Community

Michael McKinney, author of a blog called "Leading Blog: Building a Community of Leaders" recently wrote:
"Earlier in my career I was an executive recruiter, and what always
struck me is just how lonely these men and women were. Not Tom Hanks
on a desert island lonely – these people were surrounded by people
clamoring for their attention. Rather, they were lonely in the sense
that they rarely if ever could find a safe place to collaborate with
peers around real problems."
Doesn't that sound like a lot of people in our community? It isn't only powerful executives who are lonely in the midst of many people. Look around you. People are lonely! If your Home TEAM is a friendly place where people are getting to know each other in great Christian community, then invite others to join with you! Lots of lonely people would love a place where they can get together and have a safe environment in which to share their dreams, triumphs, failures and shortcomings. A place where they can grow together with others and in their relationship with Jesus Christ!

Home TEAM Report - Finley Home TEAM

Last night, I went to the Home TEAM at the Finley's house! It was a great time for all! Good food, great fellowship, and Ann led a wonderful, biblically sound discussion. One point that she stressed that I want each Home TEAM Leader to work with even if you are using a separate curriculum is: Get your Home TEAM involved in some area of ministry serving outside the group, and preferably outside the church as well. We should all be serving in our church, but the point here is to look for a way to serve the community. Volunteering together at one of the other missions in the Picken's county area is a great way to build a group identity and strengthen the bonds between Home TEAM members. There were lots of great ideas at the Finley Home TEAM last night, and I expect many more great ideas to come as we all get involved in sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others!

Operation Lunch

How many of you have started some sort of small group ministry, but then wonder how to get people involved. Invitations and group Link type meeting aren't working, so now what? Here is a simple idea that we have used that seems to work very well. Even a personal invitation to a home group can sometimes be threatening to a new person. The idea is to invite them out for lunch. Maybe even invite another person or couple from your group as well. They get to know you and someone else from the group prior to coming to the Home Group. That way, they aren't stepping into a new house not knowing anyone in the group. You are probably saying "That's it?". Sorry, no great program or DVD series, just making connections with people live and in person. Have an awesome day!