What if the people are weird? What if I don't like them? How will I get away from them?
People really do ask these questions about groups at church. One of our members sent me this article about mystery shopper's for small groups. While the website is mostly satire, there is truth in it.
"People want to avoid messy social entanglements," says Howard who works a three-state area serving group-shy Christians...."It was worth it to avoid the whole ‘I’m rejecting your group’ thing," says one single woman who has been with her Howard-selected small group for three years. "After a while you get tired of explaining why you’re not coming back."
This provides an explanation for two of our group practices. 1) We don't connect new people to existing groups. 2) We spend considerable time at our group launch and wrap-up sessions helping people learn how to say, "No."
At the Groups workshop I'll lead on November 14 in Granger, we'll talk about ramps to group life, including exit ramps. People want to know how to get into groups, but perhaps a larger concern: how to get out!
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