30%

At Turning Point, 30 % of the people who are at Week 1, are not at Week 3. They're gone. Hate that! They matter to us.

It used to be higher, and we've made intentional shifts that have improved the results. That's great!

Yes, we know that there are a bunch of things we can't control.

• Normal attrition stuff -- work schedule changes, babysitter problems, physical illness, etc.
• Not ready -- the person wants to live differently, but the changes bring fear or discomfort and they turn back or stay stuck.  
• Distorted thinking/complex emotions -- the person convinces themselves that this isn't going to help for a variety of reasons they rationalized. 

As a team, we know there are other things too that we can control!

"What else can we do?" is the question we took to our Turning Point facilitators last week to consider and brainstorm solutions. These volunteers come beside people to love them well. They're making a difference in the lives of our guests! Their passion to find a solution was noticable and is inspiring.

We found two key areas.

• We are going to be more intentional for people to get to know one another more easily; we're reducing the vulnerability of the questions. We've done this before, but we have to go further. In our desire for people to move forward, we have to be intensely focused on meeting them where they are at presently. We have to point to Jesus -- people run from being pushed or pulled!
• We are putting intentional focus to prepare our facilitators for the most common scenarios during the first critical weeks. Our team is strong; the role is difficult. Even if the facilitator doesn't have the perfect response, the group will notice if they have a leader.  People feel safer when they know a leader is present. 

Numbers matter because they represent people. Turning Point launches 2.22.10, so we're excited to help people know they matter.

Comments

[Dan Clark]

Kathy,
I wonder if some of them(30%) don't inderstand what Turning Point is..I'm not sure I alway understand.. Just something to consider. Keep up the great work!
Dan

[David Hinkle]

Kathy,

I am finding that in our setting (a 6 session group called Connecting Point) that there are those who are overly vulnerable in their response to questions. Now, I could say, "well, they're just broken and experiencing something(s) in life that will spill out no matter what questions are asked." And that could be true, but I think we have to take a serious look at the questions we are asking. I think a post about the kinds of questions you are asking would be helpful. Would you be open to that?

David

[Adam]

Kathy,

I thought about going until I see that you separate the men from the women. I am really looking to connect with women. BTW I would be the one who would be overly vulnerable and spilling out. I am unemployed, lonley, and approaching bankruptcy. I may be homeless and nobody to take me in. It feels like nobody cares - except my two children. Sometimes I think GCC is only about successful, happy people and is not equipped to deal with real-life problems.

[Lynn]

Adam

Don't be fooled, GCC is not only about successful, happy people not equipped to deal with real life problems. Just consider some of the challenges our pastors have had and shared with us. Mark Waltz father for his sexual inappropriateness with his children, Doctor Bob's parents and their leagalistic ways and how he was all but disowed, Mark Beeson almost losing his daughter and second grandchild in childbirth. I think that is what is GREAT about GCC, people have dealt with life's big problems and there is always someone to listen and love you just where you are, just like Jesus.

[Adam]

Lynn,

Believe it or not I and others have the same type of problems as the pastors. But at least the pastors have decent and high-paying jobs. I am unemployed and not able to find a good job. When they are dirt-poor and can't find a job then we will see.

And I have been going to GCC for a long time so I know exactly how it is.

[Kathy Guy]

Adam,

I'm a strong believer in using our words to encourage one another and lift one another up. Although your comments are often not encouraging, I do hear the pain you so frequently describe. I'm sorry you're in a difficult place in life.

Unfortunately, you comment without giving your email address, so it's difficult to communicate with you directly, and I won't engage this conversation publicly on the blog as it's not helpful. I am doing so here in order to affirm Lynn for her kind words to you previously. I'm sorry they didn't seem helpful to you.

I've invited you before to do so, but again, if you'd like to talk in person, please call the church to make an appointment. I'd be happy to talk with you to see how we might be able to help.