of group life.
Why should we Multiply Influence?
Multiplication allows us to make space for those who are disconnected. Our mission is to help people Discover a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but we can only do that if we offer people a place to plug in. When a group multiplies, it doubles the number of opportunities for people to experience authentic community and spiritual growth. Not only does it further the mission of the church, but it also stimulates growth in each of the three Vital Relationships. Our Intimacy with God grows because when we obey the command to go and make disciples we are prioritizing what is important to him. Our Community with Insiders grows because the natural hesitation to multiply calls attention to the quality of the relationships we currently enjoy, and because when we commit to multiplication we must partner together to achieve the goal. And our Influence with Outsiders grows when we are intentional about investing in the lives of others.
Multiplication also fosters a healthy group dynamic. We have chosen a "closed group" model because we believe that life change happens best where there are safe, predictable environments, and a revolving door of new faces can undermine the development of authentic relationships. But it is also true that the injection of new members brings valuable energy, diversity, and freshness to the group experience.
The reality is that all groups end. People move, schedules change, singles marry, and all of this leads to attrition. The old saying "familiarity breeds contempt" can ring true in group life as well. After a certain point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. But if groups intentionally multiply at or near their peaks, they will finish strong and carry that momentum into the next generation of groups.
How can we Multiply Influence?
Intentional leadership is the key to multiplying influence. Part of the reason that we ask leaders to focus on multiplying influence is that this type of mindset doesn't just happen on its own. Many leaders find this to be the most difficult Leader Essential to implement because it's the one where there's the most pushback from group members. As we'll see, this pushback can be used to your advantage in encouraging your group to multiply its influence. We do recognize, however, that multiplication can be challenging, so we want to give you some tips for successful multiplication.
Have a plan. It can take time not only for group members to buy into the idea of multiplication, but also to implement some of the steps that lead to successful multiplication. For this reason, last-minute multiplication rarely works. Take some time early in your group's life cycle to determine what steps will set your group up for multiplication and plan when those steps should be implemented. This is where your C-Group Coach is a great resource. They are trained in identifying the signs that indicate the time for multiplication.
Cast vision for multiplication. Introduce the concept early in the group's life cycle (using the Covenant is a great way to do this). Talk about multiplication regularly throughout the life of your group; this will reinforce the idea that your group's goal is to multiply. Ask your group members who they're investing in for the sake of eternity; this will demonstrate that you value multiplication.
Develop an Invest & Invite strategy. Spend a group meeting discussing the concept of Invest & Invite and help your group identify people in whom they can invest and suggest some practical action steps. Focus that meeting's prayer time on these relationships. Discuss ways that your group can help each other Invest & Invite.
Identify and develop an apprentice|. This concrete step towards multiplication casts vision to your group members and gives you an ally in encouraging the group to prepare for multiplication.
Do a study that emphasizes Influence with Outsiders. Go Fish, On Location, and Three Habits of Highly Contagious Christians can help your group members gain a biblical perspective on outreach, while also equipping them to reach their spheres of influence. Groupcurriculum.org can help you identify other studies as well.
Anticipate the pushback and use it to recast vision. The more your group members value their small group experience, the more they are likely to resist the idea of multiplication. Group members who are experiencing authentic community for the first time are often the most resistant to multiplication. And yet, the fact that they value their small group is the best advertisement for the importance of multiplying. Remind them that the reason they have had this opportunity is because someone else valued group life enough to multiply and create space for them. Ask them, "Who in your sphere of influence would you like to experience what you have enjoyed? Who will create space for them in community?"
Conclusion
Multiplication is inherently difficult. And if you've led well by creating an environment where group members experience authentic community and spiritual growth, your job will be that much tougher. But by setting your group up to multiply its influence, you can ensure that we will always have space to accommodate those who wish to connect with their Heavenly Father.
Adapted from North Point Community Church, Atlanta Georgia