It’s been said that a healthy church is like a bird with two wings. We need our sunday gatherings because it’s there we get absolutely vital worship and teaching, in ways that are different from what can happen in a small-group context; plus the sense of being part of a community going somewhere together; and much more besides!
But then it’s in a smaller group – homegroup, lifegroup, whatever your church calls it – that we’re more likely to find real fellowship and mutual pastoral support, in‑depth prayer and the chance to watch specific prayers being answered, in‑depth application of Scripture with the chance to ask our real questions, and opportunities to learn to use our gifts in a context where we feel safe if we make mistakes.
Both contexts really matter! And all this makes the homegroup leader’s role very significant. Yet my impression is there are quite a few churches where (alas) homegroup leaders are not really either cared for or trained. So here are a few suggestions!
First, about care of these vital leaders. If you’re a pastor, the HGLs need to know you’re committed to what they’re doing. That’s one reason (not the only one!) for being careful to keep the vision for homegroups fresh, preaching it every 18 months or so. It’s also important that they see you at their group. (As a pastor I used to visit HGs on a rotating basis, one a month.)
But even more important, whether you’re a pastor or another kind of homegroup coordinator, is to host in your home, or visit, HGLs on a rotating basis. (Again, as a pastor I sought to do this on one evening a month.) And if a group has two leaders who aren’t married to each other, it’s best for everyone to know it’s standard policy for you to see them separately; that way you’re more likely to find out in good time if that relationship is going wrong…
This is not just to talk through the church’s overall vision (though that’s vital, because they are vital in moving it on!), nor only to talk about how their group is doing; but, above all, how they themselves are: What challenges are they facing? How is their life with God, really? What are they feeding on in Scripture? How is work? How is the family?
But then of course you do indeed want to hear their perceptions of their group: What’s going well? How are the Bible studies? How is the group’s prayer life, and does it extend beyond people’s own problems to the not-yet-Christians they care about? Do they have any plans for outreach? Are people listening to and caring for each other? How is the support for their adopted missionary? What would they change if they could wave a magic wand? Who are they encouraging as potential future leaders? How do they themselves want to grow, and what training input might they value as a leader? Are they happy to continue for another 18 months? And, crucially: How can you pray for them personally?
This is also a good time to go through with each HGL the list of who you think is pastorally covered by their group (whether or not they actually attend regularly). Are the people you thought were attending, actually coming? Do any of them have issues you need to hear about, or gifts the leader feels could be developed further?
HOMEGROUP LEADER TRAINING
Then you’ll want to plan HGL meetings that are both supportive and honouring, and also that offer the training the HGLs need.
In my experience a two-sided curriculum is needed for these sessions. Certain foundational issues need to be covered with the homegroup leaders every couple of years or so, particularly if there is a fair degree of turnover – the vision for the homegroup, how to lead a good Bible study, prayer in the homegroup, worship in the homegroup, evangelism through the homegroup, building community, global vision in the homegroup, etc. (You’ll find materials that may offer starting-points for developing these sessions here on https://petelowmanresources.com/category/homegroup-leader-resources/.)
But the whole programme will be more attractive if you alternate these with more unusual topics, ones that experienced HGLs can feel are helping them grow, including with outside speakers: for example, how to help friends who are depressed, or who are struggling with mental health issues; how to integrate new members who are recovering from addiction; fostering hunger for God, caring for carers, listening skills, crisis marriage first aid, conflict resolution… And we can make clear that all this is intended not just to help us grow as homegroup leaders, but also to enhance our leadership skills wherever God may lead us in the coming years – and in our “secular” lives too!
FOSTERING NEW LEADERS
Obviously we should take particular care of new HGLs and give them appropriate input. It’s important to meet with them beforehand, and again 3 months in to see how they’re doing. I’ve been sending something like this to all new HGLs:
`Friends, hello! Thankyou for your willingness to take on homegroup leadership! I’m very glad that you are doing it and pray that the Lord will give you much joy and fruitfulness in it. It’s a really key ministry in a church like ours.
And because this is such a key ministry, I’d like to ask that during the next two months you take time to carefully work through some training materials for homegroup coordinators that I think are helpful. [This may be a thorough book on homegroups, or it could again perhaps be the resources in https://petelowmanresources.com/category/homegroup-leader-resources/ .] You may find these resources helpful as starting points for reviewing your group’s life from time to time too.
l also attach our church’s homegroup leaders’ job description.
And obviously I will be very happy to interact with any thoughts or questions you have, now and later!
A big thankyou again!
Peter`
A FEW MORE ASPECTS OF CARING:
At regular intervals – perhaps before Easter, in late June, and in late November – notify the HGLs, for their group planning, of the plans for the coming months: the church’s teaching and strategic focus for this period, but also church prayer meetings, church planning meetings, future HGL dates.
It’s important to ensure that all HG leaders confirm their wholehearted agreement with your church’s Statement of Faith (each January for example), and to report to the church that that has happened. This is vital; it’s disastrous if a homegroup leader is encouraging the teaching of something different from the beliefs of the church (as has happened more than once over the years in my own fellowship); also, it’s not enough for someone to be in leadership who was committed to a biblical faith five years ago but has lost their way subsequently, due to a midlife crisis, or reading too much of the wrong kind of theology, etc. If that has happened, the annual signing of the statement of faith gives an opportunity to face up together to the issue, without the pastoral awkwardness of having to raise it `out of nowhere`.
