Connect Groups

1. Pray for Guidance
   • Seek God’s wisdom and clarity for your leadership role and the lives you’ll impact.
2. Choose a Focus
   • Decide on the purpose of your Connect Group, whether it’s a an interest-based group, outreach, Prayer, or Bible study that you’re passionate about.
3. Set the Structure
   • Format: Determine if meetings will be in person, online, or both. Plan out how your meetings will be run.
   • Frequency: Choose how often and how long you’ll meet (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.).
   • Location: Select a convenient location for your group.
4. Prepare Your Materials
   • If there is a book or bible study or a discipleship focus, ensure your curriculum aligns with sound doctrine and gather any resources needed for discussions.
5. Create a Welcoming Environment
   • Plan to foster a warm atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable sharing, and clearly explain the group’s purpose.
6. Facilitate, Don’t Preach
   • While meeting with your group, look for appropriate moments to include spiritual discussion. Encourage participants to share their insights and personal stories to foster meaningful discussions.
7. Communicate Regularly
   • Stay in touch between meetings with reminders, prayer requests, and encouragement to build connections.
8. Be Flexible
   • Adjust your plans whenever possible as needed and allow for everyone’s busy schedules.
9. Reach Out for Support
   • Don’t hesitate to contact your church’s Connect Group team for guidance and resources.
10. Celebrate and Give Thanks
    • Acknowledge small wins and give thanks for the opportunity to be part of God’s work in your group.
11. Training Videos: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8043404

You’ve probably seen connect groups meeting and not even realized it. A connect group looks like friends at lunch, teams playing basketball, or people studying a book or topic of interest. At its core, a connect group is a small gathering of people, and it is less about what you do and more about who you do it with. By participating in connect groups, you can expect to connect with others through a common activity, engage in life-giving conversation and request prayer.

Childcare varies from group to group. When you search our directory for a group, the group profile will indicate if childcare is available.

The truth is, not everyone will find the best fit with the first group they try. This is why we encourage you to select a few groups that interest you, contact the leaders and try out a couple different groups before choosing the best one for you. The simple strategy to finding success in connect groups is to not give up. We believe there is a group that is right for everyone—including you!

Most connect groups meet quarterly – winter, spring, summer, and fall. During the quarter, most groups meet once a week. Connect groups are meant to bring meaning and community into the flow of your life. Even if you can’t attend every meeting, there is still great value in joining a group.

Connect groups meet anywhere from three months to a year or more! This way, we always have new groups for new people to join. The groups that meet quarterly allow you to try multiple groups each year. As relationships form, some groups choose to stay together for consecutive seasons, but new members are always welcome.