July 2, 2009




Leadership Summit

Register Now While You Can Still Get Greatly Reduced Price! The Leadership Summit is a great opportunity to invest in your leadership. Also, one of the best ways to develop other leaders in your group is to bring them along to a top-quality event like this.  I (Mike) am encouraging you to register this weekend and invite a couple of your leaders along as well. The price goes up $30 on July 24, so don’t wait! I’d like to sit together with all Life Group Leaders and maybe take some time between sessions to discuss implications and applications to Life Group leadership. Let’s plan on sitting on the right side of the auditorium (as you face the stage) about half way down the aisle. So far, 26 Life Group Leaders have registered, plus many Life Group members. Thanks to all of you! I wonder if 50 of us could be there to learn and grow together?


Healthy Life Group Survey

The Life Group Ministry recently sent out a Zoomerang survey regarding the health of your Life Group. Our focus this Fall and into next year will be to help our current groups to become even more healthy (no matter where you are right now) and to start a bunch of new healthy groups. To do that, we needed to first define what a “Healthy Life Group” looks like. While this kind of measurement is somewhat subjective in a very relational ministry like ours, it is very beneficial to bring some objectivity to it. So we created “7 Signs of a Healthy Life Group.” These are the values—or better yet, DNA—of a healthy, growing, life-changing group. The survey helps us to know where our Life Groups are right now, and will help us to consider training and coaching starting this fall. So far, 26 Leaders have responded and taken the survey. (Hmmm … Is this the same 26 who are coming to the Summit?) It only takes a couple minutes to take this online survey and it will be well worth your time! I am 100% committed to serving you and helping your Life Group to be as healthy as possible so it may grow and bear much fruit. Of course, the best way to do that is to stay connected to the Vine (John 15:5). I hope you are staying connected to Jesus this summer!

Rock Band

Just in case you missed it … here’s a couple pictures of our Life Groups Minister rocking it out!

Life Group Leader Download of the Month

Here is a special download from SmallGroups.com: “Staying Connected During the Summer”:
http://www.smallgroups.com/downloads/training/practicalministryskills/bsg30.html If you have trouble downloading this file, please let me know. 

An Easy Way to Help Develop Leadership in Your Group

All of us want to develop the people in our groups, especially in their leadership passion and skills. One of the best ways I’ve found for doing that is to simply bring them with you to the Leadership Summit. It’s especially convenient this year since it is at Northeast, and, because it is, you get a reduced price of just $75!   Here’s what I’d like to ask you to do, if you haven’t already: (1) Please plan to come to this great event yourself. You can register at the Summit Booth in the foyer this weekend.  (2) Pray about who you should invite from your group. (3) Call them and invite them to come along with you. (4) I encourage you to drive with them to the event so you have time to talk before and afterwards. Also plan on eating lunch together.  I will also be trying to spend some time with each leader and your guests during the event. So please let me know if you are coming!  


The Leadership Summit   

August 6-7, 2009 @ Northeast Christian Church For more information about the Leadership Summit, including speakers, go to www.willowcreek.com/summit Remember to register only at our booth at NECC to get your special pricing!



Serve Opportunities

Kitchen Angels
This ministry provides food as a way to minister to those who are facing grief and other challenges. If you would like more information on this ministry and how you can serve, contact Amy Ware at 241-5823.

 Is your Life Group interested in a one-time, hands-on project for the summer? The days are listed below. We are hoping to find enough groups so that each group prepares for one day.

The Youth Services Program at Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) will be serving 40 newly-arrived refugee students, Kindergarten through 12th grade, in their school readiness program this summer. KRM’s program addresses the many needs of refugee youth, offering English as a Second Language classes 5 days a week, art therapy sessions, peace education, and field trips. On Wednesdays, KRM offers lunch and extended enrichment activities for the children so that their parents may attend Cultural Orientation classes. Your group would provide simple sack lunches for 40 refugee children and 10 program volunteers on one of the following days:

- Wednesday, June 17

- Wednesday, July 1 

- Wednesday, July 8

- Tuesday, July 14 

- Wednesday, July 15 

- Wednesday, July 22 

- Wednesday, July 29

Please contact:

Lee Welsh, Sponsorship Developer
Kentucky Refugee Ministries
969B Cherokee Road
Louisville KY 40204
(502) 479-9180 x14 
                      
                                                                                      June 5, 2009


Life Group Video of the Week: Absence of Ground Rules Inhibits Spiritual Growth in Groups (7:25)
Dr. Cloud and Bill Donahue share how to create small group ground rules. Click HERE to watch!

