Community Group leadership can be both exhilarating and exhausting. We may experience the thrill of adding new group members, watching them cross the line of faith, pray for the first time, get baptized, or grow in commitment to following Jesus. On the flip side, we also may experience the sadness and frustration of group members dropping out or drifting away, not responding to our texts and phone calls, making choices that are destroying their relationships, or who are apathetic about their faith.
You may be loving Community Group right now, but there will be times where you feel ready to call it quits. In fact, if you are not careful, how you are leading now may end up in you not leading later.
Here 4 Sure Ways To Burn Yourself Out
1. Do It All
The quickest way to exhaust yourself as a Group Leader is to lead everything in your group:
- Facilitation
- Hosting
- Snack
- Weekly followup with group members (texts, calls, meals, coffee)
- Caring for group members
- Scheduling social events
- Sending weekly meeting reminders
- Putting together a group volunteer schedule
- Organizing a serving opportunity
- Praying for each group member
As a Group Leader you are responsible to help make these things happen, but that doesn't mean you need to do all of them. In fact, we would encourage you to share everyone of these tasks.
Have a group member put together a volunteer schedule. Only facilitate 1 time each trimester. Split up the group roster to have other group members followup, care, and pray with each other each week.
Make it a goal to give away responsibilities so most weeks all you need to do is show up and participate.
What tasks and responsibilities can you give away?
2. Lead Alone
As Group Coaches the number one reason we see Group Leaders step down is because they are leading alone.
Yet, I know of very few leaders who really want to lead alone. The frustration is that it is difficult to find new leaders.
So, how do you find new leaders for your group? Mark Nelson reminded us at our last kickoff event that "the best leaders are not discovered, they are developed."
Where do Community Group leaders come from? Most likely they are currently in your group.
Remember, we are not looking for people who are ready to lead today, but those who have the potential to lead. It may be hard to see now, but God can use people we'd never imagine; like us for example.
Who is one person or couple in your group that you can invest in and develop?
Which people in your group can a potential leader follow up with and care for?
3. Neglect Your Own Faith
It takes changing people to change people. When our love for God grows cold, our love for self increases and our love for others decreases. And yet, when our faith is vibrant, we are eager and burdened to lead our group and see those around us find and follow Christ.
So, what can you do to prioritize pursing Christ? Is there a habit you need to break or begin? Share it with your group members, share it with your coleaders, or share it with your coach. Set a growth goal and find accountability to help you follow through.
What step do you need to take to pursue Christ and grow in your faith?
4. Fail To Pray
Without God's hand in it, not only are we unable to lead our Community Groups well, we can't change other people, we can't make others obey, we can't raise up other leaders, we can't follow through with our own tasks and responsibilities, we can't stop sinning, we can't even take another breath or keep our heart beating.
We are utterly and completely dependent on God for everything!!
"You do not have because you do not ask God." - James 4:2
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened...So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" - Matthew 7:7-8, 11
When we pray, we remind ourselves that we are dependent on God for all that we do.
Feeling overwhelmed? Remember, it's not about doing more, its about giving more away, realizing you can't do it all and instead placing your dependence on God.
Here are a few additional resources you may find helpful:
Why and How To Share Facilitation
Here are 3 tips on sharing facilitation and a 1 page guide and suggested email for 1st time facilitators.
Why Don't We Pray for Our Community Group?
Here are 5 ideas to help you pray for your group members regularly.
Only Half Of My Group Showed Up Last Night
How do you ride the attendance rollercoaster in your group? Here are 4 reminders when people don't show up to your group.
Do You Have A Question?
We would love to be of assistance to you. Search this website to find Group Trimester dates, curriculum options, leader tips, group forms, sermon discussion questions, past leader training content, and much more!
Community Group Updates
Communion
Don't forget to celebrate Communion with your group as this trimester ends. HERE are the instructions.
Membership Class
Are you a leader or on your way to leadership but not a church member? Make sure to attend the next Membership class on Sunday, March 25th. Sign up HERE.
Trimester Dates
End of Winter Trimester: March 17 | Spring Trimester: April 1 - May 26
Northridge Group Leaders Facebook Group
Keep up to date on what is happening in group's ministry at Northridge and share ideas with other Northridge Group Leaders. Join group HERE.
Jason DeGraaff
Community Groups Pastor
Life Is Better Connected
