Hi Group Leaders,

I hope your group trimester is off to a good start! If you have any questions or concerns as your group begins meeting, be sure to connect with your group coach. We'd love to help!

As we dive into the group year, here are a couple ideas to help you and your group members connect together and grow in your faith!

1. Story Cards

One of the best tools we've found for helping people break the ice and really get to know each other is through using Story Cards.
Story Cards feature photos of everyday life, helping give everyone in group an easy way to share their story.
As you grow to know each other better, not only will you enjoy your time together more, but you'll be able to grow in honesty and openness that will lead toward growth.
Get a box of story cards for your group HERE.

2. Open Baptism & Growth Goals

One of the best ways to stimulate spiritual growth in your group is through goal setting and regular encouragement about your goals.
There are many people at Northridge who are followers of Jesus but have not yet been baptized. As you set growth goals in group, challenges those who have yet to take that step, to get baptized on October 24th at our Open Baptism service.

3. Older Mentoring The Younger

While some of our Community Groups are multi-generational, most are made up of people who are mostly in the same stage of life.
While we find much in common with those who are our peers, and it's often easier to connect with them, the Scriptures make clear that the church is strengthened when both older generations and younger generations are in relationship together.
We'd love to help facilitate these relationships.
If your group would be interested in mixing with an older or younger group, let us know. We'd love to connect you together!

4. Is Your Group Information Correct?

As we've worked to connect new people to groups this fall, we've noticed a few groups who's information is out-of-date or missing.
Is your group up-to-date?
View and edit your group on My.NorthridgeRochester.com.
Make sure your meeting time, location, meeting type (in-person/online), group description, and roster are updated. You can even load a group picture.
HERE is a short video tutorial on how to make updates to your group.
If you need help with this, let your coach know.

I hope the tools above will help new people find community, your group members grow deeper relationally, and for all of us to grow spiritually as we set goals and encourage each other in our walk with Christ!