Putting the Four Steps Together
Here is an example of how this process might occur. Betty asks Debbie to be her apprentice. They will meet the night before the group each week to pray for the group and prepare for the group.
1. Model it. Month one: Betty does all the preparing and leading, while Debbie watches. Betty is careful to explain what, why, and how she is doing things as she goes.
2. Mentor it. Month two: Debbie prepares the icebreaker. She practices it in front of Betty. Betty makes some encouraging and helpful comments. Then Debbie leads the icebreaker in the group. Betty gives her more encouraging and helpful feedback when they get together in their weekly meeting.
3. Motivate it. Month three: Debbie does the icebreaker all by herself. Occasionally, Debbie gives some encouraging or helpful feedback.
4. Multiply it. Month four: Debbie does the icebreaker.
If Betty is smart, she will do basically the same thing with each piece of group leadership until Betty can do each group meeting element confidently all by herself. As she is turning over the icebreaker, she may begin to take Debbie through the same steps with the prayer time. After that, she may take her through these steps in training her to lead the Bible discussion.
Notes:
1. Joel Comiskey, Leadership Explosion, Houston TX: Touch Publications, 2000, 40