Life Group Leader Download of the Month

Here is a special download from SmallGroups.com: “Staying Connected During the Summer”: http://www.smallgroups.com/downloads/training/practicalministryskills/bsg30.html If you have trouble downloading this file, please let me know.


What’s Your Life Group Doing This Summer?
 
I’ve already talked to some leaders about your summer plans, and it looks like every group’s are different. Some are meeting as usual. Some are not meeting at all except for monthly social get-togethers. Others are meeting, but not as often. What about you? Could you email me (mike.mack@necchurch.org)  just a short note to let me know what you’re up to this summer?  

Here are just a few ideas for this summer:       

• Open up your group with picnics and parties together and inviting some unchurched or unconnected friends. Have fun and build relationships God can use for his glory.
• Do some backyard Bible studies involving your neighbors, including their kids. One year I did a mini-VBS jamboree for all the kids and their parents who lived in our apartment building. It was a blast, and we saw kids take an interest in pursuing God. 
• Serve together. Attend 2nd Saturday together or find a way to serve in your neighborhoods or elsewhere together. There are lots of ways you can serve together outside during the summer. Be creative!
• Anyone vacationing together this summer? Go to a lake, the beach, or camping together.
• Have fun at Bat’s games, King’s Island, concerts in the park, etc.
• Mentor one other person in your group over the summer. Meet outside to go through the book together!
• Do you any other ideas to share with other leaders? Send them to me and I’ll put them in the next Lifelines!
  

  Serve Opportunities
  
  Yard Sale to Benefit Ministry in Guatemala
  Garage Sale Donations Needed!
  
  Brad and Holly Clark from Northeast are hosting a benefit Garage Sale. All proceeds will help people in Guatemala to receive food, education and wheelchairs. The Garage Sale will be held on June 13th in the Springhurst Neighborhood Garage Sale.
  
  If you have any items that you would be willing to donate please call:
  Brad and Holly at 339-0606
  
  Some ideas are:
  • Wheelchairs/walkers/metal crutches
  • Any eyeglasses
  • Appliances (functional)
  • Audio/video/photography equipment
  • Baby equipment
  • Books/comics/paperbacks/old magazines
  • Bottles/jars
  • Camping equipment
  • Clothes - especially babies' and toddlers'
  • China/glassware
  • Costume jewelry
  • Curtains/drapes
  • Flatware - silver/stainless
  • Furniture
  • Games/toys/bicycles
  • Garden tools
  • Kitchen utensils
  • Lamps/mirrors
  • Lawn/patio equipment
  • Linens/bedding
  • Lawnmowers - electric and gasoline
  • Music and musical instruments/equipment
  • Pictures/frames
  • Rugs/carpet
  • Shoes/boots
  • Sports equipment
  
  Wheelchairs for Guatemala – If you or someone you know has any old wheelchairs that they would like to donate to send to Guatemala, please contact Brad Clark at 339-0606 by June 1.
  
  Thank you for your support. We are excited about the sale, and know that many lives in Guatemala will be changed through the proceeds raised.
  
  Second Saturday – June 13 – Go to Second Saturday page for highlights and things to bring, etc.
  
  4 HER WALK, RUN & FESTIVAL - SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2009 FROM 7AM-12PM at FESTIVAL PLAZA AT WATERFRONT PARK – To learn more or to register, got to www.champions4her.com    
  
  Back to School Bags for Breckenridge Franklin Elementary – Go to Serve Page.   
  
  Kitchen Angels
  This ministry provides food as a way to minister to those who are facing grief and other challenges. If you would like more information on this ministry and how you can serve, contact Amy Ware at 241-5823.
  
  Upcoming Summer Bible Studies
  
  Me, Myself, and Lies: A Thought Closet Makeover (women), Jeanne Keith Teaching
  Tuesday, 7 weeks beginning June 9 at 9:30 am; Cost $13
  
  When Godly People Do Ungodly Things (women), Kathy Beckner Teaching
  Tuesday, 7 weeks beginning June 9 at 9:30 am and 6:30 pm; Cost $14
  
  Pursuing More of Jesus (co-ed)
  Tuesday, 7 weeks beginning June 9 at 6:30 pm, Cost $13
  
  Click on each one for more information or to register!
  Contact Rosemarie Arsenault at 212-5248 or rosemarie.arsenault@necchurch.org with any questions.