To make it as easy as possible I used to email our church’s statement of faith to all the HGLs, asking them simply to type their name into the SoF attachment to confirm their commitment, and to forward it back to me. (This is what I used to put in the covering letter: `And lastly, it’s that important time of year again when each of us as leaders in this vital area is asked to confirm that we’re still wholeheartedly committed to our central beliefs defined in our statement of faith. We try to keep this as straightforward as possible: all that’s needed takes five minutes, to open it, type in your name as signature to confirm your commitment, and then forward it straight back to me –- but — still can I encourage us each to do this as a conscious act of worship, because these are great realities – take two minutes first to read and think through what you’re signing, and one minute more to worship God, that these magnificent things are so…!`) (See also https://petelowmanresources.com/your-churchs-statement-of-faith-why-how/ .)
Keep an eye on the good preparation and circulation of HG Bible study notes, if your church does its own. (I used to actually circulate these myself because it’s a good way to pass on other messages; eg encouraging the HGLs to pray for forthcoming outreaches, and flagging up key points of the church’s vision/strategy for the immediate future. I suggest however that it’s a good protective policy for all messages for HGLs to be passed on this way, through the person who sends out the notes; rather than all church leaders flooding the HGLs with anything that comes to mind!)
Remind group leaders occasionally that the study notes aren’t meant to be used legalistically but to be adapted to your group – your group may need more, or less, explanation, they may need supplementary questions that draw out the point of the main one, alternative wording perhaps… Someone wrote to me that they found it puzzling to see evening leaders `doing nothing more than read out aloud the notes and questions, without thinking how suitable or appropriate it may be`.
Alternatively, you can find good study guides on specific Bible books published by www.thegoodbook.co.uk ; www.ivpbooks.com for the Lifebuilder guides (also available on Amazon), and other guides too; WEC’s Geared for Growth series (digitally, from www.gearedforgrowth.co.uk); or https://equippingthechurch.com/partner/covertocover . (My own attitude has been that, if a group wants to do something else altogether, that’s okay (it helps with motivation!) – but then I do want to know!)
Encourage the group in January or July to review their life together. Here are some questions you may like to use:
What are the things we find most memorable (most helpful/funniest/most challenging?) as we look back over our times together last year? What do we remember most? What can we celebrate?
Growing more closely involved with God:
– how can we make our Bible study together more fruitful?
– how can we make our response in prayer more fruitful?
– how can we make our response in worship deeper and more meaningful?
Growing more closely involved with each other:
– how can we make our life together deeper and warmer?
– how can we be better at caring for each other?
– how can we be better at helping each other grow?
Growing more fruitfully involved with the world:
– how can we pray better together to see our friends take steps towards Jesus?
– how can we be more meaningful in caring together about global mission, and our link missionary?
This is for the group’s own use, not for you! (But you will of course be interested to see any results an HGL may want to send you, any thoughts, questions or concerns they may have, and good ideas that emerge!)`
Lastly, every 12-18 months it’s worth reminding the HGLs that they can find good churches for members moving elsewhere on http://www.eauk.org/connect/find-a-church.cfm .
PS One important cultural consideration: The typical, discussion-based homegroup doesn’t work for everybody. In Steve Tibbert’s book Good to Grow he suggests that (in particular) believers who have grown up in some African cultures (maybe not all) don’t find that sort of context really helpful (as can be demonstrated by how few Africans attend them), and instead prefer a slightly more formal situation where there may be inspirational input from the front and then interaction by the whole group, and significant prayer. We too talked with our African leaders and they agreed, so we looked at launching something of this kind, to provide closer fellowship for people not in other small groups; and we decided, rather than a weeknight evening that meant people coming specially, to hold it fortnightly on Sunday mornings after our main service. This was preferred over a weeknight because of issues of childcare, shifts etc, but especially for pastoral reasons because it can be much easier to get new and fringe people to stay after a service than to come in on a separate occasion.
The meetings can alternate between focus on prayer and on Bible discussion. One meeting might be worship then prayer; this will include personal prayer topics. (It would also be good if we pray for our home countries in turn – any godly group needs a global dimension.) The other time can have worship, then ten minutes inspirational Bible input from the front (which could be based on the questions for homegroups that week), and then interaction by the whole group, finishing in prayer for what we’ve been discussing. And every few weeks there will be a bring and share meal. As the group is a kind of homegroup it should be responsible to the church’s homegroup coordinator; but there needs to be a steering group who look after the future programme, pastoral care (one of the most important aspects – including especially keeping a list of participants and looking out for people who stop coming), how to give the group an evangelistic dimension (otherwise it will stagnate), etc. It should be announced in the church’s main service every two months so as to catch new Africans – especially when there is a Bring & Share.
This can be a very important group! And it’s well worth the pastor attending perhaps once in two months, particularly when the Bible input is being done by an African (to help/invest in the young speakers, maybe even talk with them ahead as to what they’re going to do), but also to show that this and the people attending it are respected and valued.
(In saying this we are thinking primarily of people who are first-generation here, and perhaps over 35. Second generation Anglo-African youth who have grown up in the UK are of course culturally British but can have their own specific challenges, which I feel our own church didn’t always handle well. But I think these are often different issues, and what is said above about discussion may not be so accurate. )
(For more of these resources please click on https://petelowmanresources.com/category/homegroup-leader-resources/ .)
