by Michael Sove
So many people are willing to facilitate a group but don’t do it because they feel inadequate for the task. They say, “I don’t know enough. What if they ask something I can’t answer? How do I handle the incessant talker? What if no one responds?”
We have done many things over the years to help support our leaders. Here are a few ideas:
1. Provide Edification Sheets – For many years I wrote the cell edification sheets. I call them edification sheets because you know you have a good cell if the people walk away edified or built up. I don’t like to call it the agenda because Jesus is the real agenda. I would follow the 5 W’s to provide balance in the flow: Welcome (an icebreaker), Worship, Witness, Word and Works (ministry to one another and in the community). The Word section was always about application of the Sunday message.
2. Provide Leadership Training – Give your leader basic training in facilitating skills and even model for them a typical meeting. I believe on-the-job training is the best form of building confidence. So in our cells we are always trying to give people opportunities to facilitate one of the aspects of cell that night. Someone will bring the worship, someone will bring the Word, another will lead us in the witness section, praying for the lost and sharing current outreach adventures and stories. Share the ministry; this is your best training opportunity.
3. Provide Coaching and On-going Care – If a leader has someone to talk with and be encouraged by, they will grow in their confidence to facilitate. I typically will help them solve their own problems by asking leading questions. I don’t want to give them all the answers but lead them to seek God and His solution for the problem. If a leader is cared for they will endure even tough seasons in their cell cycle.
4. Provide Resources – Every year I try to give my leaders at least one book that will help them grow in their knowledge of the Word, leadership, skill etc. Currently those who are following what we call “Message Movers” are given a copy of the Lead Pastor’s message or outline so they can better apply the message to their group. I have even sat with a leader in a brainstorm session to come up with good application from the message we both heard. It was a mutual time of encouragement and creative planning.
5. Provide Weekly Prayer – One of my favorite things to do is call a leader the night before their gathering or on the day of their gathering and pray for them and their cell. This is a powerful way to encourage them and to show practical prayer support.
Support your leaders and they will stay in the trenches for the long haul! May God bless you in your support and care. What other things do you do to sharpen your leaders and care for them?