 

 

This ministry provides food as a way to minister to those who are facing grief and other challenges. If you would like more information on this ministry and how you can serve, contact Amy Ware at 241-5823. Is your Life Group interested in a one-time, hands-on project for the summer? The days are listed below. We are hoping to find enough groups so that each group prepares for one day. The Youth Services Program at Kentucky Refugee Ministries (KRM) will be serving 40 newly-arrived refugee students, Kindergarten through 12th grade, in their school readiness program this summer. KRM’s program addresses the many needs of refugee youth, offering English as a Second Language classes 5 days a week, art therapy sessions, peace education, and field trips. On Wednesdays, KRM offers lunch and extended enrichment activities for the children so that their parents may attend Cultural Orientation classes. Your group would provide simple sack lunches for 40 refugee children and 10 program volunteers on one of the following days: - Wednesday, June 17 - Wednesday, July 1 - Wednesday, July 8 - Tuesday, July 14 - Wednesday, July 15 - Wednesday, July 22 - Wednesday, July 29 Please contact: Lee Welsh, Sponsorship Developer Kentucky Refugee Ministries 969B Cherokee Road Louisville KY 40204 (502) 479-9180 x14 4 HER WALK, RUN & FESTIVAL - SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2009 FROM 7AM-12PM at FESTIVAL PLAZA AT WATERFRONT PARK – To learn more or to register, got to www.champions4her.com    Back to School Bags for Breckenridge Franklin Elementary – Go to Serve Page.    Kitchen AngelsThis ministry provides food as a way to minister to those who are facing grief and other challenges. If you would like more information on this ministry and how you can serve, contact Amy Ware at 241-5823. 

 

 

April 23, 2009





February 27, 2009







 February 12, 2009

SERVE: Storm Debris Cleanup
Here is a GREAT opportunity for your Life Group to help people in need! This weekend, we will announce to the congregation, “If you have been unable physically or financially to get your storm debris cleaned up Or if you or your Life Group could help with clean up, go to the SERVE booth to sign up.” Please talk to your Life Group and see if you can help others out in this way. A lot of people still have needs, and we can reach out and serve them together. Please sign up this weekend at the SERVE Booth.

The Briar Hill Neighborhood Life Group did a service project for Elsie Maddox, an elderly NE member whose husband is in a nursing home. Four families worked together to clear her fallen tree limbs for a few hours on Saturday. Great experience for all!

Life Group Leader Video of the Week
If you like “The Office”—or even if you don’t—you’ll love this parody video. I think you’ll relate! Share it with your group for your next icebreaker! Click on the following link to take you to YouTube to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga2lLewifl4.

No More Life Group Leadership Hogs

How to get everyone in your Life Group involved
Have you ever been playing basketball and had someone take the ball inbounds, dribble it down the court, and shoot it without ever passing the ball? We have a word for people like that: ball hogs! They never work within a team environment. They play for themselves.

Are you a leadership hog? Do you want to do all of the ministry in a Life Group without sharing it? (Yes, that's a bad thing.) The Bible says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24).

Your challenge as a leader is to help people get out of their comfort zones and see that God wants to use them in ministry. I love this quote: "People grow the most when they are serving and taking responsibility. Every task, no matter how small, is an opportunity to serve."

Getting a Taste
If you can help the people in your Life Group taste service in a small way, it'll change their lives forever. But you've got to get the ball in their hands from time to time to do that.

Ask Jake Porter what it meant to him to get the ball in his hands. Jake was born with a mental disorder called Fragile X, which prevented him from playing football on a regular basis. But Jake loved football. He dutifully came to his high school practices and served as the team manager every day, even though he never got to play.

On the last day of his senior season, his coach decided to get him in the game if at all possible. He even told the opposing coach the plan. If they were up by a large amount, they'd put Jake in so he could kneel and run out the clock. The other coach gladly agreed. But when Jake's team was down 42-0 during the game, the other coach threw a monkey wrench into the plan. He told his players not to tackle Jake when he got the ball, but to let him score a touchdown. And that's exactly what happened. When Jake got the ball, the other team just let him score. Jake was on top of the world.

How many Jake Porters are in your Life Group? How many touchdowns don't get scored because we never give the ball to them? That's why shared leadership is such an important part of how we do Life Groups at Northeast. We want to get people the ball and into the game.

Building Champions
How do you share leadership in your Life Group? Let different people in the group take the lead in helping the group live out the mission and vision of the group. We call these people "Life Group Champions."

