Transformational Groups by Ed Stetzer & Eric Geiger

Author:Ed Stetzer & Eric Geiger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion/Christian Ministry/Discipleship
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

5

The Right Leaders

LeaderSpeak

Leaders who are deeply impacted by God are able to facilitate holistic, meaningful life change in others. We need both more leaders and better leaders.

—Robert E. Logan, From Followers to Leaders1

Next Step: Discover and develop the right leaders.

John and Connie had led groups before. Divorce recovery groups and more traditional classes were entries on their ministry résumé But the challenges changed with an open-ended, year-round group that met in their home.

Classes are often more knowledge based, and other groups normally have clear beginnings and endings (Divorce Care, Celebrate Recovery, Financial Peace). Yet both have tremendous transformation potential. The challenges John and Connie faced in their new group were different from those they faced previously. Now the focus was more balanced between study and relationships. The meeting lasted two hours so there was plenty of time to relate both formally and informally.

John immediately found that the new rules of group life in his home matched his personality and the same for Connie. They were great hosts who made everyone feel welcome. And although it took some time, the group became a family. John said, “Slowly over time the people in the group began to matter to one another.”

“The hard part is the energy and time commitments that are needed as you become more involved in each other’s lives,” John said. “You reach the point where you don’t have any more capacity, and that is frustrating, . . . but you can’t do it all.” Watching people grow in Christ, generosity, and friendship with one another makes it all worth it according to John.

John believes he is the big winner because he is the group leader. The group has been used by God in John’s growth.

God continues to change me. Through the various groups I’ve been part of over the years, I continue to learn to be patient with others, seek to understand them, and not judge them. As I am doing this, God is using them to show me aspects of His Word, which I would not have seen on my own. Other people, especially when they are diverse from ourselves, help us grow.

John and Connie were the right leaders, but the right leaders are not always easy to find. Leading a group is a tremendous commitment, and leading one in one’s own home doubles the commitment. So if you find people willing to make the commitment and who are also good teachers, then normally they’re in, with no questions asked. After all, that seems to make the most sense. But other criteria are critically important according to our research.

John and Connie have qualities that are critical in their diverse group, like patience. People need to talk about themselves in their group meetings. Honest disclosure actually causes the group to share life on a deeper level. According to our LifeWay Research survey, 72 percent of people believed that one of the most important characteristics in group leaders is that they make “people feel comfortable sharing in the group.”

Leaders in local churches have various gifts and passions.

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