1. Launching Better Together Groups
Fall Forward
Launching Better Together Groups

2. Above all…
Transformation over Information
Relating over Educating

3. Types of Groups Wesleyan Distinctive Varied types/targets
Societies
Classes
Bands
Might Look Like:
Affinity Groups
Formational/practices
Disciple Bible Studies
Affinity: (people who have something in common. Pray for each other. Might use Growing Deeply Guide. Semester.
Junius Dotson – in see all the people writes that we need more groups like this…
Groups you can invite people to that don’t attend church....

4. Group Duration Semester-Based (bound; start and stop) Year Long
Three-Year Long
One-on-one relationships
Varied group duration
Beauty of the break – rest and gear up

6. Location
In Community (restaurants, coffee shops, community centers, be creative!)
In Homes (can be one home the duration or rotate homes)
At Missouri we pray to have groups meeting all over Columbia (north, south, east and west).
At Church

7. Group System – Four F’s (based on Nelson Searcy’s Activate)
Focus March, July and November
Form Mid-March to mid-April, mid-July to mid August, and mid-November to mid-December.
Fill Promotion months mid- January to mid February, mid-May to mid-June and September
Facilitate February, June, and October.
Handouts: Searcy 4Fs--Calendar

8. Focus
Determine the philosophy, strategy, goals and calendar for your upcoming small group semester.  (July)
Offer 5 new groups; 3 of which will be affinity groups.
(in the works: grief support, entrepreneurs, family with toddler play dates)

9. Form
Create invites to facilitate through followed by conversation.
Follow up with facilitators about who shows promise as a future facilitator. Ideally, an apprentice becomes a facilitator.
Pre-launch meetings (cast vision, Q&A)
Better Together (head, heart, hands)
Call To Action Card
Example of invite to facilitate
Handout What to Say to a servant
Handout Group Request Form
Handout Vision Brochure 2016
Pre-launch meeting (Q

10. Fill (Ways to Invite People to Participate/Promote)
Give multiple ways to sign up.
Facilitators invite people to participate.
People who sign up to participate, invite their friends.
Video Transformation Stories of Participants and Facilitators
Group Booklet or Catalog (hard copy and online)
Blessing the Facilitators in Worship

11. New Fill Efforts Say Yes Board 8/27 Better Together Group Fair 8/27
Groups start the week of
Sunday, September 10

12. Facilitate
Begin and maintain groups, while equipping and encouraging leaders.
Huddles
Facilitator check-ins
Best Practical Facilitator Helps – “Leading LIfe-Changing Small Groups” by Bill Donahue

13. Multiplying Apprentice: Key to Multiplication
Exponential.org
Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement (Exponential Series) by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson

14. Start now…it’s not too late
Focus
Write one or two goals for groups at your church.

15. Pre-Launch Meetings at Missouri UMC
Wednesday, July 19; 6:30-8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 25; 6:30-8 p.m.

16. Further Support