________ GroupScoop Champion: Keeps Life Group Information up-to-date and communicates with the group using our “GroupScoop” tool on the necchurch.org website. (This person likes using the web; i.e. Facebook)
________ Know Champion: Facilitates study time; helps group decide on materials
________ Serve Champion: Helps plan serving opportunities with group
________ Evangelism Champion: Helps group reach out to and pray for others
________ Worship Champion: May lead worship in group
________ Social Champion: Helps plan group social events
________ Prayer Champion: Leads prayer times, may keep prayer journal
________ Host(ess)/Hospitality Champion: Hosts group or helps plan who hosts
________ Food Champion: Helps plan anything dealing with food
________ Timekeeper: Helps group stay on track with time
________ ___________________________
Developing champions in your Life Group does two things. First, it helps your group become more balanced and healthy, because you'll have people focused on each of these roles. Small groups have a tendency to drift toward one or two of the roles (often social or know/discipleship) if there aren't people passionate enough about the other roles to balance the group.

Also, developing champions helps you get people in the game who may never have had an opportunity, otherwise. Instead of one leader who dominates the group, you'll have five people who are all involved in how the group operates.

Don't be a ball hog. Get everyone in the game and watch as new leaders emerge!
_______
Adapted from Steve Gladen, “No More Ministry Hogs,” on www.smallgroups.com. Steve Gladen is the small-groups pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, and author of Don't Lead Alone.

View other articles like this on SmallGroups.com. If you have not registered for your FREE membership, go to https://smallgroupstore.com/create_account.php?group=548 and complete the requested information. This will give you your own membership using your own email address and password. This will allow you access to most, if not all of this very comprehensive small groups site. Your individual membership will be part of Northeast’s Church Membership.

10 Things Every Life Group Leader Should Know

What do you as a Life Group Leader absolutely need to know to be effective? Here’s a short article by Randall Neighbour that outlines 10 things you can start doing today! Which of these will you implement? 

10 Things Every Life Group Leader Should Know

By Randall Neighbour

1.   Embrace God’s unconditional love. If you don’t “know that you know” and you’re at peace with your relationship with God and more importantly, his relationship with you, you will not be able to love others unconditionally. Petition him to show you how much he loves you and he will be happy to do it. He’s just that kind of Pappa!

2.   Maintain a clear and compelling personal vision for your group as a whole and the members of your group. This will help you make decisions when things get fuzzy and remind you of why you are doing what you’re doing when things get tough (and they will!).

3.   Life Group leadership is more about friendship than any other single component. If you invest in the lives of your members and invite them to invest in you, you’ll impact people in ways they will never forget.

4.   You are not supposed to carry the weight of your group. Excellent Life Group leaders involve others in planning and execution in every aspect of the biblical community… meetings, outreach events, social activities, ministry time in the group, ministry and servanthood outside the meeting, etc.

5.   Focus on Christ in your midst to experience his presence, power, and purposes for your lives when you come together for your Life Group meetings. During worship, invite each person to give up his or her personal agenda to receive ministry, offer ministry, do the talking, remain silent, etc. When we gather in his name and expect him to do powerful things in our midst in which we will follow, the meeting becomes transformational for those in attendance.

6.   Be a disciple, (not just a convert). Converts know God saved them and expect to be spoon-fed regularly for sustenance. Disciples have taken personal responsibility for their spiritual maturity and feel themselves with prayer, digging into the Word, fasting, and reading books that help them become a better disciple and more importantly a disciple-maker.

7.   Your mental model as a Life Group leader should be the same as a parent. Actively raise your members so they want to grow in maturity, move out of the house, start a family of their own, and give you a bunch of spiritual grand babies. It’s all about developing a legacy… tell your group this is your end-goal in life with them. Rinse and repeat often because they’ll forget!

8.   Focus on the 6 days and 22 hours between meetings. That’s where the real ministry and personal transformation occurs. Leaders always focus on the meeting because it’s where they are viewed publicly. However, if you invest in your members between meetings then everyone feels more comfortable in the meeting and they share openly.

9.   Reaching people for Christ requires bi-directional servanthood and cross-pollination. For people to see you as a genuine friend, you must ask them to help you and serve you as well as serving them. Additionally, you must involve your unbelieving friends in the activities and lives of other members of your group to win them to Christ and actually disciple them. It takes a village to reach someone for Jesus!

10. You cannot do the next cool thing God wants to do with you until you give away what you’re currently doing. Who could you develop to take over your group so you can start another group, assume the role of a coach, take a staff position, or plant a church? This may seem scary right now, but that’s because you haven’t given away what you’re doing. As soon as you do, you’ll see your spiritual future in a very exciting way. Trust me on this one!

