Puyallup Church of the Nazarene

Hello and Welcome to the Action Group Leader’s Page

We hope these resources and tips on this page

will help you lead a successful Action Group.

First, it’s important to understand the purpose, structure and goals for Action Groups.

 You can review those by clicking here (AG Description.pdf).

Upcoming Dates: 

August 16 - Information needed for Fall Catalogue

August 29 – Catalogue Distributed in Bulletin

September 5, 12, 19 – Sign ups begin in Foyer/Online

September 18 – Leader Meeting 10am-11:30am

September 19-25 – Action Groups Begin

Resources:

1.  It’s always fun to have an ice breaker to start your group.  It allows time for late comers and also gives your group a time to get to know each other better.  Here are some ideas (Icebreaker Ideas.pdf). 

2.  Prayer is sometimes a hard thing for any group.  Some people do not feel comfortable praying out loud or in public.  Here are some tips to help you lead your group in prayer. (Prayer Ideas.pdf).

3.  Facilitating a group doesn’t have to be hard.  Here are some tips to help you.

(5 keys to effectively lead your Action Group.pdf)

4.  At the spring leader’s meeting, we watched this 4 minute video together.  We highly recommend you view it as an encouragement to taking your group deeper.

 (How to take your group deeper video) (Serving Others Video)

If you have any other ideas or resources that you think others would benefit from,

 feel free to email Debe Loeber

Needed – Stories!

Whether it’s a total life change or someone praying out loud for the first time – we want to hear what God is doing in your group.  We will be using these stories to help us advertise for the next semester of groups and to help encourage each other with seeing what God is doing.  Please send an email to Debe Loeber with your comment or story.  Let us know if the person would be willing to be video/audio taped.  If not, may we use their comments.   It’s best to email the story/comment right when it happens and is fresh in your mind.  Also, take a moment to reflect after your group is done and see what God shows you.  We will also be soliciting comments from your group attendees through an evaluation.  God is working – be looking for it!!

Compassionate/Service

Serving together is an important element of an Action Group.  It’s amazing what impact can be made on our lives as we give of our time and talents with each other.  This can be done on a night you normally meet or another planned time.  There are many opportunities to serve:

*Alpha Class – help with meals  Contact Susan Hayes at kwizkids@q.com.

*Second Saturday – this is a great one for ladies – help with setup on Friday and help during the event on Saturday.  Contact Vern Bolte at bvern@qwest.net.

*Communion – have your group come together once a month and prepare communion for our congregation.  Contact Debe Loeber at dloeber@puyallupnazarene.org

*Yard Work, House Repairs, Spiritual/Hospitality to those who can’t get out –these are areas that many of our seniors or single moms have need of.  For information, contact Jan Apps at japps@puyallupnazarene.org.

There are many other opportunities through schools and community organizations – let your group be creative.

Send your stories and photos to Debe Loeber.

Don’t do it yourself

It’s important to have a Coordinator to share the load or ask various members of your group to help support the group.  They can help by providing treats, following up on missing members, taking the prayer requests and sending them out to the group, facilitating the ice breaker or a lesson or two, etc.  This helps so that you are not carrying the whole load; it allows the members to take more ownership in the group and allows you to spot potential leaders.  Let people know what is needed and then wait until people speak up.  Don’t worry if there is some silence.  If no one speaks up – don’t be afraid to ask specific people to do something and then change it around.  People don’t mind helping – they just need to be asked.

Have Fun!

Hopefully this isn’t something we have to tell you – but it is important to have a night of fun during your semester.  Whether it is on the night you usually meet or a different night – it’s fun to do something out of the ordinary together.  Whether it’s a potluck, dinner out, movie, bowling, etc. – it’s a way for your group to bond. 

Look out for Leaders

This is one of the hardest parts of a group – looking for leaders and multiplying your group.  This is not something that we force – but we highly suggest that once a group gets to about 18-20 – you begin thinking about multiplying.  We want to make sure there is room in every group for new people.  We know there is a benefit in staying together as you develop a bond and experience life together in a fabulous way.  But there are also great benefits in multiplying and gaining new people – it helps to keep things fresh. 

Please be in prayer each week and ask the Lord to show you who He may be getting ready to lead.  Multiplication can happen in different ways.  You, as a leader, may feel comfortable in recruiting new people – so you would identify a leader and then have them take the existing group for the next semester.  You may want to split the group and you take part and the new leader takes part – both having room for new people.  Your new leader may feel comfortable in recruiting new people – so they would just leave and start a group of their own. 

However it is done, it is very healthy.  It’s just like our children, we love to have them around and at home, but there is a time when they need to move into the next phase of life.  If they stay at home, they won’t grow and mature like they will when they move away from us.  Same is true with our groups.  When the Lord shows you who He is calling to lead – take them aside and really talk to them about what you see in them, how God is impressing upon your heart that He is calling them and then pray with them.  Let them know they will not be alone in the process.  When we (Loebers) first multiplied our group – it was hard because we loved the people so much – but it was very exciting to see how the new leader’s lives were touched in their new groups.  It also allowed us to invite new people into our group.  Over the course of 15 years we have had about 75 couples/singles come through our group and we have been blessed by each one.  Just be in prayer and be open to what God would show you in regard to this.

If there is any specific resource or topic you would like information on,

please let Debe Loeber know and we will research it and post it

for everyone to benefit from. 

We want to thank you again for obeying God’s call and facilitating your group.

 Whether its old or new, large or small, God is at work in their lives and yours.

Let’s be expectant and watching for God’s hand. 

You are being prayed for by the Coaches, Team Leaders and Staff.

Feel free to contact your Team Leader or Coach if you are in need of anything.

 To see an organization chart of the Spring Groups, click here.