What is Annual Renewal?
Small group leaders complete their current term of commitment in May/June and consider how God wants to use them in the coming year. Most Care Groups and other small groups take a break from meeting weekly during July and August. The time is used to recharge, minister in less structured ways, and plan for starting new groups in September.
Purpose of Annual Renewal
1. Encourage leaders and groups to finish strong by providing a completion date.
2. Provide a rhythm for leaders and group members so they can start strong in the fall.
3. Allow leaders and group members to make changes they feel they need to make.
4. Give existing leaders a variation from weekly responsibilities so they can recharge.
5. Encourage existing groups to revisit their purpose and strategy.
6. Help potential leaders implement the vision God gives them for a group.
7. Provide a time for church-wide focus on starting new groups.
8. Provide a time for church-wide focus on congregational involvement in groups.
How Does Annual Renewal Work?
May
1. SGLs prayerfully begin to decide if they will commit to leading a group next year.
2. Potential leaders will be encouraged to pray about leading a group of some sort.
3. SGLs explain Annual Renewal to people in their groups.
June
1. Finishing the care group season strong.
2. Debriefing the year with ministry director/coach.
3. If possible, current SGLs indicate their plans for next year.
4. Training begins for new and prospective SGLs.
July
1. Most Care Groups stop meeting regularly until September.
2. Leaders refresh and ask God for a fresh vision for their group for the fall.
Aug
1. Leaders describe their group specifications for the SG directory.
Sep
1. Bethel’s Thematic Goal for the year launches with a sermon series that coordinates with small group lessons for 4 weeks.
2. Bethel attendees are encouraged to commit to a small group for the series (and, Lord-willing, beyond).
3. Leaders attend the Leadership Community Experience to get equipped and inspired for the year ahead.
Oct
1. Group members either stay with their 4-week group or attend GroupFinder to locate a group home for the year.
What to Share with Your Group Members about the Annual Renewal
o What your group will be doing in the summer months to connect/refresh: taking it completely off, having social events once a month, doing a “light study” every few weeks, etc.
o Whether or not you feel God leading you to lead the group again in the fall, or not.
o Group members can re-sign on with this group, or take the opportunity to try out a different small group in the fall.
o That September is the time to be signed up with a group since there will be a 4-week sermon series and coordinated small group study on Bethel’s thematic goal for 2007-08.