Life Group Leader Video of the Week

 

 

 

 

 

Check out this video from Henry Cloud (less than 4 minutes long) about how to be a truth-teller with your group. This is sometimes one of the seemingly most difficult dynamics in a group. It’s based on three things: grace, truth, and time. Watch the video here: http://www.cloudtownsend.com/videoserver/video.php?clip=CCNT2605

 

Are You and Your Group Keeping Up with our Northeast Blog?

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know the last two bloggers were Mike and Diedre? Go check them out at http://necchurch.org/blog.

 

Connection Events

 

 

 

 

 

What do the Louisville Science Center, Scrapbooking and Cookies have in common? They are all part of our upcoming Connection Events! Check them out here!

 

 

Go directly to our Life Group Leaders Web Page:

http://lifegroupleader.org

Articles, downloads, videos. Latest news, etc.

January 23, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the all-new Lifelines newsletter! In order to serve and support you as a Life Group Leader better, we will now send out Lifelines about 3-4 times a month. Our purpose is to communicate what you need to know as a leader and to equip you to be the BEST Life Group Leader you can be!

 

Check Out Our New Website!

We have totally revamped the Connect portion of our website! What was once one very static page is now a web site within our Northeast site to get people connected and to serve you as a Life Group Leader. Our new website design will accomplish two big goals for us:

 

(1)  It will make it easier and more obvious for people at Northeast to get connected. We now have separate pages for anyone who wants to Come to a Connection Event, Join a Life Group, or even Team-Lead a Life Group.

(2)  It will help us communicate with you and equip you as a Life Group Leader. You now have your own pages that will provide you with great information, articles, free downloads, and videos to help you be an even better Life Group Leader. We’ve even given you your very own domain that’s easy to remember: www.LifeGroupLeader.org. Go ahead, check it out. We’ll be updating this page regularly, and it will be very interactive so that you can be involved with it.

 

Please bookmark (add to your favorites) www.LifeGroupLeader.org. This page will redirect you to the Northeast Life Group Leaders Resource page, full of great stuff for you as a Leader.

 

What’s the Scoop on Your Group?

Did you know that you  have a cool tool on our web site that you can use to communicate with your group members and use as a networking tool? We’re calling this tool “GroupScoop,” and encouraging you to use it regularly. Here’s how:

 

The best thing you can do as you team-lead your group is to involve a “GroupScoop Champion.” This is someone in your group who manages this easy to use tool to organize and communicate with the group. (This person likes using the web, especially sites like Facebook to communicate,  and network with people.)

 

Your GroupScoop Champion logs on after each meeting and updates a form on your group’s page on our site—things like who was and was not in attendance, prayer requests, and what you studied and discussed, for instance. This information can then be emailed to group members, as a reminder about who to pray for, what to do between meetings, etc. It also lets members who missed a meeting know that you are thinking about them and what the group discussed.

 

GroupScoop has an additional benefit as well. It sends an update to Diedre so she can keep your group information up-to-date. That is vital for us as a ministry in working to connect, shepherd, and disciple our people effectively.

 

How do you get into GroupScoop? Just go to our Connect Page and scroll to the bottom of the page.  In the grey box that asks for a password, type “lifegroupleader” (without the quotes) and then click the “Login” button. (Just hitting ENTER does not work. ) If you have not done so already, create a new group. It’s simple! Complete the forms. Add a picture of your group if you want. Play with this and make it yours!  And, don’t forget, this is a great role to share with someone in your group!

 

 Opportunities for Your Group to Serve Together

 

Second Saturday – Is your group looking for a way to serve and build relationships in our community.  Then Second Saturday is for you.  We are looking for a few groups to assist us with our pilot on March 8 before we go church-wide in April.  If you would like more information on plugging into this new ministry, contact Ronnie Cordrey @ 212.5242 or Ronnie.Cordrey@NECChurch.org.

 

Campus Serving Opportunities – As weekend attendance continues to climb and we prepare for our new sanctuary, there are a wide variety of opportunities that your life group and their family can participate with in as little as an hour a month.  For more information, please contact Tom Black @ 212.5249 or Tom.Black@NECChurch.org.

 

Prom Project – Our prom project is coming up in March.  If your life group would like to donate clothing or volunteer for the event, contact Dawn Karrer at 429-6611 / www.promprojectky.com

Mike Mack introduces new, creative ways to communicate with and equip you in 2009. Check it out in this 4½ minute video.

New LifeCam

 

 

http://LifeGroupLeader.org