Welcome To Your Circle

Schedule your Circles as far in advance as possible. Publicize the date, time and location early and often. Most small group point people are very busy with competing priorities at their churches or places of work. Research shows that we generally need to hear about something 4 times before we act. Try to alert Circle members one month out and then two weeks out. The week of is when you will typically receive solid RSVP’s or regrets.

If you are eating during your Cirlce, be sure to add that to your Circle description. Perhaps something like “Bring $5 for inexpensive lunch.” If you are meeting at a location outside of a coffee shop or restaurant, supplying water, coffee and snacks would be a nice touch. Set the mood with some worship music playing in the background and use signage so people know where to go. Also make sure the area you are meeting in is clean and the room temperature is comfortable.

A Circle is an interactive experience where everyone learns from one other. Keep the discussion flowing and divert the conversation away from those who may monopolize it. Emphasize that everyone has something to offer. Like in a small group, ask open ended questions. Ask for opinions and ideas. When people do share, be sure to acknowledge and thank them.

Have everyone that’s coming bring their best idea that’s shaping community in their context and a challenge that they are struggling with in their ministry. Ask everyone to bring a printed resource they are using to share with the group.

Ask other small group point people who are coming to take the lead on a specific part of your Circle. For example, someone can lead an “ice-breaker,” while someone else opens in prayer & while someone else leads through the topic discussion.

It’s all about relationships! Circles should major in relationships and minor in strategy. Do an ice-breaker activity together. This will help to introduce people to one another and get conversations going. Example: what’s your name, church and your worst “pet-peeve?” Grow together so you really can support each other personally & professionally. We learn more about one another and what pitfalls to avoid when we are real with one another. Pray for one another.

Share the value of Small Group Network. Encourage people to register for free at smallgroupnetwork.com to receive a free monthly newsletter full of insightful resources and encourage people to join the SGN Facebook group community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SGNContact/). Share of any special SGN conferences or workshops that are coming up (https://smallgroupnetwork.com/events). Discuss when and where your Huddle should meet next.

Invite in a guest speaker on occasion to share with the group for 15-30 minutes. This could even be by video call.

Take a group picture before your Circle ends and post it in our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/SGNContact to celebrate what God did and to create awareness of the value of Cirlces. Also send the picture to your Cirlce members.

Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Even if you have an agenda for the meeting, be open to what God may be doing. Recognize and honor God moments in your meeting. Just as in a small group, “getting through the material” is not the purpose of the meeting.

Cirlce schedules will vary. Here are some example agendas:

15 mins coffee/ fellowship

30 mins welcome/ greet / ice breaker

15 min focused equipping time (guest speaker)

15 min group discussion

30 mins lunch / think about 1 question to ask group

60 mins talk about questions & give answers

“4 Ps”

Praise – What’s a good thing that has happened lately in your ministry?

Problem – What is one challenge facing your ministry?

Plan – What’s next in your ministry plans?

Pray – How can we pray for you?

Send a follow up email the following day to your Huddle. Thank everyone for coming and remind them of the date, location and time of your next Circle.