Optimizing Your Connection Path
Connections are crucial
They provide you with the opportunity to get to know guests, to involve families that have been attending, and even to help grow those who have been minimally engaged.
The Apostle Peter gave us strong language and a vivid picture of what our responsibility is to those who come through our doors. He tells us to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you”.
Connections can be made and even managed “organically” but this often falls on the shoulders of one or two leaders that are exceptionally gifted in this way, limiting the number of people that can be effectively connected to the church. Yet the scale and ability to connect many people requires an intentional strategy and a system.
If Jesus would leave 99 to find the one, we must ensure that each one coming through our doors is cared for and given every opportunity to connect to God’s flock!
Take some time out of your day to day to truly zoom out, assess what is in place, dream about what could be and then make a game plan to implement desired changes.
Compile every connection
Make a list of every place a person can get “connected”.
Take into consideration all groups, ministries, events, and classes. Are there midweek services, teams, or outreaches that are offered for people to join? Ask yourself: “why do we do this?”, “what does success look like for this?”, or “what would we lose if we stop doing this?” This brainstorming activity should also help you define the purpose for each point of connection. By clarifying the purpose of each thing you do, you help prioritize the most important things that you do and desire for your people to connect to.
Categorize them into a connection path
Align the prioritized connection points in an ideal sequential order.
Considering the responsibility that leaders and the church have to help disciple and grow followers, it is valuable work to put the connection points in a path or defined process that will help develop the individual as they participate in the opportunities made available by the church. Take into consideration that there are multiple ways an attendee can engage in their personal growth at the church. Define the path that is ideal (or that you would recommend, not required) for them to take in order to best assimilate into the life of the church.
Cement them into your connection process
Illustrate and display the ideal path you designed for people to get connected.
Communicate the opportunities and benefits of following this path often.
By identifying the ideal path for people to get connected in your church, you can now begin to communicate to them the appropriate steps to take throughout the process. This helps leaders and team members articulate what people should engage in and in what order. It helps teams narrow the focus of what they connect people to, knowing they will most likely hear of other opportunities to connect in more appropriate places. Overall, this helps simplify and appropriate the next steps each person takes at any given point.