Small Group Leadership Training

Pastors invite key lay leaders and potential lay leaders to attend the training. The training involves 16 hours of gathering as a small group. (Meet twice a month for four months.) Training sessions include modeling small group structures, experiences, and teaching the fundamentals of group leadership.

Key Components of the SGL Training:

Creating A Safe Environment: Participants need to feel safe emotionally before they feel free to contribute. Until people feel accepted, they cannot offer acceptance to others. Insecurities must be addressed so that they do not become a source of judgement.

Redefining Leadership: Leadership is more about facilitating and empowering others rather than having all the answers and trying to control outcomes.

Redefining The Purpose: Too many churches focus on gathering people to teach theological doctrines rather than empowering people to let their light shine.  The church exists to equip and empower people to be the love and light of God in the world.

Redefining Church Assets: The church’s greatest asset is its people.  Talented staff and good programing are important but not the most important.  The key question is, how does the church empower the people to love/serve/shine?

Encouraging Participation: The key to spiritual growth is active participation.  Small groups not only validate each participant but necessitate active participation.

Building a Team: Teamwork structures require participation.  Small groups are always co-led or team led.  The small group is seen as a team with each member offering a valuable contribution. Teamwork avoids the pitfalls of the hierarchical model of leadership.

Loving Takes Time: Relationships are the only way we experience love. Small groups provide a natural structure for building relationships. They create an environment for connecting, listening, validating, supporting and giving to one another.

Communicating The Vision:  All motivation require passion and passion requires vision. The vision is the transformational power of experiencing love and learning to love.