Life Cycle of a Connect Group Meet > Connect > Belong Creating a relational culture in your small group means taking the people from the “meet” stage to the “connect” stage and landing in the “belong” stage. Community takes time, and cannot be rushed. Here’s what you may see in the following stages as time goes on. THE MEET STAGE Meetings 1 - 4 A key to building a relational culture in your small group is creating a safe environment. Making your group a safe place opens the door to authenticity. Modeling this yourself as a group leader will be key to letting others know they can do the same. Remember, people are just beginning to get to know each other at this stage. Help facilitate conversations towards building common relational grounds, fostering an atmosphere of trust. The Meet Stage - What A Group Leader Is Thinking Communicate the vision of the group Model and generate trust Encourage people to share about themselves The Meet Stage - What A Group Visitor Is Thinking Do I like the people in the group? Will the group be worth it? Do I fit here? THE CONNECT STAGE Meetings 5 - 8 When people in your small group begin to connect with one another, a new dynamic of relational care has been established. You’ll notice people are on a first-name basis and even ask about each other’s family or work life. Connecting with others means we’ve gone beyond the surface level of knowing others. People will connect over different things—for some, it’s sports or work; for others, it may be kids or a season of life.
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