Question: How do you define a community group?
Answer: Community groups are small groups of approximately six married couples or six to eight individuals of the same gender that meet weekly in a home for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. They are for adults of all ages, stages of life, and spiritual maturity. Most community groups are formed as people meet and connect at GroupLinks.
Question: What criteria do you use to help connect people into community groups?
Answer: We typically connect married groups by stage-of-life: married without children, with children, and empty nesters. Men’s and women’s groups can be singles of the same gender or individuals of the same gender in various stages of life: married, single, divorced or widowed group members.
Question: What is your process for connecting people into community groups?
Answer: The primary way we connect people into community groups is through GroupLink. We publicize GroupLink during our Sunday services. Throughout the year, cards are available at the Information Center for people to fill out when they inquire about joining a group. Their information is entered into the assimilation database and the assimilators for their areas are notified. The new group seekers are contacted that week by an assimilator or an assimilation staff member (either by phone or email). Group seekers can also sign up online.
Question: What is GroupLink?
Answer: GroupLink is a two-hour event where people meet and connect with others in their area of town and stage of life to start a community group. Groups are asked to initially commit to meet together for eight weeks. They spend that time getting to know each other and doing a short Bible study. At the end of the eight weeks, group members decide to either continue with the group for an additional twelve to twenty-four months, or wait and join a different group at another time.
Question: How does GroupLink work?
Answer: We promote GroupLink for three weeks prior to the event and allow people to sign up during that time. Once they have signed up, they are contacted by an assimilator and given details about GroupLink. For the event, the room is set up “café style.” Living room furniture and café tables are included in the set-up. When guests arrive, they sign in according to their area of town or stage of life. After the attendees have signed in, they enter a place we call the “Preview Room” to receive a briefing about what to expect when they enter the main event. Once the doors are open, guests are prompted by our assimilators to look for the sign with their area of town and then to mingle with other group seekers in that area to identify those they might want to be with in a community group. This part of the programming usually lasts about 30 minutes. During the next 30 minutes, groups are formed. After groups are formed, we show a short video and then the host speaks. The final 30 minutes consist of a “mini” group meeting where members of newly-formed groups get to know each other.
Question: What do your assimilators do during GroupLink?
Answer: Assimilators “work the room” to help guests meet other people they might like to be in a community group with. They also help with some administrative and troubleshooting tasks during the event.
Question: Are assimilators paid or do they volunteer?
Answer: Assimilators volunteer.
Question: How often do you hold GroupLink?
Answer: GroupLink is held four times a year (January, March, August, and October).
Question: Are all GroupLink events the same?
Answer: All are run the same, but happen at different times during the week/weekend.
Question: What is the most challenging thing about GroupLink?
Answer: When participants are released to form groups, it is organized chaos. It is a very awkward time for us, as we always want to jump in and match people up, but we remind ourselves that God is in control. It’s exciting to sit back and watch how God brings groups together.
Question: What is the most rewarding thing about GroupLink?
Answer: It is always exciting to see God bring groups together and hear the stories of the life change that happens when people are in community!
Question: What’s the next step for people who get connected into a community group at GroupLink?
Answer: The group typically decides the time and location for their first meeting. Group leaders leave that night with contact information for everyone in the starter group.
Question: How long have you been holding GroupLinks?
Answer: Approximately seven years.
Question: What is a starter group, and how is it different from a community group?
Answer: A starter group is a group that has agreed to meet together for eight weeks to get to know each other and to do a relational curriculum. At the end of that time, they determine whether or not they want to stay together for another twelve to twenty-four months as a community group. The main purpose of a starter group is to get to know each other and form relationships. This sets the foundation for the group when it becomes a community group.
Question: What is your process for tracking starter groups?
Answer: After starter groups are formed, information about the group and its members are entered into our church management database, and a special notation is made to indicate that the group is in the starter phase. Starter groups are then assigned to the appropriate Groups director, and each director follows up with the leader at least once during the eight-week starter period. Eight weeks after the group’s start date, the leader is contacted to find out if the group has decided to continue on as a community group, as well as to verify any group members that have been added or dropped during the starter period.
Question: What about those who don’t get connected into a community group at GroupLink?
Answer: People who are unable to connect at GroupLink are asked to fill out a “Future Connections” card. After GroupLink is over, we add them to our database and see if there are any more group openings we were not aware of at the event. If there are group openings, we email the group seekers’ information to the leader and the leader will contact them. If there are no more group openings, we point them to the next GroupLink.
Question: How do you advertise GroupLink?
Answer: GroupLink is advertised through bulletin inserts and/or announcements and Sunday morning stage announcements. Additionally, at least one vision message each year is given on the benefits of being in a group (this is usually given close to the time of GroupLink).
Question: What is your process for keeping up with people who desire to be in a community group when there isn’t a GroupLink available?
Answer: Those who desire to be connected between GroupLinks will need to electronically submit a request on our website for more information about getting connected into a group. Our assimilation staff and volunteers maintain a database of people seeking to get into groups, as well as information about existing groups that have openings. They work throughout the year to help people get connected.
Question: Are community group leaders chosen prior to GroupLink?
Answer: We try to identify leaders prior to GroupLink. Each candidate meets with a Groups director before the event for approval. However, there is sometimes a need for more leaders on the day of the event. In that case, we offer a guide to help the group nominate a group member to apply for leadership.
Question: How do you recruit community group leaders?
Answer: Community Groups directors are always working to recruit qualified people to lead community groups. When a group is formed without a leader, a contact person is appointed and the group works through a written guide we provide to help determine who might be a good candidate to apply for leadership. If no leader is found, we ask the group to wait and come to the next GroupLink to find a leader.
Question: Can I observe a GroupLink?
Answer: You’re welcome to join us at a GroupLink to observe the process we use for getting people connected into community groups. Dates and times are available HERE.
Question: Are there any other GroupLink resources?
Answer: You can purchase the GroupLink Starter Kit that gives you all the resources you need to start GroupLink at your church. Creating Community by Andy Stanley and Bill Willits is also a great resource. There is a chapter on our assimilation strategy.
Question: Where can I purchase the GroupLink video?
Answer: The GroupLink video itself can be purchased from our web store HERE.
Question: Where can I view and purchase other Groups videos?
Answer: Other Groups videos can be purchased from resources.northpoint.org.
Question: Whom can I contact if I have specific questions about GroupLink that are not answered here?
Answer: You can email us at grouplink@northpoint.org, and a staff member will be more than happy to answer your questions.